Lasers and pigmentationFreckles and sun damage pigmentation respond extremely well to different laser treatments - especially the BBL. The erbium laser does a great job of removing brown age spots and lentigos.Both these treatments work well together.
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PigmentationDefinition: Facial skin pigmentation refers to brown marks on the face.The types of pigmentation that can occur on the face:1. Freckles: these are purely sun induced. If you dont go out in the sun, you don't get them. You never see them on someone's bottom. Freckles are more common in pale skin types with blue eyes and red hair. 2. Solar Lentigos: these again are predominantly caused by the sun. They are also known as liver spots and age spots. Larger then freckles, they are round blotches of pigment on the skin. Common on the more prominent areas of the face that get more sun, e.g. the cheek areas. Also occur on the back of the hands. 3. Melasma / Chloasma: this is the pigmentation that is both hormonal and sun induced. It is the type that occurs in a blotchy, more diffuse manner with accentuation across the cheek bones and forehead. It also can occur above the lip area. In contrast to lentigos that are more localised and circular, the pattern here is more diffuse and spread out. As hormones are a causative factor, many women find exacerbation of this sort of pigmentation both in pregnancy and with the oral contraceptive pill. Stubborn and tricky to treat it usually requires several different types of treatment to lighten it. Ongoing maintenance therapy is also important, especially sun protection as it has a high risk of returning. 4. Post-inflammatory pigment: this is pigment that occurs as a result of inflammation in the skin (such as after acne, trauma or even some beauty treatments like laser and micro dermabrasion). It is more common in darker skin types who tend to have more active pigment producing cells. Treatment of pigmentation.Treatments can be divided into the following:1. Sun protection and sun avoidance. Prevention is better than cure as they say. Sun protection will assist in preventing you from getting freckles or the blotches called solar lentigos. Sun protection also helps with the fading and treatment of melasma. Sun stimulates the pigment producing cells (called melanocytes) to make more pigment. Therefore, it is very important to block the sun, if you are going to treat any sort of pigmentation and also prevent new pigmentation occurring.When choosing a sunscreen make sure you look for ones that contain the physical blockers titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. These block both UVA and UVB rays protecting against ageing, pigmentation and sun cancer caused by the sun. 2. Products that help with exfoliation of the pigment.Pigmentation lightening can be achieved by lifting the pigment out of the skin. Certain ingredients help with this including alpha hydroxy acids (lactic acid, glycolic acid), beta hydroxy acids (salicylic acid), vitamin A in the form of retinoic acid, which are on prescription (eg retin A, retrieve, stieva A). With products that have AHA's, preferably use ones that have concentrations more than 10% AHA's, as studies have shown below this you don't get the results. The NCD Concentrated Clarifier is the perfect AHA / BHA serum to help with the fading of pigmentation. Chemical peels are also helpful in this way by peeling and lifting out the pigment deposited in the skin. 3. Products that block the pigment cells from producing pigment.The pigment cell that produces pigment and spreads it to the surrounding skin cells is called a melanocyte. These cells contain enzymes (tyrosinase is one of the main ones) that are needed to make pigment (melanin). Many lightening creams contain ingredients that block this enzyme and therefore stop pigment production. They only work while you are using the cream. Some important ingredients that inhibit tyrosinase and therefore stop pigment production are:1. Hydroquinone. Not only a powerful tyrosinase inhibitor, it also suppresses the synthesis of the enzyme as well. It is the gold standard in lightening agents and the most widely used and successful lightening agent for treatment of melasma and post inflammatory pigment. Hydroquinone occurs naturally in many plants, as well as coffee, tea, beer and wine. Hydroquinone can be found in over the counter products in 2% concentrations. The trick to get the best results - dermatologists prescribe hydroquinone in concentrations between 4-8%. The 2% does not work nearly as well, but the lower concentrations can be helpful in maintaining results long term after the stronger concentration has been used for 4 months.
2. Kojic Acid Natural Cosmeceuticals for Lightening the skin.Although not as effective as hydroquinone, these agents may help with skin lightening. More research and development is needed though to show that they have the ability to work as well as hydroquinone.
Liquorice Extract The skin lightening effect of these ingredients is by inhibiting tyrosinase activity.
Vitamin C Glycolic acid: an alpha hydroxy acid derived from sugar cane. Lactic acid: an alpha hydroxy acid derived from milk. These are important cosmeceuticals that have skin lightening effects. They promote desquamation (exfoliation) of the pigmented skin cells leading to their removal. The pigment is therefore lost more rapidly. Good to combine with hydroquinone. The exfoliation of the outer layers of skin cells also promotes the penetration of the other agents for skin lightening, particularly hydroquinone.
Vitamin B3 This is a naturally occurring acid that is produced by a yeast in the skin called Pityrosporum ovale. It is usually used in concentrations of 15- 20%. It is also helpful to treat rosacea and acne. |