Lasers are used surgically to treat a wide variety of noncosmetic skin conditions. Some of the more common skin conditions treated with lasers includes:

• Spider veins (telangiectasia). Permanently enlarged (dilated) small blood vessels that develop either toward the surface of the skin or internally. Lasers remove spider veins by sending strong bursts of light onto the vein, causing the vein to slowly fade and disappear.
  
  
• Rosacea. A vascular (blood vessel) condition leading to redness and pimples on the nose. Heat from the laser’s energy builds within the visible vessels and causes them to diminish or disintegrate.
  
  
• Common warts. Small growths typically found on the hands and feet. Laser surgery uses heat vaporization (change from solid to gas) to eliminate warts that do not respond to more traditional treatment (e.g., freezing).
  
  
• Removal of skin growths and birthmarks. Laser surgery may be appropriate to remove freckles, moles, port-wine stains, sunspots and other markings by vaporizing the growth or skin of the affected area. The treatment may also be used to remove precancerous lesions caused by sun exposure.
  
  
• Scars. Certain types of scars (e.g., keloids, hypertrophic scars) can be lessened with laser surgery. Several different types of lasers may be used. The advantage of a laser is precision that may minimize trauma and inflammation of the skin. Because scars tend to recur, laser therapy is sometimes combined with other types of therapy, such as corticosteroid injection.
  
  
• Granulomas. Small area of inflammatory tissue in the body caused by tissue injury (e.g., infection). Granulomas are effectively removed with pulsed–dye lasers. However, multiple treatments are usually necessary.
  
  
• Genital warts. Growths on or around the genitals or anus caused by particular varieties of the human papilloma virus (HPV). Laser surgery is often effective at vaporizing genital warts. However, this form of treatment may not cure the virus or prevent new warts from growing.
  
  
• Skin cancer. Laser therapy has recently been used to treat squamous cell carcinoma in situ, which involves only the epidermis (outer layer of the skin). It can also be used to treat superficial basal cell carcinomas, which are also located near the surface of the skin.