Variable intensity laser treatments of the skin

A method for treating a patient by providing localized heating of target spots of skin, comprising:

• applying optical energy having a wavelength between 1380 nm and 1570 nm to the target spots of skin using a laser source located within a handheld self-contained system such that the skin is heated so that a temperature of each target spot rises to a desired temperature range of greater than 39 degrees Celsius and less than 45 degrees Celsius;
• and
• maintaining the temperature in the target spots with the handheld system within the desired heating temperature range by controlling, in pulses, at least one pulsed beam parameter being a pulse energy intensity, pulse width, or a time delay between pulses, wherein one or more of the pulsed beam parameters change during the application of the optical energy, wherein the optical energy is applied for a 0.2 to 1.5 second treatment time, wherein the the total energy deposited in the skin is between 1.5 and 5.0 Joules per centimeter squared and the energy penetrates to a depth between 100 microns and 800 microns, wherein the one or more pulsed beam parameters are initially set to raise the temperature in the skin, then as the heating progresses the pulsed beam parameters are changed so as to maintain the desired temperature range in the skin with the pulses being applied in a first group of pulses to quickly heat the skin to a target temperature, and thereafter the pulses being applied in a second group of pulses to decrease a rate of temperature increase in the target, followed by a third group of pulses maintaining the temperature of the target for a remainder of the treatment time, wherein a safety sensor near an aperture detects a contact or near-contact with the skin, and wherein the system emits energy only while the safety sensor continues to detect contact or near-contact with the skin.