The present invention uses one or more radiation-emitting devices in combination with a topical radiation block to ablate the skin and remove topographic variations in the skin surface. The energy pathway may be guided by a computer. The device might also include a treatment plate or window to be placed against the skin in order to flatten the skin surface during treatment. The purpose of the topical radiation block is to manage the areas to which the radiation is applied to the skin by allowing the radiation to reach some portions of the skin, while limiting or preventing the radiation from reaching other portions of the skin. In the case of atrophic scarring, for example, the block may be deposited selectively into the atrophic indentations, such that the block limits or prevents the radiation from reaching (and thereby ablating) the indentations, but allows the radiation to reach (and thereby ablate) the surrounding skin tissue. By ablating only the surrounding tissue, the z of the surrounding tissue is reduced, eventually minimizing or eliminating differences in the skin's topography between the indentations and the surrounding tissue. In the case of hypertrophic scarring, the block may be applied selectively to the surrounding tissue, such that the block limits or prevents the radiation from reaching (and thereby ablating) the scars, but allows the radiation to reach (and thereby ablate) the scars. By ablating only the scars, the z of the scars is reduced, eventually minimizing or eliminating differences in the skin's topography between the scars and the surrounding tissue.