Can all skin types with excess pigmentation be treated with laser therapy?
Only people with fair skin can be treated for excess pigmentation.
Which types of pigmentation can be treated with laser therapy?
The most common disorders of increased pigmentation are melasma (chloasma), solar lentigos (sun spots) and freckles. Solar Lentigos, the brown spots that appear in sun exposed areas like the tops of the hands and face, are the most common pigmentation problem that we treat. All the other disorders can also be treated very successfully with laser therapy.
What are the advantages of laser pigment removal over other treatment options?
Liquid nitrogen therapy tends to leave white scars that can be very unsightly. Recurrent use of liquid nitrogen results in a very spotty look with multiple brown areas intermingled with white spots. The healing process following liquid nitrogen therapy is also messy with frequent blistering that can’t be camouflaged with cosmetics.
Depigmenting creams tend to work slowly and will only very rarely result in satisfactory results.
How successful is laser pigment removal?
Most patients will need between 1 and 3 treatment sessions, depending on the degree of pigmentation and the specific disorder that is treated. A 50-90% reduction in pigmentation can be expected.
Can any part of the body be treated?
Yes.
What happens during a treatment session?
The eyes are covered with goggles and a thin layer of gel is applied to the treatment area. The laser is placed on your skin and you will be aware of a series of bright flashes as the laser is moved over the treatment area.
What happens after the treatment session?
Most patients experience an initial darkening of the pigmented areas immediately after the treatment. This reaction is a confirmation that the pigment was successfully targeted by the laser. Over the next day or two the pigmented areas develop a mottled brown look that will gradually fade away over the following week or two. Any of the pigmented areas can be easily camouflaged with base while the effects of the laser fades.
Is the treatment painful?
The treatment is uncomfortable, but 99% of people tolerate the treatment quite easily. If someone has an unusual sensitivity to the laser treatment then appropriate analgesics will be prescribed.
Will the pigmented areas come back?
If the underlying cause of the problem persist, like continual excessive sun exposure, then the pigmentation can reappear over time. Every patient is therefore given a post treatment plan to minimize the chance of the pigmentation returning.
What does the laser pigment removal treatment cost?
It depends on the size of the area that needs treatment. As a general guideline, a full-face treatment will cost between R1500 and R2200.
dear doc
I have a birthmark on the one side of my face,will this treatment remove my birthmark.
Dear Yugi. I depends on the type of birthmark….. Can you come and show me?
I got freckles on my face since i was a kid, and now i’m 28, and i do think i got this because it’s in my blood like my dad and grandmother but few years ago it started to be freckles caused by the sun and they get darker in summer and lighter in winter, they’re so stubborn just won’t go away even with the strong facial creams i use like bioderma. Would laser remove em forever, or just make em go lighter.
Thanks
Dear Diane. Laser will improve freckles, but nothing will prevent them forever, except perhaps religious use of sunblock.
My whole face is full of freckles can i get rid of them all and how much will it cost
Dear Matt. It depends on the colour of the freckles. If they are mostly brownish and not reddish then you can improve them with a laser that targets melanin. Whole face treatments cost between R1600 and R2000 in general.
Do you offer treatment options for diminishing the appearance of stretch marks?
Dear Elena. There are some options, but in general the treatment of stretch marks are problematic.
dear doc
its pigmentation not scars! so does the laser treats it or there are other medication i can use?
Dear Nosyba. In black skin pigmentation is treated with various creams combined with sunblock. Laser treatment, for pigmentation, is not really an option in black skin. Read here about the various cream options.
dear doc
its very hard for me to come to u, but i just want some consult that of the laser is my only treatment to remove it or not! i dont know what is the difference between lesions and scars..anyhow when the eczema comes it increases! but its always there i have to hide it with makeup so!
hi dr.
i am 24 old year, i was born with eczema, it left scars of pigmentation around my mouth and its really annoying me, i tried Retonid it made it worse!i tried Hydroquinone didnt do much effect so i want to ask what kind of other treatments are possible to my case? im really desperate and i need your help
Dear Nosyba. It treatment depends on whether the lesions are mostly pigmentation or mostly actual scarring. I suspect it will be the first. If possible come and show me.