Laser therapy can be used to remove skin tags and warts by targeting the tissue with a concentrated beam of light or radiofrequency energy:
How it works
The light or energy is absorbed by the water and pigmentation in your skin, which turns into heat that destroys the tissue.
Deep and selective Nd: YAG absorption induces coagulation of blood vessels feeding the wart, causing subsequent necrosis (penetrates even through calloused tissue)
Benefits
Laser therapy can provide the same results as surgery, but with a simpler healing process and less chance of scarring. It can also be used on hard-to-reach areas.
Antibacterial effects promote faster healing and reduce the possibility of recurrence
Extremely precise ablation of warts with Er: YAG
Pain
The treatment area is usually numbed with a local anesthetic, so you shouldn't feel much pain during the procedure.
Recovery
You can expect to experience slight redness in the treated area that should subside within a few hours. Healing time can vary depending on the type of laser used, but it's usually around 3–5 days.
Side effects
A possible side effect is post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, which is when the skin darkens in the treated area. This happens because of the body's inflammatory response to the laser treatment.
Before your treatment, you should wear loose, comfortable clothing and remove any jewelry or accessories from the treatment area.