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For example, UConn Health dermatologists can use what\u2019s known as a \u201cpulsed dye laser\u201d to treat conditions like telangiectasia, which is when tiny blood vessels in the skin dilate and cause red lines or patterns on the skin.<\/p>\n
\u201cUsing a specific wavelength, we can use this laser to target only the blood vessels, and not damage the skin in any way,\u201d Feng says. \u201cIt\u2019s really remarkable how we\u2019re able to target exactly what we want to treat and nothing more than that.\u201d<\/p>\n
The pulsed dye laser also is effective in treating benign blood vessel growths known as angiomas, as well as certain types of birthmarks and scars.<\/p>\n
\u201cBasically anything that has redness because of excess blood vessels, we can use pulsed dye laser to treat,\u201d Feng says.<\/p>\n
When it comes to sun spots or tattoo removal, dermatologists use different type of lasers, such as a fractional thulium laser and a Q-switched laser, which target pigment and superficial skin rather than blood vessels. And a minimally invasive approach known as microneedling with radiofrequency treats wrinkles, scarring, and sagging skin by triggering the body\u2019s own healing process and inducing collagen production.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese are proven techniques that work particularly well and can treat a lot of our common conditions, like sun damage, improving skin tone, skin texture, skin color, pore size, laxity of the skin, treating scars, in all skin colors,\u201d Feng says. \u201cWe can really do a lot for patients, both from a cosmetic perspective and a medical treatment perspective.\u201d<\/p>\n
For example, Feng removed sun spots from the hand of a 48-year-old woman, and she agreed to share her story and photos to demonstrate the Q-switched laser\u2019s effectiveness.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy hands literally looked older. I couldn’t believe it,\u201d the patient says.<\/p>\n
She got a single treatment, which she described as \u201ca little bit of prickly heat\u201d that lasted a few seconds and went away. Over the first few days the spots got darker, then as her skin healed, the color started to shrink away. There was no discomfort to remind her of the treatment.<\/p>\n
\u201cI forgot I even had it done,\u201d she says. \u201cThen after a week and a half, you saw the picture, it\u2019s like a magic eraser. It\u2019s amazing! It made a huge difference to me. You look at your hands all the time.\u201d<\/p>\n