A method for laser anti-inflammatory treatment of painful symptomatologies and for tissue regeneration includes generating a pulsed laser beam with laser at a wavelength between 0.75 and 2.5 micrometers. The laser energy is conveyed to a hand unit where the laser beam is preferably defocused. The operator then applies the defocused laser beam the skin of a patient in need of treatment. The average power density per pulse of the defocused laser beam on the skin being 8 W/cm.sup.2 per pulse or more.