Many skin conditions can be treated with laser. Sometimes, the treatment is medically indicated. In others, it may be for cosmetic reasons. Find out more about conditions that can be treated with laser.
Acne scars
How do dermatologists classify acne scars?
Acne scars can be divided broadly into 2 main groups; those that sink in (atrophic) or those that pop out (hypertrophic). Atrophic acne scars can be further subdivided into 3 main groups depending on their appearance. It is important to evaluate your acne scars before treatment as different types of scars are treated in different ways
How are acne scars treated?
Acne scars are best treated when your acne is under control. Different procedures are usually combined to give you the best results at the lowest cost.
Age spots
What are age spots?
Commonly known as ‘age spots’, ‘liver spots’ or ‘wisdom spots’, the medical name is solar lentigines. Seborrhoiec keratosis (pleural: keratosis) are warty, barnacle like growths on the skin. As both condition tends to appear as we get older, they have been termed ‘age spots’.
How do I prevent age spots?
Regular use of a broad spectrum sunscreen daily is helpful. Do reapply your sunscreen when outdoors if direct sun exposure cannot be avoided during the hottest parts of the day. Protective clothing items such as hats, sun glasses and sleeves are also helpful.
Birthmarks
What are some birthmarks that can benefit from laser treatment?
Portwine stain
It looks like a pinkish-red patch at birth and will not go away. The birthmark will darken and become thicker as the child grows. Laser treatment during infancy and early childhood gives the best results.
Café-au-lait spot
This birthmark appears as a flat patch that is darker than the rest of your child’s skin. The color ranges from that of coffee with milk on fair skin to the color of black coffee on dark skin. Most children have only one spot. If your child has six or more café-au-lait spots, it is important to have an assessment by a dermatologist.
Epidermal naevus
An epidermal naevus is a birthmark due to an overgrowth of the epidermis (outer most layer of skin). Most are present at birth or develop during childhood. When they first appear in infancy, they are flat and brown. As the child ages, they become thick and warty. Rarely, epidermal naevus may be extensive and part of a syndrome.
Naevus of ota
Naevus of ota is a birthmark that causes a pigmented patch on the face. The eyelids, forehead, temple, cheek, and nose are some commonly affected areas. About half of people with this condition have hyperpigmentation on their eyes as well. Laser treatment during infancy and early childhood gives the best results.
Bumps On Face
What are some common causes of facial bumps?
Milia
Milia are tiny small cysts under the skin. They appear as white to skin-coloured bumps that commonly occur on the face. Milia occur as a result of keratin build-up. They can appear in both adults and children.
Seborrhoiec keratosis
These are warty, barnacle-like growths on the skin that increase in number as we age. Some seborrhoiec keratoses are flat and brown whilst others may be raised and warty looking. Sometimes, they can grow to large sizes. Seborrhoiec keratoses appear most commonly on the face, but may also appear on the scalp and the rest of the body. Although they are usually harmless and do not turn cancerous, there is effective treatment to remove them.
Syringoma
Syringomas are benign tumours of sweat ducts in the skin. They appear as skin-coloured small bumps usually on the eyelids, but may also appear on the cheeks, temples and forehead. Sometimes, a family member may also have syringoma. Syringomas can be effectively treated with laser.
Facial Redness
Some common causes of facial redness are rosacea, spider veins or telangiectasiae and red scars left after acne or injury. Facial redness due to these reasons can be effectively treated with laser.
Mole Removal
Why do we need to remove moles?
Sometimes, your dermatologist may advise a mole to be removed and examined microscopically if it appears abnormal. Mole removal can also be for ‘cosmetic’ reasons. In these cases, moles which are benign and harmless are removed for non-medical reasons.
How are moles removed?
Moles can be removed by either excision (cutting them out) or laser treatment. Laser treatment is possible for cosmetic removal of some types of moles. It is especially effective for flat facial moles. Your dermatologist will carry out a thorough evaluation to assess if you are suitable before laser removal of your moles.
What can I expect during laser mole removal?
On the day of the procedure, anaesthetic cream will first be applied to make the treatment pain free. The laser treatment may take about 5 to 20minutes, depending on the number of moles to be removed. A scab will form on the treated area, which will drop off after 1-2 weeks. It is important to take care of the wound and not pick off the scab for best results.
Keloids
How can keloids be treated?
Keloids can be difficult to treat. Keloids are scars and it is important to know that a scar can never change back into normal skin. The goals in treating keloids are to
1) Reduce pain and itch
2) Flatten and lighten the lesion so that it is more like the surrounding skin
The most common types of treatment include
1) Injection of steroid into the keloid
2) Laser therapy
3) Cryotherapy
4) Silicone sheets and gel
5) Surgical excision
6) Radiotherapy
Your dermatologist will propose the best treatment plan after a detailed consultation and examination.
Pigmentation
What are some types of pigmentation that can be treated with laser?
Freckles
These are light brown small flat spots that appear on areas of sun exposed skin such as the cheeks and nose. Freckles may lighten with reduced sun exposure and with use of broad spectrum sunscreen. If they persists, freckles can be safely removed with pigment laser treatment.
Solar lentigines
These are brown discrete patches that appear on sun-exposed areas like face, arms and legs. Solar lentigines are due to chronic sun exposure. They can be removed effectively with pigment laser treatment. Picosecond lasers are a new generation of laser that can effectively remove pigmentation like freckles and solar lentigines.
Melasma
Melasma is a common problem that causes pigmentation on the face. It usually appears as brown patches on cheeks, forehead, upper lip and nose bridge. Although, hormonal changes, such as during pregnancy or taking oral contraceptive pills, may contribute to the development of melasma, sunlight is still the main cause of melasma. Melasma is usually treated with a combination of therapies including topical and oral medication and lasers.
Hori’s naevus
These are discrete small greyish brown patches usually found on the cheeks. Sometimes, they can also appear on the forehead and nose. The pigmentation in Hori’s naevus is found deeper in the skin and can only be effectively treated with picosecond laser.
Pigmentation from acne
Acne can leave red and brown marks on our skin after it heals. These can be effectively treated with a combination of creams and laser.
Scars
What are some scars that can be treated?
All types of scars can be treated and improved. Some types of scars that are commonly treated include traumatic scars, chickenpox scars, burn scars and post-surgical scars. Your dermatologist will propose the best treatment plan after a detailed consultation and examination.
Skin Tags
What are skin tags?
Skin tags appear as soft, skin-coloured to brown outpouchings of skin. They usually grow on the neck, armpits, eyelids and groin. Skin tags are benign and do not turn cancerous usually. Sometimes, they can become inflammed if irritated. They can be easily removed by snip excision, electrocautery or laser treatment.
Spider Veins
‘Spider veins’ are blood vessels found in the skin. These vessels are enlarged, causing them to be visible as web-like red lines that look like broken blood vessels. ‘Spider veins’ appear most commonly on the face and legs, but can occur on any part of the body. ‘Spider veins’ can be treated by a dermatologist with laser or sclerotherapy.
Tattoo Removal
How are tattoos removed?
Tattoos can be removed by pigment laser. Picosecond lasers are a new generation of pigment lasers that can lighten or remove tattoos effectively. Different colours like black, red, green and blue can be removed by using different wavelengths of the laser.
Is laser removal of tattoo safe?
Laser removal of tattoo is very safe when performed by a trained dermatologist.