WASHINGTON -- We all want to look our best and modern medicine offers all kinds of interesting ways to improve our appearance.

But for many people of color, new cosmetic surgery techniques are not an option.

"I was experiencing a lot of irritations through shaving," said James Johnson who had bumps removed from this neck. "He changed my life, he enhanced my life and my appearance."

Adoria Doucette had the ingrown hair permanently removed from her face.

"I was really glad there was actually something I could do and I wouldn't have to go through the rest of my life with something I wasn't pleased with," Doucette said.

Kris Kahn wanted to have the scar on his nose removed. All three of these patients were treated with a new laser designed by Dr. Eliot Battle, co-founder of the medical spa, Cultura, in Northwest Washington.

"We tried to re-invent lasers so that they will be much safer for all skin colors and also safer for people in general," Battle said.

Cultura's lasers were specially developed to treat diverse ethnic groups and skin colors, including dark and sun-tanned skin. These lasers are used to remove unwanted hair, veins, moles, wrinkles and even tattoos. Up until now, people with darker skin tones haven't had many options for solving those problems, because existing lasers can leave scars on the skins' pigmentation.

Battle said, "When I'm talking of people with color, were are talking Italians, Asians, Blacks or anyone with increased pigment. We were afraid that we would get these unwanted side effects like blisters, discoloration and dark and light spots."

But Battle and his partner Dr. Monte Harris say Cultura is working to change that.

"A lot of the cosmetic industry didn't tailor to people of different ethnicities. It was previously an untapped market. Our goal here is really to welcome everyone," said Battle.

Unlike traditional lasers, Cultura's lasers combine longer wavelengths with a cooling process that removes the laser's heat from the skin so it will never reach the point where it damages the pigmentation.

Battle said, "The heat's always being removed, which means that your skin never heats up pass the thermal damage threshold so we don't see side effects anymore."

One woman, who preferred we not use her name, had laser treatment more than seven years ago and she ended up with terrible scarring. She came to Cultura for help.

"I had to keep the ice pack on my face for two days, because it felt like someone had stuck a cigarette out on my whole face," the woman told News4.

Battle and Harris have seen lots of patients who've had bad experiences with laser treatment. They hope that Cultura can help bridge the cultural gap in cosmetic surgery.

Battle said, "I think as the 21st Century emerges and the changing demographics of American arise and there becomes a larger pigmented population of people, those services related to personal care will be needed."

Both doctors warn that anyone of any color should always check on the physicians' credentials before undergoing any type of laser treatment.