Why may I need laser resurfacing?

Laser resurfacing may be used to remove or improve the appearance of:

• Wrinkles.
• Superficial scars caused by acne, surgery or trauma that are not growing or that are getting thicker.
• Color (pigment) changes or defects in the skin, such as liver spots (lentigines), port-wine stains or café-au-lait spots.
• Lesions or growths in the upper layer of skin (such as actinic keratoses, rhinophyma, or birthmarks). Any growth that could be malignant should be evaluated using a biopsy before laser resurfacing is done.
• Tattoos. These are often removed using lasers. Lasers work well for removing tattoos. But often several treatments are required.
• Unwanted hair, by using heat from the laser to destroy the opening in the skin where hair grows (hair follicles). Laser hair removal does not work well for hair that is blond or gray.

People with lighter skin who do not get a lot of sun exposure after the procedure tend to have the best results. People with darker skin may benefit from laser resurfacing, but their skin may not heal as well.

You may not be a good candidate for laser resurfacing if you:

• Have had skin color changes, scarring or thickened tissue (fibrosis) as a result of earlier treatment.
• Have a skin, blood flow or immune disorder that could make healing more difficult.
• Have a history of abnormal scarring (keloid or hypertrophic scars).
• Are currently using isotretinoin (a drug used to treat acne) or have used it within the last 6 to 12 months. This increases the risk of scarring after the procedure.
• Have a bacterial or viral infection of the skin.