10 Tips: Laser Treatment for Pigmentation You Must Know

Laser treatments are a popular option for pigmentation disorders. There are many laser treatment techniques and laser machines on the market, and most people have questions about how to choose a suitable device for Laser Treatment for Pigmentation. This post will help you know pigmentation, its origins and safe and effective treatment options.

What is the pigmentation of the skin?

Hyperpigmentation is a change in the colour, extent and depth of pigmentation of the skin due to various reasons. There are two types of pigments for humans:

On the one hand, the pigments produced by the body itself, such as melanin produced by melanocytes present in the skin.

On the other hand, different shades of melanin depend on the shade of the area. In the epidermis it is black or brown; Grey-blue in the superficial dermis; Cyan in the deeper dermis, etc.

What Causes pigmentation?

The main causes of skin pigmentation are endocrine disorders, weakened metabolism, dry skin, ageing, sun exposure, ultraviolet radiation, lack of sleep, physical exertion, etc.

Ageing and increased discolouration seriously affect people's facial appearance. As a result, the psychological stress of ageing is exacerbated, thus affecting the quality of life.

What are types of pigmentation?

Skin pigmentation is classified by type as melasma, stretch marks, butterfly spots, age spots, coffee spots and freckles. And it is a common and multiple skin disorder.

Apart from being an eyesore, hyperpigmentation could well be an indicator of some underlying health issues, sometimes with potentially serious implications. It certainly makes sense from the cosmetic as well as the health perspective, to get professional advice and help.

Popular Laser Solutions for pigmentation:

Considering the stubborn nature of the skin problem, light-based procedures are recommended for safe, reliable and convenient treatment. Depending upon factors such as extent, depth, age, gender, and causes of pigmentation,  the low fluence Q-switched lasers are most commonly used in treatment.

While laser treatment has been acknowledged as the most effective solution for skin pigmentation problems, especially melasma, several queries arise in people’s minds. There are many laser treatment techniques and laser machines on the market, and most people have questions about how to choose a suitable device and a safe treatment method. Let’s take a look at some of the common laser treatment options and equipment.

Laser Equipment for Pigmentation Treatments：

• Q-switched Nd.YAG laser

Q-switched lasers are frequently used for tattoo removal but are capable of addressing natural hyperpigmentation issues as well. These devices release energy in extremely short bursts (one billionth of a second) so pigment clusters deeper within the dermis can absorb heat without compromising surface skin.

• Super Picosure laser

Picosecond lasers release energy in even shorter bursts than the Q-switched laser variety, so fast that the skin doesn’t even register the heat. They work by generating a powerful acoustic wave that physically shatters pigment particles, effectively lightening areas of hyperpigmentation such as sunspots.

• Fractional laser resurfacing

These are often fractional lasers that are considered suitable for most skin types. Fractional lasers use a diffractive lens, which breaks up the beams of light, hitting the skin in a pixelated pattern so some columns receive light while others go untouched. These lasers are so designed to be gentle on the skin and minimize post-treatment downtime.

• Intense pulse light therapy (IPL)

IPL therapy is a type of non-ablative (fractional) laser treatment. Also known as a photo facial, IPL therapy stimulates collagen growth within the dermis. It usually requires multiple sessions.

IPL is used for all pigmentation issues, but flat spots especially respond to this treatment. It may also help reduce the appearance of wrinkles, spider veins, and enlarged pores.

How to Choose the best Laser for my skincare?

In general, it is not appropriate to treat all hyperpigmentation with the same laser, as each laser has its own advantages. Using a combination of these laser machines will achieve twice the result with half the effort.

Nd.YAG laser can break up large areas of pigmentation into smaller pieces. Then treated with a picosecond laser, the small pieces quickly turn into powder and are rapidly excreted as the body metabolises. Fractional laser can effectively help the skin to recover and even become smoother.

Besides, no matter how diligent you are with sunscreen, sunspots can continue to develop over the years. Although we are able to treat brown spots with chemical peels and lasers, maintenance is key.

What Happens During a Treatment Procedure?

The laser heats up and shatters the pigment. The pigment is then drawn to the surface without harming the surrounding tissue. Once drawn to the surface, the pigmented lesions will fade or dry and flake off the treated area, leaving the skin with an even tone and complexion.

Before and after:

Aftercare:

• There are no wounds created after treatment but only with very short downtime.
• Potential redness may appear within 24 hours after treatment which usually disappears within a few hours after treatment. Cold compresses are helpful to reduce discomfort.
• After laser treatments for removal of tattoos and unwanted pigment, the skin is more vulnerable to sunlight so minimizing sun exposure and use of sunscreen of SPF30+ is recommended.
• Avoid rubbing or scraping the treated area, which easily causes wound infection.
• Avoid bathing, hot baths, saunas and high-temperature environments within a week.
• Wash the treated area with neutral soap. Do not rub or use rough sponges in these areas. Gently press the area with a clean towel to dry it, do not drag immediately after washing.

What's the cost of a pigmentation removal laser machine?

BESTVIEW is a professional developer and manufacturer of medical & aesthetic devices since its beginning in 2001. With two R&D centres in Nanjing and Shenzhen, China.   Dr Li, a Fudan graduate with more than 10 years of R&D experience, leads the team to overcome cutting-edge technology and develop laser devices.

Bestview has developed several spot removal machines such as Q-switched Nd.YAG laser, Super Picosecond Laser, 755nm Long Pulsed Alexandrite Laser, etc. Not only does it have intelligent control technology, easy to operate, but it is also energy stable, safe and reliable.

Last but not least, the price of laser treatments for pigmentation is very low because we have the core technology and save a lot of costs. For more information, please visit https://www.bestviewbeauty.com/ or mail me info@laserbestview.com.

What's the cost of laser treatment for pigmentation?

In the United States, the cost of laser treatments to treat hyperpigmentation varies greatly. It depends on how much skin needs to be treated, the type of laser used, the individual performing the procedure, and geographic location.

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), the average non-ablative laser treatment costs approximately $1000 per session, whereas ablative treatments are roughly $2,330 per session.

• The cost of one Nd: YAG laser treatment typically costs between $600 and $800.
• One Picosecond session costs approximately between $400-$600.
• Most hyperpigmentation laser treatments require multiple sessions.