SKIN REJUVENATION TREATMENT

LASER, LIGHT

MEDICAL PEEL

BRIGHTENING WHITENING

SKINBOOSTERS

This segment will cover 

Pigmentation – Pigmentation Laser

 

Pigmentation laser for all skin pigments. I will discuss the common pigmentary woes affecting Asian skin. Key is the use of creams, peels and lasers for this type of condition. There are many lasers. And choosing the right laser will form the cornerstone in the treatment.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QO-OzRIPvvk

TOP 10 pigmentation concerns – Pigmentation Laser Treatment

1. Freckles

2. Melasma

3. Sunspots

4. Hori’s Nevus

5. Nevus of Ota

6. Becker’s Nevus

7. Tattoos

8. Underarm pigmentation

9. PIH (Post inflammatory hyperpigmentation)

10. Acanthosis Nigricans

 

Lifestyle changes – 3 Ss

1. Sunblock, Q 4 hours
2. Shade, stay away from the sun. Stay cool, in the shade.
3. Shield, sun glasses and wide brim hat, UV coated umbrellas when you head out for lunch especially
   

Pigments in the Asian Skin: Pigmentation Laser

Dark spots, red spots, brown spots, blue spots, gray spots, what are they? I have had many patients asking me about those spots on their faces. So to help you learn more about your skin, and understand those spots you see when you look into the mirror, I have decided to walk you through some of the common pigmentary conditions. Allow me to first start with freckles, those brown spots that you get for working out in the sun since your schooldays.

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HOW DOES IT WORK?

 

Pigmentation Laser

Here is a schematic cartoon showing how laser breaks down pigments into granules, which are subsequently engulfed by macrophages.

Pigmentation Laser – THE Solution: My 3 step FORMULA

1. Treatment: Pigmentation Laser/ light/ peels

2. Cosmeceuticals: Sunblock + Lightening agents – ORAL and topical

3. Skin renewal: Boost hydration and repair

 

POST LASER WHAT TO EXPECT?

solar lentigo

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FRECKLES

What are they?

– Freckles are spots which commonly appear with sun exposure and are found on the cheeks and nose.

– They darken with sun exposure.

– Appear in your teenage years, increasing with age.

– Will lighten with sun protection and a combination of therapies.

How can we treat it? 

– In my opinion, treatment includes strictly avoiding the sun and using sun protection, using skin lightening agents + Pigmentation laser + light therapy.

– Here is an example of freckles.

FRECKLES

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MELASMA

So what causes Melasma?

– Melasma is very common with the Asian skin. It is multifactorial, with a strong genetic and hormonal component.

– It is worsened with sun exposure, OCPs and pregnancy.

– And tends to be distributed either over the cheeks or a central distribution from the forehead down to the chin.

How can we treat it? 

– There are many treatment regimens for melasma.

– Melasma is a condition that can be controlled and not cured. 

– It is a spectrum, and there is no one size fits all regime.

– A carefully personalised programme works best as every melasma is different.

– Personally, I would suggest an advanced treatment which consists of priming the skin with lightening agents for a month, +/- oral medication followed by careful chemical peels and lasers.

1. Use good sunscreen, apply it 15min before going out. And reapply it every 2 hours.

2. Gentle lightening agents

3. Pigmentation Laser light +/- Cosmelan

MELASMA

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Solar Lentigines/ Age spots

What are they?

– These are discrete lesions which progress with age. Prevention is the key with sun protection and sun avoidance.

– They first appear in your 30s and can get increase in number with age.  

– Some age spots thicken and darken with time.

How can we treat it?

 – They may be lightened with sun protection, lightening agents and lasers light. (sunspots, solar lentigo)

SOLAR LENTIGO/ SUN SPOTS / AGE SPOTS 

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Hori’s Nevus

What are they?

– This is a pigmentary condition characterized by multiple dark blue gray spots, commonly found bilaterally in the cheeks.

– They darken with sun exposure and childbirth.

How can we treat it?

– They can be lightened with a careful combination of sun avoidance, lightening agent and pigmentation lasers.

HORI’S NEVUS

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NEVUS OF OTA

– Present at birth

– A blue grey pigmentation deep in the dermis

– They darken with sun exposure

– Can be lightened with sun protection, lightening agents and pigmentation lasers.

NEVUS OF OTA

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BECKER NEVUS

– Birthmark commonly found in males

– one sided 

– epidermal nevus

– associated with hair growth 

becker’s nevus

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CAFE AU LAIT SPOTS

What are they? 

– These are light brown macules that can be found over jawline, neck, face. 

– Effectively treated with sunblock, lightening agents and pigment lasers, but can recur.

It is vital to distinguish this from a melonocytic nevus – which can turn malignant.

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TATTOOS 

– Q Switched lasers are good for black, blue, brown tattoos.

– No. of sessions depends on the location, size, age, colour of tattoo and whether it was performed by a professional or amateur tattoo artist.

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UNDERARM PIGMENTATION

Causes:

-Contact Allergy: From DEODORANTS commonly
–PIH from shaving: Tiny hair stubbles can also add to the darkening
–Infection: You might have a skin infection that causes darkening
–Acanthosis Nigricans. A skin condition that causes hyperpigmentation
–Hormones/Pregnancy. Changes in your body may cause discoloration

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POST INFLAMMATORY HYPERPIGMENTATION:

– As the name suggests, these are pigmentation that form after an injury, be it picking a pimple, derma-roller performed on a skin, injury to the face etc…

– It can happen anywhere.

– Treatment entails careful use of pigmentation lasers with lightening agents and strict sun protection.

– They take 3 months to improve. 

 

POST inflammatory pigmentation or PIH can happen anywhere on the body

 

 

What is it?

It is an area of localised hyperpigmentation (excess melanin), as a result of damage to the skin from inflammatory process. It can range from light brown to black. It is temporary.

Distinguish PIH from PIE, which is post inflammatory erythema. This consists of superficial blood vessels that grow during the wound healing stage and is common after inflammtory acne, especially in lighter skin people. Darker skin folks would end up with Post inflammatory hyperpigmentation.

How can we treat it?

1. Sun block
2. Laser light
3. Antioxidant and lightening agents

What are the causes?

1. Sun
2. Injury. This can be as a result of over zealous chemical peel, laser, or other energy based devices.
3. Heat

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ACANTHOSIS NIGRICANS

Hereditary vs acquired

Common acquired causes

1. DM
2. Obesity
3. Drug induced

Common in skin folds,neck,axilla and groin.

 

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Here are treatment videos of laser, IPL for your pigmentation woes.

。Pigmentation laser treatments involve a light laser that generates heat and penetrates into the deep layers of your skin.

。 This stimulates collagen production without damaging the dermis.

。 1064nm pigmentation laser is a highly advanced laser that can deliver highly controlled energy into the skin. Hence not allowing the heat produced to damage the surrounding tissue.

It is an effective treatment for skin conditions such as pigmented lesions, freckles, solar lentigo, age spots, sun spots, hori’s nevus, nevus of ota, cafe au lait, melasma, post inflammatory hyperpigmentation, skin redness, scars, tattoo removal, with minimal downtime.

So I hope this mini segment on pigmentary woes in the Asian skin has been useful. Remember, stay bold and beautiful.