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Becker's Nevus treatment by Fraxel laser?

By Nick on 08 Jun 2008

Has Fraxel re:pair been used on Becker's Nevus yet. I know in that other lasers in the past have not been very successful as it usually returns after a while. Is this type of treatment something I should pursue for my Becker's Nevus or do you recommend that I wait.

Comments (42)

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Michael A. Persky, MD 25 May 2008
Hi Nick, I would not recommend it as a treatment for this disorder. Becker's (hairy pigmented) Nevus would likely return after Fraxel repair treatments as it has with other treatments. Patients with this type of nevus should be regularly checked by a board certified dermatologist. Be well. Dr. P
View answers from Michael A. Persky, MD
lucas 10 Jul 2008
hi, I got beckers nevus two years ago and it isn't healing, what should I do, I went to a doctor and she said to avoid sun, but I got sunburned 3 times, first time was pretty bad. Please is there some advice you can give me to make the healing process faster?
Bill45 (unregistered guest) 10 Oct 2008
Lucas, Unfortunately, beckers nevus isn't something that heals, as it isn't a sickness, disease, anything that needs healing. People who have beckers nevus typically have it for life. I have yet to find any methods for completely removing beckers nevus, but it can be lightened through some laser surgery. Some people have chosen to get tattoos to cover their beckers nevus. Even some famous people have beckers nevus: Richard Gere, Heath Ledger, etc.
Jonathan11 7 Feb 2009
I had a fairly large Becker's Nevus on my shoulder and upper arm. About 4 months ago I had laser surgery using an erbium laser. At this point, there is still some pinkness/redness (erythema) but you can tell that the brown pigment is gone. When I went for the first consultation, the doctor was not even aware that erbium lasers have been used for BN. I knew about it through discovering a study comparing an Erbium:YAG (Er:YAG) laser with another laser. After he read the study he agreed to do the procedure. Here's a link. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15727644?dopt=Abstract Here are some important facts. -The procedure cost me $1000. -It did not help with hair loss. -It was extremely painful despite anesthesia. The skin is literally burned away unlike other treatments where only the pigment is targeted. -The healing process is extended but I think I'll be in reasonable shape by the time summer comes along. I recommend doing this in the fall. I think my healing time has been longer that it should have been because I think the doctor went a little deeper with the laser than was necessary. The study claims that 3 months is the maximum time for the redness to remain. -Based on seeing pictures of from the study (the doc sent me a PDF file of the full study) and through my own experience, I am confident that the results are permanent. -I'm glad I did it, but to those that have a BN, be aware of what you're getting into.
mike99 29 Mar 2009
Hey Jonathan11, I am very interested in your results...please keep us updated. My situation sounds very similiar and I hope this procedure would be a resolution.
kash 6 May 2009
Hi Jonathon11 Please let me know where you had treatment for your BN and how succesull it was. Thanks
Unhappy Girl 14 May 2009
i'd be interested in reading that PDF and seeing the pictures.
scarboy 19 May 2009
How old were you you got your becker nevus?
Keith21 10 Sep 2010
Hi jonathan, this is keith here. I read your comment in this forum and was wondering hows your becker nevus now? is it completely gone? is there still redness on your skin?
Sal Undy 19 Feb 2009
I'm glad you had yours done by laser... i actually tried to get it done also but no luck.. the dr told me due to my skin colour (i'm asian) it would be very difficult to even lose the colour or brighten it up to look like my skin. The most you could do is lighten it but the shape and shadow would still be there... which doesn't help much so i opted out and went to a tattoo instead...ask much as it probably hurt doing the laser... the tattoo was just as painful LOL but now nobody can see it my tattoo artist was amazing as he covered it completely and people that did not know about my BN still dont know cause they just think its a dark shaded tattoo... which is great...that's a confidence booster... If you do go the way of a tattoo instead of laser...just make sure you get what you want DO NOT get something stupid as i understand you just want to have it covered up...but make sure you put some thought into it ...you hide your BN now but it would be worst if you get a horrible tattoo and then hide it... so you are just hidding the Tattoo and BN
5016anon 22 Mar 2010
i have a question...is it safe to get a tattoo over a BN?..i have 1 on my right side chest,and i been thinkin bout gettin a tattoo over it,but i been researching online and some people sayy you shouldnt..so i was just wondering if its a good idea or not..
226866anon 25 Sep 2010
Hi I'm glad for you that you were able to find a solution with your BN. Actually me too, I have a BN on my left shoulder and last time I went see if I can put a tattoo to hide it, but the guy there told me that this could be dangerous as the tattoo could affect my skin causing skin cancer.I don't know much about it. If someone could please clarify this to me, that would be really helpful.
Kash (unregistered guest) 6 May 2009
Has anybody had a BN and had it removed successfully by laser or any other method? Please let me know...
scarboy 19 May 2009
My dermo mentioned getting it removed by skin grafts.
Unhappy Girl 19 May 2009
i don't remember how old I was so i was younger, i remember it becoming much darker at puberty though. like 10 or 11 years old.
scarboy 20 May 2009
Ok. It happen to me around that age too 12, i dont remember really, i just woke up one day and it was there. Must of been a gradual thing.
Louise1 27 Feb 2010
Hello, I have had a BN removed VERY successfully by a Laser clinic at the Royal Free Hospital's Private Dermatology Practice, London UK. I had the mark over my shoulder blade since it appeared after a good Australian sun burning in the early 1970s, when I was 5 years old.
jeff1984 14 May 2010
how large was your beckers nevus, and how many treatment did it take to achieve clearance. Also, do you remember which laser was used in your treatment.
beckersboy 4 Feb 2011
i have a very large amount of beckers nevus. i have spots of it on my shoulder, almost half my back has it, and about a third of my chest has it.
kash 16 Jan 2012
Hi Louise can u provide more detail of the treatment you had at the royal Freeman's clinic and also how successful it was?
Thanks
Louise1 7 Feb 2012
Perfect result, two quick relatively pain free laser sessions on the area, cost about £250 gone for good.
I suggest you contact The Royal Free Private Skin Clinic through their website, as to which laser they use. I had it done in 2007 and it has not come back.
Unhappy Girl 18 Feb 2010
just wanted to say that it's been fading away as I stay out of the sun and use lots of sunscreen, even in the wintertime...still there but much lighter.
Louise1 7 Feb 2012

It sounds like you would be an ideal candidate to have laser removal. Mine was a huge hit.

apk5087 2 Mar 2010
What type of tattoo did you happen to get Sal Undy?
capital db 14 Apr 2010
Sal Undy im planning on do the exact same thing this next month. what type of tattoo did you get and wear was ur BN? and is there any extra medical complications that comes with it?

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