Laser Treatment For Hyperpigmentation Over Face!

Hyperpigmentation is a medical condition in which there is too much melanin in your skin. Melanin is a pigment that lends color to our skin. It is a natural substance but its concentration in our skin may increase beyond acceptable levels because of many factors like emotional stress, over-exposure to the sun or trauma to the skin. People with darker skin get affected more by hyperpigmentation. While hyperpigmentation is not a medical disease, many people affected by it want to get it treated because of cosmetic reasons. One line of treatment of hyperpigmentation is laser treatment.

History of laser treatment
Laser treatments for skin disorders are not new. They have been in vogue since 1964 for the removal of vascular birthmarks etc. Hyperpigmentation was also treated with lasers but the aftermath of this treatment was a scarred skin area.

Benefits of laser treatment
There are more benefits than risks when it comes to using lasers for treating this medical condition. Today, concentrated bursts of laser energy are used to target the affected areas of your skin. There are lesser chances of the skin getting scarred. An important side-benefit is boosting the growth of collagen production within your skin. Collagen is a protein and forms an important part of the connective tissue that holds the skin together and is also responsible for the skin glow.

Types of laser treatment

1. CW lasers- Also known as Argon and Carbon dioxide lasers are used to treat large areas of the affected skin. Exposure to the laser is long and continuous.
2. Quasi-CW- Unlike the earlier treatment, this one emits short bursts of laser energy. There is little chance of your skin getting scarred which is a significant risk in the case of CW lasers.
3. Pulsed lasers- In this type of laser treatment, there are longer rest periods between bursts of energy. The intention is to give time to the skin to recover and heal from its exposure to the laser energy.

Please consult your dermatologist before undergoing one of these kinds of laser treatments.

Aftercare
Laser hyperpigmentation treatment can take as much as 35-40 minutes, maybe longer if the affected skin area is larger. Post the exposure of your skin to the laser bursts, it may become sensitive and develop a stinging sensation. It may also become swollen. Doctors advise the patients in such cases to avoid exposure to the sun, avoid application of sunscreen of 30 SPF and more and also to stay away from fragranced skin products.
Avoid any further treatment for the next four weeks after the first laser exposure. Generally, treatment for hyperpigmentation calls for multiple exposures to laser and these may last for several months until you have achieved your desired skin complexion.

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!