How to get rid of pigment spots using laser: the essence of the procedure

Laser rejuvenation is a fairly popular and popular hardware cosmetology procedure, which more and more patients turn to every year.

In laser rejuvenation, a distinction is made between resurfacing and peeling. Laser peeling is essentially a light skincare procedure designed to renew the top layer of skin - the epidermis. Laser resurfacing is loved for its versatility and effectiveness. The resurfacing procedure is designed to renew the skin as much as possible - the effect affects both the epidermis and the dermis.

Some cosmetologists also classify IPL procedures (Intensive Pulse Light, i.e. “intense pulsed light”), but this is not correct: IPL procedures are used to treat skin hyperpigmentation, but are not laser.

People admit that they have been trying various means of eliminating hyperpigmentation for years, spending large sums of money, suffering the consequences of their own mistakes, until they come to the right conclusion:

hardware procedures are sometimes the only rational option for combating age spots and pigmented formations.

To combat pigmentation, professional cosmetologists offer patients either IPL procedures (aka IPL phototherapy) or laser resurfacing, depending on the severity of the problem and the general condition of the skin.

Alexandrite

The laser wavelength is 755 nm, the impact frequency does not exceed 10 Hz, and the power is 16 J. Such low indicators allow the light beam to penetrate the epidermis to a depth of 3 mm. This explains its limited range of effects.

The device is used for hair removal, rejuvenation procedures, removal of shallow spider veins, and treatment of superficial dyschromia (for example, freckles).

The diameter of the light beam that acts on the skin is 18 mm. The session goes quickly, and the cooling system avoids burns. The specialist will adjust the radiation strength according to your skin type, which will eliminate the appearance of scars.

Causes

The melanin pigment is produced in the skin in response to exposure to harmful factors that increase the formation of free radicals on its surface. This protective reaction is designed by nature to ensure that the skin does not lose its barrier properties. Melanin neutralizes free radicals and moves to the surface layer of the epidermis. Cells containing melanin are then naturally sloughed off as the skin renews itself. But the constant presence of harmful effects provokes chronic accumulation of melanin in cells and disruption of its natural utilization. This is how age spots appear.

Depending on the depth of the pigment, three types of hyperpigmentation are distinguished.

Types of hyperpigmentation according to the depth of melanocytes

The main causes of hyperpigmentation:

• Ultraviolet radiation is the most common factor in the development of hyperpigmentation.
• Inflammatory processes on the skin - acne and other processes that injure the skin layer, lead to disruption of its protective function.
• Hormonal changes – during pregnancy and menopause, sharp fluctuations in hormone levels in the blood stimulate the production of melanin.
• Taking antibiotics and medications that increase sensitivity to ultraviolet radiation stimulates hyperpigmentation.
• Temperature changes and exposure to chemicals lead to intense accumulation of melanin in the skin.

KTP Q-Switch and ruby

Ruby lasers are a little slower than other types, so you need to go through more procedures to get the desired effect. They remove age spots and tattoos. The radiation affects follicles, but only a certain type, and is suitable for dark hair on fair skin.

The KTP Q-Switch laser from the German company Asclepion Laser Technologie is considered a more advanced model. It combines the properties of neodymium and ruby ​​lasers. This innovative technology is based on a combination of high power and ultra-short pulses.

The fractional nozzle operates over an area of ​​up to 10 mm. When changing it, the device automatically adjusts to the size of the spot, and the display shows all the information the cosmetologist needs. The equipment can be connected to a computer, and then all the data will be displayed on the screen.

The device removes multi-color tattoos, pigment spots, and spider veins well. It is used for rejuvenation, photoepilation, and treatment of acne. The laser is completely safe and minimizes the possibility of tissue scarring.

Removal of pigmentation with AcuPulse laser

Levon Chakhoyan’s clinic is equipped with new equipment of the latest generation - the AcuPulse laser unit.

AcuPulse is a new carbon dioxide laser from Lumenis with built-in SuperPulse™ technology, providing precision pigment spot removal procedures. This protects neighboring and deep tissues from injury, which means it facilitates the recovery period.



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Preparation

4 weeks before the session, cosmetologists do not recommend sunbathing in a solarium or in the sun, and they recommend applying sunscreen to your skin when going outside. 2 weeks before treatment, patients should not go to the pool, bathhouse or sauna. Before the procedure itself, no scrubbing, chemical peeling, makeup or self-tanning are done. It is also necessary to limit the intake of certain medications: non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, retinoids.

At the first consultation, the doctor will determine the skin phototype, find out the presence of contraindications, select settings for the device, and give individual recommendations.

The principle of laser action on pigment spots

You may know how a laser “works” during hair removal - its radiation is literally “absorbed” by the hair shaft, causing it to instantly burn out and the hair follicle to die. The laser pulse in this case uses the pigment melanin, which is abundant in hair and follicle cells, as a target.

If a laser configured for hair removal is directed at the skin, the skin will get burned and a lighter spot may subsequently remain on it. The radiation from such a laser is too powerful and it is enough not only to heat and destroy melanin, but also to spread to surrounding cells, overheating them too.

But if you choose the right settings - the energy of the pulse, its duration and the frequency of emission of laser flashes, then you can transfer just enough energy to the skin so that it concentrates on the pigment, destroys it, without being transmitted to “healthy” cells and without damaging them.

On the face

The area of ​​wave exposure is cleaned of makeup, and then an antiseptic is applied. If the patient has sensitive skin, an anesthetic is used. In order not to injure moles with the tip, they are lubricated with cream, and for better penetration of radiation, the skin is sometimes covered with a special gel. Before the treatment, the patient puts on glasses, which he does not take off until the end of the session.

During the procedure, the cosmetologist points the tip at the spots and treats the desired area. In the affected area, the patient feels a slight tingling and heating. The intensity of the sensation depends on the individual sensitivity of the skin.

After hardware treatment, the surface is cooled for a long time, and then an anti-inflammatory balm is applied to restore it and a cream to protect against ultraviolet radiation.

The session is painless and helps to quickly get rid of age spots on the face. The laser is completely safe, because it acts selectively and does not harm neighboring tissues.

Expert commentary

Elena Oleinichenko, cosmetologist, dermatologist, dermatovenerologist.

Dermatologist, cosmetologist, trainer of the Academy of Cosmetology Elena Oleinichenko comments:

“Hyperpigmentation (hypermelanosis) is caused primarily by excessive exposure to ultraviolet rays. Melasma often affects both men and women. Another type of hyperpigmentation, chloasma, is more typical for pregnant women. There are also post-inflammatory hyperpigmentations, when dark spots remain on the skin after acne, trauma or intensive cosmetic procedures. With age, a person develops age-related lentigo. It is worth understanding that before removing hyperpigmentation on the face, it is necessary to examine it. There are frequent cases of degeneration of pigment spots into malignant neoplasms. Treatment of hyperpigmentation at the Academy of Cosmetology begins with skin dermatoscopy using the FotoFinder system. After determining the concentration and depth of the pigment, as well as the absence of malignant mutations, treatment is prescribed aimed at restoring the protective properties of the skin and destroying pigmented cells. To remove hyperpigmentation, our clinic uses different protocols using advanced hardware, injection and therapeutic methods.”

Correction of hyperpigmentation on the face is carried out using hardware methods, as well as with the help of injections and cosmetic care procedures. The use of laser techniques gives the greatest effect - the laser bleaches hyperpigmentation at any depth.

Rehabilitation

Swelling and redness may occur after the session, but these symptoms should subside after a few days. As a result of laser treatment, pigment spots may darken, but within 7 days crusts form in their place, which cannot be removed independently. A little later they will peel off on their own and disappear.

Sunscreen is applied to the face and exposed areas of the body, and the remaining treated areas are covered with a soft cloth made of natural material. They are not rubbed with a hard washcloth while bathing, and products containing alcohol are not used for care. After the procedure, patients do not take a hot bath or go to the sauna or bathhouse.

Benefits of laser pigment spot removal

Hardware treatment is a completely safe procedure. Unlike injections, there is not even a minimal threat of infection. Thanks to the cooling system, most patients tolerate this treatment painlessly.

A large number of sessions are often not required to obtain the desired result. Sometimes, to remove a pigment spot with a laser, it is enough to undergo 1-2 procedures. Their average duration will be from 5 to 20 minutes.

The skin is not injured during therapy. Patients do not experience side effects such as scars, burns or cicatrices, and after hardware exposure they do not require long rehabilitation. The result of the procedure lasts forever, and the pigment spot no longer appears in the same place.

Rehabilitation period after laser removal of hyperpigmentation

Laser resurfacing of age spots does not require special preparation from the patient. It is advisable to undergo the procedure in cold and cloudy seasons, refraining from visiting the solarium at least a month before it.

The course of procedures is calculated by the doctor based on the etiology of age spots, their age and color, location, size, as well as the general condition of the patient’s skin. “Standard” pigment spots can be removed in one session. For diffuse or intense hyperpigmentation, a cycle of 3-5 sessions is required, spaced 3-4 weeks apart.

In the first 3-5 days after laser resurfacing, you should take care of your skin and use cosmetics recommended by your doctor. It is allowed to use pharmaceutical creams and ointments that activate the regeneration process (for example, Bepanten or Bepanten+). It is advisable to wash your face with warm water and a soft cleansing gel or foam. Irritating influences in the form of scrubs, ice, etc. should be excluded.

It is strictly forbidden to tear off the crust with your hands.

From the first day after the procedure until the next session (if provided) or for 3-4 weeks, it is mandatory to use “sanblocks” - caring or decorative cosmetics with a high sun protection factor (minimum SPF - 70-80). This recommendation is relevant for everyone - even those who believe that they are not exposed to the sun because they are constantly in the office and get to it by car. During the autumn-winter seasons, the use of creams with SPF is also mandatory.

During recovery, avoid:

• Natural and artificial insolation;
• Mechanical and chemical peelings;
• Facial massage;
• Visiting a bathhouse or sauna;
• Swimming in ponds (in the early stages of healing).

You should consult a cosmetologist about any changes to your usual skin care routine!

What can the procedure be combined with?

Laser pigmentation treatment can be carried out in conjunction with:

• peelings;
• plasma lifting;
• introduction of fillers;
• mesotherapy;
• elos technologies;
• biorevitalization;
• fractional rejuvenation.

These procedures correct and consolidate the result. Injections with a complex of vitamins help restore the epidermis and improve its condition. As a result, the skin retains its youth for a long time, looks uniform and smooth. However, it is advisable to take a two-week break between procedures.

Treatment methods for pigmentation

• injection treatment of pigmentation - based on the introduction of subcutaneous injections that help whiten pigment spots; cells stop synthesizing pigment in excess;
• laser treatment of pigmentation is a method based on the phenomenon of photothermolysis, which consists in the ability of pigment cells to absorb the energy of a laser beam, leading to their destruction;
• hardware treatment of pigmentation - allows you to controllably break up/burn existing pigmentation using electromagnetic, light, cold, ultrasound and other types of influence that trigger the processes of regeneration and renewal of the skin;
• drug treatment of pigmentation is a technique based on taking systemic drugs and topical medications applied to the surface of problem skin.

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How to remove pigment spots with laser: useful video

Videos about how treatment is carried out are posted on their websites by beauty salons or medical centers that provide this service. Here you can study all the stages and features of the procedure, as well as clearly see the effectiveness of laser removal of hyperpigmentation.

Laser therapy successfully removes age spots of any type and diameter. After completing the course, the skin is rejuvenated, looks healthy and clean. To keep it in this form, you need to follow all the recommendations of the cosmetologist and, if necessary, undergo complex treatment.

Recommended Procedures

M22 photorejuvenation (IPL therapy) is a gentle and targeted method that is included in many hyperpigmentation correction programs.

Laser rejuvenation and non-ablative laser peeling Fraxel - procedures are ideal for skin of any age that shows signs of photoaging.

Ablative laser rejuvenation and AcuPulse ablative laser peel – effectively removes hyperpigmentation spots.

Removal of complex hyperpigmentation with the Q-switch laser - acts evenly on deep-seated and difficult-to-remove pigmentation.

Geneo+ care - maximum hydration and lightening of age spots due to complex effects, ideal for skin after sunburn.

Mesotherapy - the use of cocktails with brightening and moisturizing components allows you to stop the process of melanin formation and restore skin health.

Biorevitalization - preparations with hyaluronic acid help to quickly restore the water-lipid barrier of the skin and accelerate the natural removal of pigment.

How to remove pigmentation on the face?

Skin hyperpigmentation is the second most common reason for visiting cosmetology clinics in Moscow. Most often, older women and men turn to cosmetologists and dermatologists with this problem. Slightly less often, pigment spots bother young people. Hyperpigmentation spots of various sizes and colors occur for various reasons, but most often patients pay attention to the appearance of pigmentation on the face. Pigmentation does not disappear on its own, and in some cases may indicate malignant changes in the skin.