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Troubled by dark spots and discolorations that pepper the surface of your face, making your once clear complexion appear unappealing? You are not alone. Many individuals struggle from pigmentation issues caused by various factors, such as ageing, sun exposure, and hormonal imbalances. The good news is you can consult with a pigmentation doctor in Singapore (https://onefaceclinic.com/why-doesnt-pigmentation-improve-after-lasers/) about the advanced treatments available to deal with these problems.
In this article, we place our spotlight on one particular treatment that uses state of the art equipment in dealing with different types of pigmentation issues: Laser Technology.
Understanding Pigmentation
Before diving into the science behind the transformative procedures that laser technology can achieve for the skin, it is important that we have a thorough understanding about the underlying causes of pigmentation.
Pigmentation occurs when there is an irregular distribution or overproduction of melanin in the skin. Melanin is the pigment that gives our skin its natural colour. There are two types of pigmentation that can form in the skin:
- Hyperpigmentation: Age spots (lentigines), Melasma, Post-inflammatory Hyperpigmentation (PIH), Sunspots (solar lentigines)
- Hypopigmentation: Vitiligo
Hyperpigmentation happens when excessive melanin forms in the skin, causing darker patches. The common types of this pigmentation are:
- Age spots (lentigines): These are characterised by brown spots, which appear on areas of the body that are exposed to the sun. Age spots, as its name suggests, is a pigmentation problem that comes with ageing.
- Melasma: This condition can be determined by symmetrical dark and brown patches covering certain areas of the face, which are caused by fluctuations in the body’s hormones due to use of birth control medication or pregnancy.
- Post-inflammatory Hyperpigmentation (PIH): This type of pigmentation happens when the skin encounters inflammation or injury, resulting in a dark mark once the damage has healed.
- Sunspots: Prolonged sun exposure is the culprit for these brown, flat spots to appear in the skin.
Hypopigmentation occurs then there is minimal melanin production in the skin, which leaves the surface area with lighter patches. An example of this condition is:
- Vitiligo: This is an autoimmune condition that happens when the body’s immune system targets and destroys the melanocytes, which are the cells that are responsible for producing melanin.
A Focus on the Science of Laser Treatment
Laser therapy uses a powerful device that emits concentrated beams of light to penetrate the skin and address a certain condition. When used in targeting pigmentation problems, laser technology works effectively in several ways:
- Fractional Lasers: This is a type of laser that makes microscopic holes in the skin, which then stimulates the body’s healing process naturally. It improves skin texture and lessens the appearance of dark patches in the skin by stimulating collagen production.
- Selective Photothermolysis: This is the gold standard for laser treatments in addressing pigmentation problems. Through this procedure, lasers are set to target distinct pigments in the skin, delivering high levels of energy that is absorbed by the pigments, resulting in its heating up and eventual breakdown.
Types of Lasers Best for Pigmentation Problems
There are a few key lasers that are effective in dealing with pigmentation problems. These are:
- Fractional Lasers
- Nd:YAG Lasers
- Pulsed Dye Lasers
- Q-switched Lasers
Fractional Lasers work by forming microscopic columns in the skin to treat pigmentation. This process triggers the body to create collagen in order to improve the appearance of the skin’s surface.
Nd:YAG Lasers utilise laser beams that go into the depth of the skin, which makes them effective in dealing pigmentation problems that affect the deeper layers of the skin.
Pulsed Dye Lasers do their job by targeting blood vessels that cause some pigmentation to form in the skin like vascular lesions.
Q-switched Lasers deliver high-energy light in short bursts into the skin, which shatter the pigments into tiny particles that are then naturally processed and expelled by the body.
Pigmentation Conditions that Respond Well to Laser
There are many types of pigmentation conditions that improve after laser therapy treatments. These include:
- Age Spots: This type of pigmentation responds well to Pulsed Dye and Q-switched lasers.
- Freckles: While freckles have now become somewhat of a trend lately, there are still individuals who prefer clear skin and choose to get rid of this harmless pigmentation condition. Freckles can be reduced using laser treatments.
- Mild Melasma: The debate continues on whether melasma should be treated with lasers. Some types of melasma have shown improvement after laser therapy. Whether or not this is the route for your pigmentation concern should be decided by a licensed dermatologist as melasma is a stubborn condition to treat.
- Post-inflammatory Hyperpigmentation: The effect of laser treatment on PIH depends on its severity. Nd:YAG lasers and Pulsed Dye lasers have shown successful results in fading dark patches when dealing with PIH.
- Sunspots: Q-switched lasers are known to be highly effective in destroying excess melanin in the skin that cause sunspots. Repeated laser treatments produce optimum results.
Laser Treatment Process
Laser therapy should only be handled by a trained dermatologist as this treatment involves the use of a very powerful machine.
To start with your treatment, a consultation with a dermatologist must be set in place in order to assess your health, properly identify your symptoms, and make an accurate diagnosis of your condition. After which, a customised treatment plan will be made considering your medical history, specific skin concerns, and treatment goals. The number of sessions for your laser treatment will be based on the severity of your condition and the type of laser to be used. Multiple sessions are often required to achieve successful removal of excess pigmentation in the skin.
While lasers are generally safe, there are potential side effects that could happen during and after a treatment, such as changes in skin colour that should be temporary, mild discomfort, redness, and swelling. In very rare cases, laser treatments can result in hypopigmentation or even scarring. However, this should not be a concern if your treatment is performed by a highly experienced pigmentation doctor in Singapore.
Aftercare is crucial, especially with laser treatments. The common instructions given by dermatologists following a laser treatment are:
- Applying sunscreen with a high SPF
- Avoiding exposure to the sun
- Avoiding skincare products with harsh ingredients and fragrances
- Using skincare products that are gentle on the skin
- Wearing protective clothing to keep the skin hidden from the sun’s direct rays
Choosing the Right Pigmentation Doctor in Singapore
The safety and success of fading pigmentation and achieving clear skin with the use of lasers greatly depends on the experience and qualifications of the doctor that you choose to manage and treat your condition. Find a dermatologist that has years of experience in dealing with various pigmentation concerns and is, at the same time, an expert in handling laser technology.
–
Dr David Ng
One Face Clinic
1 Tras Link #02-03 Orchid Hotel
Singapore 078867
+65 6222 2262
