Moles are not good candidates for laser treatment because of the theoretical possibility that it can irritate them into becoming skin cancer. The laser energy passes through the skin and is absorbed by the pigment molecule, which heats up and bursts. Professional tattoos, with their variety of colors are more difficult to remove than amateur tattoos. This is because the exact characteristics of laser energy best absorbed by blue-black amateur tattoos is well known, whereas the energy best absorbed by each possible variation of color tattoo is not as easily anticipated. Because more energy is used in treating pigmented lesions than vascular lesions, it is slightly more painful.
Most people report that it feels like a rubber band snapping against the skin.
If necessary, an anesthetic cream can be applied before treatment to reduce the discomfort. Following laser treatment for vascular or pigmented lesions, a scab may form and the area will be black and blue for one to two weeks. After about two months, the treatment may be repeated, sometimes more than once, to treat the next layer of vessels or pigment under the layer already treated. Depending on the lesion's thickness, final results are likely to be a much less prominent mark and often, but not always, a complete removal of the mark. The most important thing for you to do is to protect the lesion from the sun both before and after treatment.