Laser treatment of skin lesions offers patients a faster, easier, less painful procedure (depending on the size and location of lesion) with minimal risk of complications.

There are several different types of benign skin lesions which respond to laser treatment. Please feel free to discuss your specific needs with your physician and ask for a full explanation of your treatment options.

What is laser treatment like?
Treatment with a laser is often performed by your physician immediately following accurate diagnosis. Larger lesions however, may require that a small “test” patch to be done followed up with full treatment. Some lesions require multiple visits. All of this may be determined from the test.

Many treatments require no anesthetic at all. However, realizing that all patients are different, some patients will be more comfortable with local anesthetic. This may be as simple as numbing the area with ice, an anesthetic cream, or perhaps an injection of a local anesthetic. Pediatric patients might require general anesthesia. With no anesthesia, the laser feels like a warm pin prick.

Once in the treatment room, all those present will need special eye protection. The surgeon and nurses will have on protective glasses. The patient may either wear glasses, or if the area to be treated is on the face, the eyes may be covered with an occlusive bandage, eye shields, etc.

The extent and severity of the lesion will dictate how aggressive the treatment must be. Individual consideration will always be the rule of thumb with your physician.

What skin conditions can be treated by the laser?
Most skin lesions that can be treated with a laser fall into one of three groups:

• Vascular lesions (broken blood vessels).
• Pigmented lesions (freckles, age spots).
• Non-Pigmented lesions (warts).
• Vascular lesions.

The following examples illustrate the effectiveness of laser treatment in eliminating vascular lesions.

• A Port Wine Stain can be significantly reduced after laser surgery.
• A very faint Port Wine Stain can be treated by laser and eliminated.
• A Venous Lake on the lip can be eliminated through simple laser treatment.
• Unsightly blood vessels in the face respond favorably to laser treatment.

Pigmented lesions
Pigmented lesions appear as darker areas of the skin due to higher concentrations of melanin, the tan to brownish component of skin color. These may be flat on the skin or slightly elevated. Lesions such as these will be carefully evaluated by your physician so that any cancerous premalignant conditions are dealt with effectively. Some of the most common pigmented lesions, such as freckles and “age spots” (Lentigines) respond very well to laser treatment. These lesions, after treatment, will usually become darker, then crusty. In a matter of days, they will simply fall off, leaving a pinkish area that will gradually return to normal over a period of time. Sun block should normally be used for a period of three months on the advice of your physician.

“Age Spots” appear all too soon, and for some people, become unattractive. With laser surgery they can be reduced or eliminated. It may be comforting to know that these blemishes can be improved through a simple, rapid laser treatment. The procedure is virtually painless and the patient can leave the physicians office immediately afterwards.

Non-Pigmented lesions
Non-Pigmented lesions are those that contain very little melanin (the pigment which causes tanning) and little hemoglobin (the red pigment ion blood cells). Often referred to by doctors simply as “lumps and bumps,” non-pigmented lesions include the following: Common wart, venereal warts, skin tags (often seen on the neck or eyelids), molluscum contagiosum (an infectious smooth wart seen in children) and other garden variety “lumps and bumps” seen on the skin.

Physicians evaluation
Your physician has your health in mind. Prior to any laser surgery, he will make a careful evaluation of your cosmetic problem and rule out any associated problems (diseases). Not all lumps are benign or can be treated by laser. If laser surgery is appropriate, he will recommend it. If you are a candidate for laser surgery, you can be assured that he will provide you with safe and careful treatment.

What results can the patient expect?
Results of laser treatment on skin lesions can be quite dramatic. Most people experience an improvement in their vascular or pigmented lesions. But, as in any surgical procedure, there remains a possibility of minor changes and there are some cases which do not respond. Any immediate changes to skin coloration or textures should return to normal within a short time after treatment. Because of the selective absorption of the laser light by tissue components, this risk is minimal.

There are many benefits from laser surgery. Minor or no pain, no needles in most cases and lesions don’t come back or regenerate to name a few.

If you have any further questions or concerns about possible lasting adverse effects, please consult your physician.