Laser Treatment of skin tags and skin blemishes.

The Erbium laser   removes unwanted lumps and bumps such as skin tags, age spots, senile warts, benign moles and nodules, xanthelasma around the eyes,  and keratoses. Erbium lasering can be used anywhere on the body and is a sophisticated, safe, effective and reliable procedure.  All Erbium laser treatments at Heber Davis are performed by qualified and experienced cosmetic doctors.

The Erbium laser is computer controlled for greater accuracy. When precisely targeted  to the treatment area the laser beam  progressively vaporises unwanted  tissue in ultra thin layers. The physical properties of the laser’s beam allow for intense treatment of the targeted area without disturbing adjacent skin.

The Erbium laser is  well tolerated and no anaesthetic is required for the majority of treatments.  Treatment is experienced as a slight sting, often likened to the snap of a rubber band on the skin, followed by the feeling of sunburn.  However, for those who are sensitive, either a  numbing anesthetic cream can be applied to the area before treatment, or a local anesthetic injection can be used to completely numb the area. 

This depends on the size, location, depth and color of your lesion. Many superficial lesions such as skin tags and sun spots, for example, usually respond to a single session, while deep or long standing acne scarring may improve more gradually over a series of visits spaced at monthly intervals.

The Erbium laser causes a superficial wound that takes from a few days to 2 weeks to heal. Postoperative care is usually minimal. Your doctor may apply a dressing or may simply ask you to use an anti-bacterial ointment for a short period of time (1-2 weeks) and will suggest that you protect the treated area from the sun for several months.

Any skin intervention may cause swelling, redness, bleeding, bruising, temporary darkening of pigmentation and discomfort. These effects are temporary, self limiting and do not require treatment.

Any laser intervention carries the potential risk of infection (bacterial, fungal or viral), eye injury, scarring, thinning of the skin (atrophy), prolonged bleeding, bruising, discomfort, pigmentary changes (increase or decrease in pigment) and demarcation between treated and untreated areas.

Some lesions do not respond as well as expected and limited improvement may be achieved.

Yes. Those who are pregnant, have active cold sores in the area to be treated on the day of treatment, have suspicious moles or lesions, have used certain oral acne medications  within the last 12 months, have vitiligo, have a history of keloid or abnormal scarring, are immune suppressed or have a connective tissue disease.

Please inform us if you have a history of cold sores (anti viral medication may need to be prescribed for you), are taking anticoagulants to thin the blood, or are an uncontrolled diabetic in whom healing may be compromised.

Other methods for removing skin blemishes include freezing, burning, application of acid solutions and surgery. Each involves its own set of potential risks and complications.