It’s somewhat amazing to think that we live in a world with practical applications for lasers. Our greatest science fiction dreams have come true – though maybe not in the way that we expected. One of the most surprising, but effective uses for lasers has turned out to be in the field of cosmetics. The ability to transmit heat and energy into and under the skin has opened up a variety of new treatment options for a variety of skin conditions.
One of the most common requests we get is about lasers for hyperpigmentation. However, there is no single cause of hyperpigmentation – and by the same token, there’s no single laser treatment for hyperpigmentation. Here, we’ll go over which laser treatments are best for your specific hyperpigmentation woes.
What is hyperpigmentation?
Hyperpigmentation is, in the simplest form, discoloration on the skin, with certain areas being darker than the rest. This is, understandably, rather distracting. Hyperpigmentation has many forms and many causes. Here are some of the most common:
Freckles: Yep, freckles are a form of hyperpigmentation. Their cause is mainly genetic, and exacerbated during the summer months in people with paler skin. A little bit of freckling is often considered charming, but sometimes too much sun exposure can cause them to bloom out of control.
Melasma: Thai kind of hyperpigmentation takes the form of brown or grey patches on the face. It’s sometimes known as the “mask of pregnancy”, because it’s triggered by hormonal changes.
Post Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation (PIH): This is a broad term, which covers all the kinds of hyperpigmentation left on your skin from inflammation or injury. Acne, eczema, psoriasis – you name it, these skin conditions can leave a permanent unwanted mark.
Sunspots: Also known as age spots, these are flat, dark patches of skin. As the name suggests, they are caused by damage from overexposure to the sun.
There are also plenty of forms of hyperpigmentation without official names. In particular, it should be noticed that certain genetic markers, or drug use, can also cause hyperpigmentation on the skin.
What laser treatments for hyperpigmentation do I need?
There are a lot of different types of cosmetic lasers, and we’re not going to go over them all in detail. Generally, lasers provide relief for hyperpigmentation in a few ways. The laser can disrupt and destroy damaged cells, which are then regenerated, while the heat from the laser can help promote collagen growth and firmer skin.
Pulsed Dye Laser: This kind of laser is beneficial for melasma. PDLs use light at the frequency of reddish and brown pigmentations. By targeting the pigmentations in melasma, PDL can start to break it down, reducing the intensity and size of the discolorations.
Fractional Lasers: A modern kind of laser technology, fractional lasers can target only a small, specific part of the skin, instead of all of it at once. This lets it focus on just the area of discoloration. Fractional lasers can also be used to target different layers of this skin. This flexibility makes them ideal for targeting things like melasma and PIH.
Fraxel Lasers: A particular kind of Fractional Laser, Fraxel Lasers are noted for their variable settings and high level of precision. They’re useful against a variety of kinds of hyperpigmentation for that reason, and their customization helps them better match the treated areas to natural skin tones.
Intense Pulsed Light (IPL): Okay, technicality here. IPL isn’t technically a laser, as it’s not a single focused wavelength. Rather, it’s a series of different wavelengths pulsed beneath the skin. This can reduce the red intensity of many types of hyperpigmentation, especially sunspots, while also promoting collagen growth.
Note, of course, that these are just a sampling of the kinds of cosmetic lasers out there on the market. If you’d like to learn more about our own cosmetic lasers for hyperpigmentation, don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re always happy to answer questions.