We're all born with birthmarks (benign pigmented lesions), even if it's only a few freckles. And some of us are born with more prominent pigmented lesions, such as cafe-au-lait spots, that can be cosmetically troublesome if on the face, neck, or some other visible area.

Age spots (solar lentigines), too, can be cosmetically bothersome. They're caused by excessive exposure to the sun, and most adults eventually get them. And some women acquire unwanted pigmented lesions from the hormonal changes caused by pregnancy or birth control pills.

There used to be little you could do about pigmented lesions. But now laser technology has revolutionized treatment so that many pigmented lesions can be virtually erased.

Pigmented lesions are caused by an excess of melanin in certain skin cells (melanin is the substance that gives skin its color). Some pigmented lesions, such as cafe-au-lait, hormonal, and age spots, are closer to the surface (in the epidermis), while others are deeper in the skin (in the dermis).

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.

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.

Removing age or hormonal spots may take only one or two 30-minute laser treatments; cafe-au-lait spots and other birthmarks often take more sessions. 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.

The laser treatment itself feels like numerous small snaps with a rubberband. Most patients do not require anesthesia during the procedure. Topical or local anesthesia is provided for those who do.

Before	After
Before	After
Courtesy of Robert M. Adrian, MD, FACP

The appearance of the treated area immediately after a laser session will vary from patient to patient depending on the extent of treatment. Immediate after-effects, if any, are minor they may include redness, light crusting, or tenderness, all of which disappear in a short time. Your physician will be happy to tell you more about your treatment and what you can expect.

Ask us about the VersaPulse laser and how your physician can use it to treat your pigmented lesion.

VersaPulse C Aesthetic Laser - the world's most advanced and versatile laser for tattoos and a wide range of pigmented and vascular lesions. A state-of-the-art laser with multiple capabilities - giving your physician the power and flexibility to select the best treatment option for you.