Nevus
A nevus is a benign overgrowth of pigment
skin cells called melanocytes on the skin
surface present at birth or appearing early in
life. They fall into two categories,
congenital and acquired.
Acquired
Congenital
Acquired
Melasma Blemish
Melasma (also known the mask of
pregnancy when present in pregnant
women) is a tan or dark facial skin
discoloration. Although it can affect
anyone, melasma is particularly common
in women, especially pregnant women
and those who are taking oral
contraceptives or hormone replacement
therapy medications.
The symptoms of melasma are dark,
irregular patches commonly found on the
upper cheek, nose, lips, and forehead.
These patches often develop gradually
over time. Melasma does not cause any
other symptoms beyond the cosmetic
discoloration
Varicose and Spider Veins
Some of the lasers used for hair will be effective on blue leg
veins. Typically in the .6 to 3mm size range.
More effective on spider veins
Varicose veins are deeper and won’t respond to laser hair
removal wavelengths.
Things the laser won’t treat…etc.
Stork Bites/Salmon Patches
Stork bite hemangioma. These lesions are very common-approximately 30% of the
population has them.
Stork bites are common vascular lesions of the newborn. They consist of one or
more pale red patches, most often seen in the midline on the forehead, eyelids, tip of
the nose, upper lip, and at the hairline on the back of the neck.
They fade with pressure, but when the pressure is removed, the reddish appearance
returns. Stork bites clear on their own over a period of months and are gone by 18
months-except for those on the back of the neck. These may persist for years, but
are generally covered by hair.
Port Wine Stains
Pre-op
3 months PD tx
Pre-op
5 txs PD laser
A port wine stain, is a birthmark
consisting of malformed, dilated
blood vessels in the skin. It is not
a type of hemangioma.
Anyone can be born with a port
wine stain. They occur in 1 in 200
to 400 babies.
They are not contagious
They are permanent
Can’t be prevented
Contact Dermatitis
Contact dermatitis is a skin
reaction that occurs after
exposure to a substance that
either irritates the skin or
triggers an allergic response.
If the skin condition is
caused by contact with an
irritating or harsh substance,
that is primary irritant
contact dermatitis.
If the skin condition is an
allergic reaction to a
substance, that is allergic
contact dermatitis.
The symptoms and treatment
of both types of contact
dermatitis are similar.
Contact Dermatitis Neomycin
Active herpes lesions Orofacial infection
These infections may appear on
the lips, nose or in surrounding
areas.
The sores may appear to be either
weeping or dry, and may resemble
a pimple, insect bite, or large
chickenpox lesion.
Lesions typically heal after a few
days to a week (or more), but this
varies among individuals.
Plaque Psoriasis
Skin lesions are red at the
base and covered by silvery
scales.
It can be itchy and painful.
Psoriasis is autoimmune in
origin, and is not
contagious.
Shingles/ Herpes Zoster
Reactivation of varicella
zoster virus, leading to a
crop of painful blisters.
It occurs very rarely in
children and adults, but its
incidence is high in the
elderly (over 60), as well as
in any age group of
immunocompromised
patients.
Skin Tags
Small benign tumors that
form primarily in areas
where the skin forms
creases, such as the neck,
armpits, and groin.
They also occur on the face,
usually on the eyelids.
They range in size from
two to five millimeters,
although larger ones have
been seen.
Vitiligo
Patchy loss of skin pigmentation due to
an auto-immune attack by the body's
own immune system on skin
melanocytes.
It frequently begins in late adulthood,
with patches of unpigmented skin
appearing on extremities. The patches
may grow or remain constant in size.
Occasional small areas may repigment as
they are recolonized by melanocytes.
Laser hair removal may aggravate this
condition.
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