In 2005, the last year recorded, the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery said its members performed nearly 1 million such procedures, about 300,000 more than in 2003.

Board certified dermatologists, however, are not the only ones operating lasers on skin. Laser treatments are offered at local beauty salons, and are also a big part of the medical spa industry, which has grown by 160 percent in the last three years, according to the International Medical Spa Association.

CNN.com