FAQs

Laser

Extremely bright light for treatment of sun damage, pigmentation, rosacea, melasma and more.

Dr Chris Miller
Answered by Dr Chris Miller
Accredited skin cancer doctor

MBBS, MA (Virtual Comm), Grad Cert Hlth Info, Grad Dip Comp Inf Sci

Avoid known photosensitising drugs and chemicals before light-based treatments such as laser, IPL/BBL and LED light therapy. If you are taking these medications, be sun smart every day.

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If you can't take nicotinamide due to side effects or potential medical risks, alternatives include topical therapies, fractional laser treatment and some medications.

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At Spot Check Clinic, you’ll be treated by a doctor or registered nurse. All of our treating staff are registered with AHPRA and comply with professional and ethical codes of practice.

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Avoiding excessive ultraviolet exposure is by far the most effective way to reduce the risk of skin cancer. But there are other risk factors, and other ways of reducing skin cancer risk and improving skin health.

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Moles can be removed from the face using surgical excision, laser surgery, radiofrequency surgery, shave excision, or cryotherapy. A qualified and experienced skin cancer doctor should perform the procedure, as they can rule out skin cancer before proceeding with treatment.

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A flat mole is a type of pigmented skin growth that is typically benign (non-cancerous). If a flat mole needs to be removed, there are several methods that may be used, including surgical excision with stitches, shave excision, and laser ablation. New or changing flat moles must be examined by an experienced skin cancer doctor or dermatologist, as some pigmented flat moles can potentially be melanoma, a potentially serious skin cancer.

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Mole removal usually leaves a scar. The extent of the scarring depends on the size and location of the mole and the method used to remove it.

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The cost of mole removal in Australia can vary widely depending on many factors, such as the type, size and location of the mole, the method used to remove it, and whether the "mole" is actually a skin cancer.

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Doctors use multiple methods to remove moles and other skin lesions. The method varies according to the likely diagnosis, size and type of skin lesion, location on the body and patient preferences including cost and minimisation of scarring risk. Common methods include surgical excision with stitches, cryotherapy, radiofrequency surgery, shave excision, laser/IPL and electrocautery.

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After mole removal, the skin surface is normally water resistant after 3 days. There may be a crust or scab over the wound for 1-3 weeks, and when it separates the skin should normally be intact and level wth the surrounding skin. There may be redness in the area as further skin strengthening occurs. This usually persists for several months to a year.

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Facial moles can be removed, often with minimal scarring. The procedure varies according to the type of mole, whether it's flat or raised, and if a sample of skin needs to be sent to a laboratory for examination.

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Laser treatment is most commonly used to remove flat, benign skin lesions such as lentigines (also known as "age spots") and angiomas (small, benign tumours made up of blood vessels). It can also be used to remove capillaries, which are small blood vessels that are visible through the skin.

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Mole removal is safe. Serious medical complications are rare, and most problems following mole removal resolve in days or weeks.

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Laser mole removal of a single spot can be relatively inexpensive, especially if the spot responds to a single treatment. However, most spots treated by laser require several treatments (typically 3 or 4) and this increases the cost.

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Laser mole removal is generally considered safe when performed by a trained doctor, nurse or dermal therapist with laser safety training and qualifications. However, like any medical procedure, there are certain risks and complications that may occur.

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Black moles can be removed by a doctor using a variety of methods. If the mole resembles a melanoma (a type of skin cancer which is often black or partially black) it must be completely cut out and sent to a laboratory for examination by a skin pathologist to determine the diagnosis.

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You can wash your hair after mole removal as long as the area is kept as dry as possible for 3 days. If stitches are in place, the area should not be completely submerged in water.

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Moles can be removed without scarring. Unfortunately, not all moles are suitable for removal using low-scarring techniques and even these techniques can result in scarring in certain cases. An experienced skin cancer doctor or dermatologist can usually examine the mole and discuss scarring risk factors to advise whether it's realistic to expect no or minimal scarring after the removal of a given mole.

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Moles can be removed without surgery. This can be a quick, relatively painless and low-scarring way of removing moles. Non-surgical techniques include IPL, laser, cryotherapy, radiofrequency, and electrosurgery. These procedures aren't suitable for all moles. Any mole that resembles a melanoma must be surgically removed.

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Laser treatment removes moles and other skin lesions permanently as long as the skin lesion is selected carefully and the treatment course is adequate. This often means that multiple treatments are required.

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Removing moles does not usually prevent skin cancer. The most common skin cancers (basal and squamous cell carcinomas) and most melanomas grow from areas of normal skin. A small number of melanomas develop in pre-existing moles, but it's usually not possible to predict which moles will develop into melanoma, so removing moles doesn't tend to reduce the risk of future melanoma.

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Moles usually grow back after removal because the entire mole hasn't been completely removed. This can happen for several reasons including removing inadequate margins during excision, not treating deep enough into the skin during radiofrequency surgery or shave biopsy, and not enough treatments or very gentle settings in laser or IPL treatment. It's not dangerous for a mole to reappear after treatment, although if there's any possibility that the "mole" was really a skin cancer, re-treatment is usually recommended.

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Laser hair removal can affect moles. It doesn't make moles develop into skin cancer, but it can cause visual changes to the mole which can make it look like a skin cancer.

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Moles can be removed for cosmetic reasons. There are several methods for removing moles that give excellent cosmetic results, often with little to no scarring. These methods may not be suitable for all moles, and are usually not appropriate for skin cancers.

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Spider veins (also known as capillaries or telangiectasia) on the face are a common concern. In themselves they aren't dangerous although in some cases they can be a sign of an underlying medical or skin condition.

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Treatment options for small veins on the face include laser, IPL (intense pulsed light), diathermy and possibly prescription creams if the veins are caused by rosacea.

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To calm a rosacea flare-up, it's important to avoid triggers and use a combination of medication, lifestyle changes, and skin care strategies. Using cool compresses and gentle, fragrance-free moisturisers and over-the-counter rosacea treatments containing vitamin B3 can soothe itchy, irritated skin.

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One main symptom of rosacea is rosy cheeks, which can cause discomfort and embarrassment. Treatment options for rosacea include topical and oral medications, lifestyle changes, and skincare strategies. Identifying and avoiding triggers, using gentle skincare products, and protecting skin from the sun can also help. Intense pulsed light (IPL) and laser treatments are also effective in reducing redness associated with rosacea.

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There are many causes of spider veins, including sun damage, rosacea, ageing, damage or trauma to the skin and possibly some circulatory system disorders. In many cases, treating the underlying cause (e.g. rosacea) can reduce their appearance, but often specific cosmetic treatments are required.

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Spider veins, also known as "broken capillaries" or telangiectasia, are small dilated blood vessels that appear as red, blue, or purple web-like patterns on the skin's surface. They don't usually go away on their own over time. In many cases, they persist and may even worsen if left untreated.

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Laser treatment for broken capillaries in Melbourne generally costs between $120 to $500 per session, depending on the size of the area to be treated. In certain circumstances, if the treatment is provided by a doctor it may be partially covered by Medicare.

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After laser treatment for capillaries, it's normal to experience some redness and a mild sunburn-like sensation. Less commonly, swelling, and bruising might occur. The time it takes for the broken capillaries to disappear after laser treatment can vary; some people see a dramatic improvement after a single treatment, but in most cases multiple treatments are required to give the best outcome.

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Laser, intense pulsed light and BBL (BroadBand Light) are effective ways of treating skin pigmentation. The time it takes for pigmentation to fade following treatment varies according to skin type, the darkness and the type of pigmentation.

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Both sun spots and skin cancer can be caused by prolonged sun exposure, and both may appear as flat brown patches on the face, hands, chest and other areas of sun-exposed skin. Skin cancer can grow and sometimes spread to other parts of the body causing serious illness or death, while sun spots are harmless and primarily a cosmetic concern.

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BBL and laser are both light-based treatments used in facial rejuvenation, treating pigmentation, unwanted blood vessels and rosacea. In practical terms, BBL is a good general treatment for a large area of skin, allowing therapy of multiple skin concerns in one session. Laser tends to be more intense and is used for individual lesions of concern or some conditions unresponsive to BBL.

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Dark patches on the skin have many causes including sun exposure, dermatological and medical conditions. Treatment for lightening dark patches varies according to the cause. Light-based treatments such as laser, IPL and BBL can be useful, but in some cases, topical products are more effective.

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It's often possible to permanently remove a specific age spot with treatment, but further sun spots are likely to appear in the future without proper sun protection. However, laser, IPL and BBL treatments are effective options for lightening dark patches on the skin caused by sun damage, ageing, or genetics.

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Sun spots (lentigines, age spots, liver spots and solar keratoses) are common patches on the skin resulting usually from long-term sun exposure. Most sun spots are normal and a cosmetic concern only, but some are potentially pre-cancerous.

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The number of BBL or laser treatments required to achieve optimal results varies depending on skin type and the condition being treated. Small lesions such as angiomas can be treated with a smaller number of treatments, while long-established skin conditions such as rosacea may require multiple treatments.

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The “best” treatment for facial pigmentation depends on various factors, including the cause of the pigmentation, the cost of the treatment, the number of sessions required, and the location of the treatment. Patients should consult with an experienced doctor to determine the most appropriate treatment plan for their specific needs.

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Beauty spots are clusters of pigmented cells on the skin. Some people like them, some don't. There are different ways to remove them, such as surgery, laser, cryotherapy, or electrocautery. BBL is a type of laser that can treat beauty spots and other skin conditions. It uses light energy to destroy the pigment cells and stimulate skin regeneration.

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