Becker's Nevus Laser Treatment
Becker's nevus, also known as Becker naevus and Becker melanosis, is a skin condition that commonly develops in young men, especially just after puberty. This condition leaves an unsightly lesion on the skin similar to a birthmark, which can be removed with laser treatment.
-
Significance
-
Becker's nevus appears as a raised, deeply discolored (dark) birthmark or scar, which, within the lesion, can develop acne and hair. These patches can appear on virtually any body part, but are common to the chest, stomach, upper arms and back.
Function of Laser Treatment
-
Laser treatment aims to diminish or completely eliminate the appearance of the nevus, or mark. Reducing its visibility entails smoothing out the textural irregularity and correcting the discoloration.
-
Types of Lasers
-
Developments in laser technology have resulted in a wide variety of laser treatment options for correcting skin abnormalities, such as Becker's nevus, and which treatment is optimal depends on the condition. The Pulsed Dye Laser (PDL) and Q-switched ruby laser are used to treat discoloration and textural problems, while fractional laser treatment and laser resurfacing are other options.
How It Works
-
Laser treatments vary slightly in how they work, but all fundamentally involve the emission of light, heat or energy-filled beams that target the affected area, and penetrate the skin cells to destroy abnormal cells and trigger new cell generation to take their place.
Procedure
-
The number of sessions required to rid the lesion depends its size and depth and the type of laser being used, and sessions can range from 10 minutes to over an hour. All laser treatments are outpatient procedures with no downtime, so patients are free to return to normal daily activities after treatment.
Complications
-
While laser therapy is generally pain free and has minimal side effects, hypopigmentation is a risk. Hypopigmentation is when the skin is lacking melanin and may appear as a white patch. The risk is higher in darker-skinned patients.
-
