Laser Treatment of Skin Nevi
Summary
Skin nevi, commonly known as moles or birthmarks, encompass a spectrum of benign proliferations of melanocytes or keratinocytes. While most nevi are harmless, their appearance can carry psychosocial burden or, in rare cases, risk of malignant transformation. Traditional management has included surgical excision, dermabrasion and topical therapies, but these may leave scarring or incomplete clearance. Laser therapy has emerged as a precise, minimally invasive modality that targets pigment or tissue with specific wavelengths of light, inducing selective photothermolysis. Q-switched lasers emit nanosecond pulses to fragment melanin-rich cells, whereas picosecond devices deliver even shorter bursts to achieve finer disruption of pigment granules. Fractional ablative and non-ablative platforms create microthermal zones to stimulate remodelling while preserving surrounding tissue architecture. Advances in laser physics and delivery systems have broadened the armamentarium for treating both congenital melanocytic nevi and acquired epidermal variants such as Becker’s nevus. Optimal outcomes depend on matching wavelength, pulse duration and energy density to lesion type, depth and skin phototype. Multiple sessions are often required to achieve satisfactory lightening or hair reduction, balanced against potential side effects of repigmentation, erythema or textural change. Current research seeks to refine protocols, improve consistency of clearance and minimise adverse effects, with an emphasis on objective outcome measures and patient-centred satisfaction.
Research from Nature Portfolio
No recent Nature Portfolio content available.
Laser Treatment of Skin Nevi publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in laser treatment of skin nevi across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Nevi: Benign aggregations of melanocytes or keratinocytes forming pigmented skin lesions.
Photothermolysis: The process by which absorbed laser energy generates heat to selectively destroy target cells without damaging adjacent tissue.
Q-switched laser: A laser emitting high-energy nanosecond pulses that fragment pigment particles for clearance by the lymphatic system.
Picosecond laser: A laser delivering ultra-short, picosecond pulses to achieve more precise pigment fragmentation and reduced thermal diffusion.
Fractional laser: A device creating microscopic columns of ablation or coagulation, stimulating remodelling while sparing intervening skin.
Hyperpigmentation: Darkening of the skin due to excess melanin deposition, often targeted in nevus clearance.
References
- A Retrospective Analysis of the Efficacy and Safety of Q‐Switched and Picosecond Lasers for Treating Becker’s Nevus. Dermatologic Therapy (2023).
About these summaries
This Nature Research Intelligence Topic summary is created with the cited references and a large language model. We take care to ground generated text with facts, and have systems in place to gain human feedback on the overall quality of the process in line with our AI principles. We strive to create accurate and useful summaries for people unfamiliar with the research topic and that supports this goal. These pages are a beta release and will be updated as we learn how best to help people gain value from a research topic summary.
Turn complex research questions into confident strategic decisions
When you're under pressure to set direction, justify investment, or understand your competitive position, you need more than raw data — you need trusted insights you can act on.
Benchmark your performance against global peers using robust, methodologically sound analysis.
Combine quantitative metrics with qualitative expert insight to uncover strengths, gaps and emerging opportunities.
Gain tailored, decision-ready recommendations aligned to your strategic priorities.
Talk to us to learn more about our data dashboards and bespoke strategy reports.
Grow research skills, confidence and careers with training built for every stage of the research lifecycle.
Developed with Nature Portfolio journal Editors and internationally renowned experts. Discover three ways to learn:
Self-paced, online courses in convenient bite-sized units, covering key skills across scientific writing, publishing, grant writing, data analysis, and more.
Expert trainer-led workshops with hands-on exercises and real-time feedback across core research skills, delivered via interactive group sessions.
Editor-led workshops combining core principles in writing and publishing, personalised 1:1 feedback from Nature Portfolio Editors and hands-on exercises.
Explore course catalogues and workshop agendas, enquire about the options or request institutional pricing.