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Hyperpigmentation is a very common condition where patches of skin get darker than the normal color of the rest of the skin. This skin condition is caused by excess melanin which produces normal skin color, but in the case of hyperpigmentation, it creates deposits.
Liver or age spots are a form of this skin condition. They appear because of the sun damage. Usually, they are small and dark and form on hands and face or other body areas that are exposed to the sun. They usually affect older adults.
Melasma is a form of hyperpigmentation. It can also be called chloasma or “mask of pregnancy”. It represents larger patches of darker skin and usually appears on the forehead, face and abdomen. The people who usually develop melasma are pregnant ladies, ladies who take birth control pills and people who have darker skin tones. Melasma is usually triggered because of hormonal changes.
Hyperpigmentation can be caused by other skin conditions, like acne and other skin inflammations, which can leave dark spots on the skin. Also, the causes of hyperpigmentation may be injuries to the skin, surgeries and others. Another form of hyperpigmentation is freckles. They are formed because of genetics and can appear anywhere on the body.
All these forms of hyperpigmentation can get even darker when the skin is exposed to the sun. This happens because melanin protects the skin from too much exposure to the sun and absorbs ultraviolet rays. This way the skin gets tanned but already hyperpigmented areas get even darker and more pronounced. Therefore wearing a high SPF is crucial.
Even though hyperpigmentation is usually a harmless skin condition it can cause people to lose their confidence. At Lucia Clinic, patients can reduce or eliminate hyperpigmentation with the help of different treatments like laser therapy, chemical peels and microdermabrasion.
Viora IPL laser treatment is a groundbreaking procedure that effectively reduces hyperpigmentation. It is a versatile treatment and uses a special pigmentation filter to target, heat and eliminate deposits of melanin in the skin. After the treatment, the patient’s skin is clear and more evenly toned.
Because of customization, Viora IPL delivers effective and long-term results. It requires minimal to no downtime because it is a non-invasive procedure. It is absolutely safe and shortens the recovery period because it doesn’t damage healthy skin cells.
The customized treatment applicator emits powerful, broad-spectrum pulsed light to treat hyperpigmentation. All treatment parameters are set beforehand so every patient can receive a tailor-made treatment that addresses specific hyperpigmentation skin concerns. The therapist fully controls the strength and depth of the pulsed light and targets only the skin tissues affected by hyperpigmentation.
Prior to the laser treatment, the patient is consulted with Lucia Clinic’s skin therapist. The therapist examines the patient’s face and determines the type and severity of hyperpigmentation. Then a customized treatment plan is created that addresses the patient’s specific needs and goals. Also, the therapist decides how many treatment sessions are necessary to achieve the best results.
The patient’s skin is then cleaned and prepared for the treatment. The therapist can apply a topical numbing cream to the patient’s face. Next, the therapist applies sonic gel to the patient’s treatment area and sets the treatment parameters. The parameters are the strength of the light flash, the duration of the light pulse and the pause between the pulses. Since the treatment is fully customized the therapist controls the pulse duration and frequency. This ensures that the treatment is completely safe. The therapist then treats the patient’s treatment area in single zaps until the whole area is covered.
The treatment can last between 30 and 60minutes all depending on the size and severity of hyperpigmentation.
The procedure is quite straightforward and requires minimal to no downtime. The patient may experience minor side effects like redness and slight bruising in the treated area for 3 to 10 days.
After the treatment, the patient is recommended to stay clear of hot baths, saunas and vigorous exercise. Also, it is very important to wear a high SPF when exposed to the sun. The patients should avoid self-tanning creams or tanning beds for at least two weeks post-procedure.
After 2 or 3 treatment sessions, the patient will notice the initial results of the Viora IPL procedure. The hyperpigmentation will significantly reduce and the patient’s skin gets restored and more evenly toned.
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iPixel laser treatment is another effective method for reducing hyperpigmentation. It is an advanced treatment that is minimally uncomfortable and delivers long-term results. The procedure triggers the body’s natural healing processes and collagen production.
It is a safe procedure that requires minimal downtime and improves skin texture and tone.
Its effectiveness lies in combining ablative and non-ablative laser techniques. The beams of the pixel light are split up into multiple beams and can make different treatment patterns. The beams go through the patient’s epidermis and create tiny heat zones. The number and depth of beams are pre-set so that every patient can get a customized treatment plan.
When addressing hyperpigmentation, light beams create a 9×9 pattern with lower energy and gentle resurfacing. The healthy, surrounding skin is left undamaged and it helps to speed up the healing of the treated skin cells. The result is more evenly toned skin.
Before the treatment, the patient is consulted with Lucia Clinic’s skin therapist, who assesses the patient’s skin and creates a customized treatment plan. The treatment plan for hyperpigmentation include the duration of the procedure, the depth of beam penetration and others. The number of necessary treatment sessions is also determined during the consultation.
Then the patient’s skin is carefully cleaned and a topical numbing cream is applied to the targeted area. The therapist uses a special treatment applicator and places it on the patient’s skin. Then a short, powerful burst of energy is emitted to the surface of the skin. The laser creates tiny wounds and removes them in a precise way. Since this laser is a fractional ablative laser it removes the top layer of the skin and heats the underlying layer of skin in a safe and controlled manner.
The treatment can last between 20 to 30 minutes, all depending on the severity and size of hyperpigmentation.
Since this treatment is performed in a controlled and precise way, it provokes fewer side effects than traditional resurfacing lasers. The patient may experience redness of the targeted area and feel stinging, dryness and itching sensations. After 3 to 4 days, the patient’s skin starts to crust and peel and reveals more evenly toned skin. The hyperpigmentation gets significantly reduced.
The patient’s skin should be healed in 7 to 14days.
It is absolutely crucial to avoid sun exposure and tanning beds for 14 days and keep the skin moisturized. The patient should avoid saunas, hot baths and vigorous exercise for a couple of days post-procedure and not rub, scratch or pick the skin on the treated areas.
Read more on iPixel
Microdermabrasion is a minimally invasive procedure that reduces hyperpigmentation and restores skin texture and tone.
The treatment is performed with a special applicator that has an abrasive surface and sands away the outer layer of the skin in a gentle manner. After the treatment, the patient’s skin is healthy and more evenly toned.
Another microdermabrasion technique involves spraying fine particles to the skin surface and suctioning these particles at the same time.
Microdermabrasion is a safe treatment that can be used for most skin types and tones and successfully treat hyperpigmentation.
Prior to the treatment, the patient is consulted with Lucia Clinic skin therapist, who examines the patient’s skin and determines how many treatment sessions are necessary for the best results.
The treatment is non-invasive and doesn’t include a lot of preparation for it. The patient should avoid sun exposure, waxing and tanning beds for a week before the treatment.
On the day of the treatment, the patient’s skin is completely cleansed and prepared. Topical numbing cream is not necessary.
During the treatment, the therapist uses a special applicator to spray the particles or sand away the surface layer of the skin. The method is determined during the consultation.
When the treatment is finished, the therapist applies the moisturizer and sunscreen to the patient’s skin.
The procedure is relatively quick and can be over in an hour.
The side effects that might be caused by microdermabrasion include redness, swelling and tenderness which stop in a few hours. The patient skin may get flaky and dry, but he/she should use a moisturizer to reduce these sensitivities.
The treatment doesn’t require a long downtime because it is minimally invasive. The patient can continue with usual daily activities soon after the procedure.
It is very important to keep the skin hydrated and to use a high SPF when exposed to the sun.
The patient soon notices the improvements in his/her skin as the hyperpigmentation reduces. After the initial series of treatment sessions, the patient may get additional touch-up treatments to maintain the results.
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Chemical peels are effective treatments for reducing hyperpigmentation because they break up the deposits of melanin that form dark patches. They remove the surface layer of the skin and help new and healthy skin to reveal. The new skin is more evenly pigmented. Chemical peels can be of different types and strengths. Weaker chemical peels can treat superficial dark patches. For more severe hyperpigmentation stronger peels are used, but only by professional skin therapists.
There are three most common chemical peels -glycolic acid, salicylic acid and TCA.
Glycolic acid is Alpha-hydroxy – AHA acid that effectively addresses hyperpigmentation in a safe way. It is mild and doesn’t provoke as many side effects as other AHA peels. Since it doesn’t go deep in the skin layers it is most effective for surface hyperpigmentation.
Salicylic acid is Betahydroxy – BHA acid that successfully treats dark spots. It is safe and mild and causes minimal side effects. It is especially efficient in treating dark spots caused by inflammations like acne because it has anti-inflammatory characteristics.
Trichloroacetic TCA acid peels can effectively treat hyperpigmentation and are medium or deep peels. This acid can penetrate deeper into the skin than other chemical peels so it is suitable for deeper concentrations of melanin.
The effectiveness of a chemical peel depends on the concentration of the chemical solution. Weaker chemical peels can reduce hyperpigmentation, but more dramatic results are achieved with deeper peels.
Chemical peels can cause some side effects like redness of the skin, stinging, skin peeling, mild irritation and sensitivity to the sun. Chemical peels are most effective on lighter skin tones because there is a lower risk of severe side effects. For darker skin tones the best chemical peel is salicylic acid because it has anti-inflammatory characteristics.
The benefits of chemical peels for hyperpigmentation appear once the skin is regenerated. The new and healthy skin is more evenly toned with significantly less visible pigmentation.
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