TACKLING SKIN PIGMENTATION WITH LASERS
Laser Your Skin Pigmentation Away
In the quest for flawless skin, battling skin pigmentation issues such as dark spots, freckles, and melasma can be a frustrating challenge. However, modern aesthetics medicine offers a panacea in the form of lasers, which harness concentrated beams of light energy to target and treat various types of skin pigmentation.
What is Skin Pigmentation?
Skin pigmentation refers to the colour of our skin, determined by the presence and activity of a pigment called melanin. Melanin comes in two primary forms: eumelanin (responsible for brown and black hues) and pheomelanin (responsible for red and yellow hues). The balance between these two types of melanin, along with genetic and environmental factors, determines our skin colour.
Skin pigmentation is a natural process, and everyone has some form of pigmentation. However, when the balance of melanin is disrupted, issues may arise. At Alaxis Medicare, we offer a complete suite of laser offerings to tackle skin pigmentation. Many of our patients come to us seeking help with hyperpigmentation, where patches or many small spots become darker than the surrounding areas. This condition is often caused by sun exposure, hormonal changes, or skin injuries.
Understanding Laser Treatment for Pigmentation
So… What are Lasers?
Imagine lasers as focused beams of light energy, each designed to tackle specific types of skin pigmentation issues. Just as different types of coffee beans yield different flavours of coffee, lasers come in various wavelengths that target pigments at different depths under the skin.
How Lasers Work on Skin Pigments
When a laser beam hits the skin, it penetrates the outer layers to reach the pigmented cells beneath. Here’s where it gets interesting: similar to how a darker coffee bean absorbs more heat than a light-coloured one, dark pigments under your skin absorb laser energy while lighter areas reflect it. This “selective absorption” is the mechanism of action that laser machines use to precisely target and break down pigmentation.
From “Beans to Powder”
The laser energy acts like a conduit, turning coffee beans into powder. While the body struggles to clear large coffee beans, it efficiently removes tiny specks of coffee powder. Similarly, lasers break down stubborn pigments into smaller particles that the body’s natural processes can easily eliminate (flushing out the coffee powder).
Choosing the Right Laser for Your Skin
Not all lasers are created equal when it comes to treating pigmentation. Depending on whether your pigmentation is superficial, moderate, or deep, a qualified aesthetics doctor will recommend the type of laser best suited for you:
- Surface pigments (such as freckles or light sunspots) are effectively treated with lasers like the yellow laser or alexandrite laser, which target pigments closer to the skin’s surface.
- Moderate pigments (such as melasma) require a more potent approach, often using lasers such as the Pico 755nm laser, which penetrate slightly deeper to address more stubborn pigmentation.
- Deep pigments (such as birthmarks or deeper melasma patches) necessitate even deeper-penetrating lasers such as the Pico 1064nm laser, which can reach and break down pigments buried deep within the skin.
Limitations of Laser Treatment Alone
While lasers excel at removing existing pigmentation, they cannot prevent new pigments from forming. Think of it like managing a coffee powder factory: while lasers efficiently clean up the end product, preventing new batches of coffee beans requires additional measures.
Synergistic Treatments for Optimal Results
At Alaxis Medicare, we practice a dual, synergistic approach:
- Removing existing pigments: Laser treatments effectively ‘wash away’ existing pigmentation from the skin’s surface and deeper layers.
- Preventing new pigments: We achieve this by using medications such as topical creams or oral treatments. These are effective in blocking the mechanisms that produce new pigments.
Consulting with a qualified aesthetics doctor is the first step in determining the most suitable laser treatment for your specific pigmentation concerns. When it comes to treating skin pigmentation issues, lasers stand out as they offer tailored solutions depending on the depth and type of pigmentation.
Alaxis Medicare has been performing laser treatments for 20 years. Contact us via WhatsApp at +65 81257655 to schedule a consultation and find the laser treatment solution that best suits you.
