LASER REMOVAL OF SEBORRHEIC KERATOSIS
The removal of seborrheic keratosis using a laser, under microscopic assistance, prevents skin depressions.
What is seborrheic keratosis?
These are the most frequent benign tumors in older adults. They are present in almost all adults in sizes that increase with age; they are usually observed from youth as small tumors or spots on the skin of the trunk that, over time, coalesce or grow in a very circumscribed manner. They resemble warts.
They affect the face, neck, and trunk most frequently. They spare the palms and soles.
They originate in the outermost layer of the skin as clusters of keratin that do not shed. Their name does not explain what they are; they are called “seborrheic” due to their waxy appearance.
Lesions of different sizes, some with a flattened appearance are observed in the background and “plaque” lesions in the foreground.
How is seborrheic keratosis distinguished?
They have an oval shape, an unctuous appearance with a brittle surface, and are well-circumscribed. They might resemble a “brown-colored wart.”
Unctuous and brittle appearance of seborrheic keratosis.
How common is seborrheic keratosis?
Practically everyone has these lesions by the time they reach 65 years of age.
The laser shortens treatment times in cases of a high number of lesions.
When is it preferable to remove seborrheic keratosis with laser?
Always!
Result one month after being treated on the neck.
Do scars remain after treating seborrheic keratosis with laser?
Smaller lesions do not leave scars; larger ones may leave surfaces with pigment loss.
It is necessary to evaluate the perilesional areas very well and seek to perform coagulation that respects healthy tissue as much as possible.
Immediate effect of the CO2 laser on the lesions, note how the inflammation is much less.
Laser effect.
Complete healing on day 14 after treatment.
What are the benefits of using a laser on the face?
On the face, more lesions can be treated in each session. Another very useful application is on the face when they are very small and numerous.
Early healing after removal of verruca vulgaris.
Presence of abundant amount of lesions on brown skin. Treated with Erbium-YAG laser.
Can seborrheic keratosis be removed from the eyelids?
On the eyelids and also in very sensitive areas such as the auricles, the use of laser has greater tolerance and better healing.
Erbium-YAG laser removal of eyelid keratosis.
Although the patient usually requests only the vaporization of the largest lesions, it is better to vaporize all lesions and continue reactivating the skin to prevent new ones from appearing.
