Laser Surgery

Laser devices for skin cancer destroy and vaporize tissue under local anesthesia. The laser uses an intense, focused beam of light to destroy skin cancer tissue. The laser destruction, plus the body's immune response to the injury, results in a blistered wound that takes several weeks to heal.

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The laser can be set to remove the skin in controlled layers; the depth will depend on the depth of the cancer. The surgeon may remove the top layer only or the top layer plus the next deeper layer, and so on. Because the laser treats without direct skin contact, it can be aimed at difficult-to-reach locations such as between the toes. Laser therapy may leave white scars similar to cryotherapy, but if only a superficial pass is performed, then there may be no scarring at all. Deeper skin removal leaves an open wound that requires meticulous care until healing is complete.

Laser therapy also has several limitations. The laser device is expensive and requires specialized training. It is used in many situations, most commonly:

• to treat superficial skin cancers
• to treat precancers
• to reduce scars following skin cancer surgery
• to treat a variety of noncancerous skin growths.