HOW LASER PIGMENTED LESIONS REMOVAL WORKS
Looking to refresh your look?
Brown spots on the face, chest, and hands result from sun damage and other factors.
Removing these spots can reverse the signs of aging.
The removal process leaves no scarring and you will be facing no downtime.
About Sunspots:
Brown spots result from the irregular production and deposition of melanin by melanocytes (pigment making cells) in the skin. Some lesions are present at birth (café au lait patches, Nevus of Ito, Nevus of Ota), but most occur with age or as a result of overexposure to the sun (age spots, freckles, lentigines). Although most pigmented lesions are harmless, they can detract from your skin’s natural beauty. Thanks to specialized technology, most of these lesions can be effectively faded with lasers.
Treating Pigmented Lesions:
Most pigmented lesions are benign, but some are melanomas. Because pigmented lesion laser treatment is only for cosmetic purposes we recommend that before the procedure, you provide a doctor's note stating that your pigmented lesions have been checked and is non cancerous and are cleared to be removed .
The Q-switched Laser is not appropriate for pregnant women or patients who have taken Accutane for the past six months. Persons with a history of cold sores or herpes simplex virus should not have this procedure until they are treated for these conditions.
Treatment for Pigmented Lesions:
The treatment is fairly quick, depending on how many spots we are treating it can take anywhere from 5-15 minutes. The sensation during the treatment has been compared to a snap of a thin rubber band. Most patients don’t require any topical anesthesia, though it can be used if requested.
When the skin absorbs the laser energy, it will turn gray or white for a few minutes. There will be bruising in areas where there is a lot of pigment. Over the next several days, shallow blisters or crusting may develop. The skin heals within 7-10 days, usually without wound care. The healed skin is initially pink but regains pigmentation and blends into the surrounding skin over time. Occasionally, if there is significant sun damage, the treated area may remain somewhat pink for two to four weeks, and there may be some flaking or peeling during this time. This is a normal process as the body removes the pigment from the skin. There may be some lightening or darkening of the treated area for several months after laser treatment. This is usually temporary and subtle.
Pre-Treatment Brown Spots
Avoid sun exposure and tanning before treatment.
Remove any makeup or lotions before your appointment.
Post-Treatment Brown Spots
You can expect the spot we treated to turn a darker color and will crusts for a few days to 2 weeks (if on the legs, it may even be 3-4 weeks). We recommend that you treat these with Aquafore or Vaseline and keep them covered with bandages until they are healed, as this speeds the healing. Although you can use makeup over the treated areas, they may be difficult to cover with makeup. Avoid any sun exposure and always wear sunscreen (even on cloudy days).
For more information or to schedule your FREE Consultation, call us at (734) 972-0959.