This condition occurs almost exclusively in African-Americans and most frequently in women. These brown or black, raised, dark spots usually appear on the cheeks. They resemble moles or flat warts, although they are not the same. In fact, they are a variant of a benign growth called seborrheic keratosis. These are not cancerous, but some patients have them removed for cosmetic reasons. These can be treated with electrical current or laser light.

At Miramar Dermatology/Skin and Cancer Associates, we prefer to use the sophistication of the Iridex 532-nm Diolite laser to treat this condition. Most patients who receive this treatment option are very satisfied with the results. Frequently, a few “test spots” are treated to evaluate how a patient will respond to the laser light.