Now, only specialized medical centers and some dermatologists have them. This laser zeroes in on melanin, the pigment found in the epidermis, the outer skin layer. The pulse delivered by the pigmented lesion laser lasts one-third of a millionth of a second, and covers an area the size of a pea. It, too, feels like a rubber band snap. Two weeks after treatment, the skin peels away and is replaced from beneath with a new, unblemished epidermis.
Many people develop solar lentigines early in adult life, particularly people from the Southwest.
Not only are these lesions unsightly, but they are associated with old age. Too much sun is linked to a number of types of skin lesions. Exposure to the sun thins the skin, making it more transparent. It also causes enlargement of the blood vessels on the skin's surface, which in turn makes these vessels more visible. Often, spiders are caused by chronic overexposure to the sun, but they may also result from liver disease or occur in pregnancy due to a change in the way the body processes estrogen.