There are many different skin colorations that fall into the category of vascular and pigmented lesions. Some of these pigmentation issues are present from birth while others are acquired later in life. Vascular lesions tend to appear as a red mark on the skin as a result of a blood concentration that is capable of being seen through to the outer layers of the skin. Pigmented lesions on the other hand tend to be brown if they are a result of the body’s natural pigmentation, or they may take on a variety of other colors if they exist as a result of pigments that have been introduced to the body later on. Both vascular and pigmented lesions can appear equally in both genders and from all racial backgrounds. These pigmentation issues are not passed from one generation to the next generation genetically.

What form do pigmented lesions take?

Vascular lesions generally appear on the neck, the face and the upper body. They are typically port wine stains or what are known as strawberry hemangiomas. The port wine stains are typically present during birth, and they grow larger when the patient ages, so they generally cover the same proportion of skin over time. When the patient ages, the port wine stain may turn to a darker color red, and it may appear more prominently on the skin. Over time, they can also grow to a thicker state and may feel less smooth.
Pigmented lesions come in many different forms including natural pigments, moles, café au lait spots, freckles, liver spots and tattoos. Tattoos are caused by introducing foreign pigmentation into the skin. Café au lait spots are irregularly shaped tan spots that generally appear at birth. Moles are also generally present at birth, and they are more regular and smaller in shape than other pigmented lesions. Liver spots and freckles both appear after birth as a result of age and sunlight exposure.

Safe and effective laser treatment
During laser treatments for skin pigmentation, your skin will be treated with a laser which allows unaffected skin to remain protected while treating the damaged area. The laser will penetrate the skin using light that will disrupt the pigment but not damage your skin. The procedure is safe enough to be performed on nearly any area of the body, including the neck, arms, legs, chest, back, hands and face. Shortly after your treatment, you will be given special instructions regarding skin care and management. After one to two weeks, your treatment will result in brighter, clearer, and more youthful skin. You will also notice that the treated area is tighter and more toned after healing. You may require a number of treatments depending on the particular issue being treated.