 Laser Pigmented Lesion Removal (Age Spots, Freckles, Birthmarks, Brown Spots)
At the Vein & Skin Care Institute, we believe any time is the right time to begin laser pigmented lesion removal Treatment. We hope we can answser some of your questions here, however, please keep in mind each indivdual is unique and it's always best to call us to set up a free consultation to discuss your specific needs.
What are pigmented lesions?
How do I know what kind of pigmented lesion I have?
What causes pigmented lesions?
How can I get rid of my pigmented lesion?
Which pigmented lesions can be treated with laser?
Why is laser treatment safe?
What does the treatment involve?
Is treatment with the laser painful?
How does the laser treat pigmented lesions?
How many treatments will it take?
How long do I have to wait between treatments?
How Does The VersaPulse C Laser Work?
What Is Treatment With The VersaPulse C Laser Like?
Are The Results Permanent?
What are pigmented lesions?
Pigmented or brown spots result from the presence of pigment (or melanin) cells in the skin. When the pigment is localized in the epidermis (top or superficial layer of the skin), light brown or tan spots can occur, such as freckles, cafe-au-lait birthmarks, and sun spots (or lentigos). When the pigment is located deeper in the skin (in the dermis), dark brown spots can result, such as nevus of ota or other nevi (moles). Superficial, small, tan spots generally require fewer laser treatments to remove than deeper, larger, or darker pigmented lesions.
How do I know what kind of pigmented lesion I have?
Classification of congenital vascular birthmarks has historically been confusing. The medical literature has been inundated by an assortment of terminologies, including hemangioma, nevus flammeus, "stork bites" and port-wine stains. Hemangioma became the generic term used to describe a variety of acquired and congenital vascular lesions. Because this classification was so broad, however, it led to confusion regarding prognosis. Lesions that develop by undergoing an initial phase of rapid proliferation followed by cessation of growth and involution are classified as hemangioma. Vascular birthmarks that persist throughout the patient's lifetime and grow commensurately are classified as vascular malformation; this group includes port-wine stains. Hemangiomas tend not to be present at birth but appear during the first few days to weeks of life, often as single small macules. These lesions grow rapidly, becoming red and raised. The lesions increase in size during the following weeks to months, until the child reaches about 12 months of age, when growth stops. Hemangiomas occur most frequently on the face or neck and tend to vary in size from a few millimeters to many centimeters in diameter. The fully developed hemangioma is often dome-shaped, ranging in color from bright red to dark purple. Approximately 50 percent of hemangiomas spontaneously involute (diminish) by the time the child is five years of age. Vascular malformations (port-wine stains) are almost always present at birth and occur with equal frequency in males and females. The port-wine or red color of these lesions is a consequence of enlarged, ectatic (expansion) blood vessels in the dermis, rather than an increase in the number of blood vessels. The incidence of port-wine stains is estimated to be 0.3 percent; 80 to 95 percent are located on the head and neck. Most port-wine stains appear to involve only the skin; however, approximately 5 percent of patients with port-wine stains have concomitant leptomeningeal involvement (Sturge-Weber syndrome) and/or ocular involvement. At birth, port-wine stains appear as pale pink macules. They darken with age, becoming red to purple, and often develop small nodules within the birthmark, which give the lesions a studded appearance. In extensive lesions, hypertrophy of underlying soft tissues often occurs. These lesions result from blood vessels which become enlarged (or dilated), such as port-wine stains (red birthmarks like Mikhail Gorbachev's) or spider veins. They can also appear when too many blood vessels grow in an area, such as hemangiomas.
What causes pigmented lesions?
Pigmented lesions, birthmarks, brown spots and age spots are created from an excessive concentration of melanin in the skin. Melanin is what gives our skin its color. Everyone has a different amount of melanin in his or her skin. Your physician will evaluate your skin and inform you of the specific type of skin lesion. High concentrations of melanin can be due to various factors. Some types are present at birth, but most occur with age or as a result of overexposure to the sun's damaging rays.
How can I get rid of my pigmented lesion?
In the past, the only remedy for pigmented lesions was to cover them with make-up. More recently, dermabrasion, cryosurgery, and other techniques have been tried, but they can leave a scar or a visible white, unpigmented area. Now there's the new VersaPulse Aesthetic Laser, a state-of-the-art system specially designed to treat a full range of pigmented lesions.
Which pigmented lesions can be treated with laser?
The most commonly treated conditions are solar lentigines, also known as "age spots," "liver spots" or "sun spots"; cafe' au lait birthmarks; and freckles. These benign pigmented lesions are due to an excess of pigment in the skin, usually due to sunlight exposure and congenital factors. Age spots may appear as enlarged light freckles on the face and hands. Cafe' au lait birthmarks may appear as light brown markings anywhere on the body and can be quite large.
Why is laser treatment safe?
The laser is safe and effective because of its unique ability to selectively treat the pigmented lesion without adversely affecting the surrounding tissue.
What does the treatment involve?
Treatment varies from patient to patient depending on the type of lesion, size of the affected area, color of the patient's skin and depth to which the abnormal pigment extends beneath the skin's surface. Some lesions, such as "age spots," will require only a few pulses, while others, such as cafe' au lait birthmarks, will require more. Some lesions require re-treatment, necessitating multiple patient visits.
Is treatment with the laser painful?
Treatment with the laser is more comfortable and requires less recovery time than some other treatment methods. Most patients do not require anesthesia. In some very rare cases, depending on the nature and the location of the lesion and the patient's age, the physician may elect to use some form of local anesthesia. Pigmented lesions that have not been effectively removed by other treatments may respond well to our laser therapy, providing prior treatment did not cause excessive scarring or skin damage.
How does the laser treat pigmented lesions?
The laser will specifically target dark concentrations of melanin using light energy. Pigmented lesions are lightened or removed when the laser light passes through the skin and is absorbed by abnormal concentrations of melanin. The rapid absorption of light causes the melanin to destruct, reducing the concentration of melanin. A laser produces a beam of highly concentrated light. Different types of lasers produce different colors of light. The color of light produced by a particular laser is the key to the laser's effect on pigmented lesions. Particular colors of light are absorbed by specific colors or pigments in the skin. The laser's light energy, which is absorbed by the targeted lesion, eliminates the appropriate pigmented cells. Pigmented lesions vary in color, depending on the type of lesion and the natural tone of the person's skin. This means that not every pigmented lesion absorbs the same color of light. Earlier lasers emitted only one color of light, often requiring doctors to use two or more lasers and repeated sessions to treat pigmented lesions. The VersaPulse C Aesthetic Laser produces short pulses of a wide spectrum of light colors to treat the full range of pigmented lesions. The entire treatment involves no incisions.
How many treatments will it take?
Pigmented lesions typically take 2 - 3 treatments to remove. Each treatment will take 5 - 10 minutes with a healing time of approximately two weeks in between each treatment. Topical anesthetic may be used to reduce pain. Locations most often treated are the hands, face, neck, and back. Laser removal of age spots on the hands and/or face usually requires one or two laser treatments. Treatment for pigmentation due to childbirth or birth control pills is often similar. Café-au-lait macules and other birthmarks usually require more sessions for removal. The number of treatment sessions can not be guaranteed in advance. Treatment sessions are usually separated by about 8 weeks.
How long do I have to wait between treatments?
Sessions are usually spaced 6-8 weeks apart and are performed in the doctor's office without the costs and risks of hospitalization or general anesthesia.
How Does The VersaPulse C Laser Work?
The VersaPulse C laser can be used to treat a variety of different pigmented skin lesions. The laser light is absorbed by the pigment, which is shattered into small pieces. The immune system cells of the body then carry these fragmented pieces away. The skin lesion is noted to get lighter in color with each treatment. The types of pigmented skin lesions which can be treated include: age spots (solar lentigines), café-au-lait macules (brown birth marks), tattoos, and birthmarks with a blue-gray appearance called the Nevus of Ota and Nevus of Ito.
What Is Treatment With The VersaPulse C Laser Like?
The laser treatment feels like the snaps of a rubber band or a tiny speck of grease splattering on the skin. Most patients do not require anesthesia during the procedure, however, a topical numbing medicine, called EMLA, can be applied to the area 1 hour before the laser treatment if anesthesia is desired. Please request a prescription if you wish to use this medication. The appearance of the treated area immediately after laser treatment will vary depending on the extent of treatment. Immediately after treatment you will notice redness, light crusting, tenderness, and pinpoint bleeding. This usually heals in approximately one week with minimal risk of scarring.
Are The Results Permanent?
Most pigmented lesions if completely removed will not return. At times, however, sun exposure may cause café-au-lait spots to return. Permanence can not be guaranteed. You will also continue to develop more age spots and freckles with time, and the appearance of these new lesions should not be confused with recurrence.
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