Melasma is a common skin disorder that loosely translates to “black spots”. It causes sufferers to develop light brown, dark brown and or greyish-brown patches on the person’s skin. It is one of the most difficult pigmentation problems in the world to treat due to it being a multifaceted condition.
All the above are contributing factors to melasma, and these factors that cause melasma will continue to stimulate the skin to develop melasma pigments if the individual is exposed to them.
Factors such as:
- Gender
- 90% of melasma sufferers are female.
- Genetic Factors
- If you have a family history of melasma there is a good chance you will have it too.
- Asians or people with darker skin tones are more likely to develop melasma.
- Sun Exposure
- Excess sun exposure can cause the melanin cells in the body to produce excess melanin pigments which causes melasma spots.
- Hormonal Factors
- Pregnancy can cause a person to develop melasma.
On the bright side, melasma is not a life-threatening condition and any attempt at treatment is purely for cosmetic reasons.
Also, do note that melasma might not be permanent, for example pregnant patients who develop melasma can recover from it after a period of time, upon delivering the baby.
But on the other hand, if the melasma condition persist for a long time, it’s more likely that it will be a lifelong condition and up to now there is no permanent treatment for it.
Pico Laser Therapy for Melasma:
Pico laser technology is a specialized type of laser that can be used to treat melasma. Pico lasers uses ultra-short pulses of energy to target and break down excess pigmentation cells in the skin caused by melasma. The laser emits light in extremely fast bursts, measured in picoseconds (trillionths of a second).
During a session of laser treatment for melasma, the energy from the Pico laser is absorbed by the pigmented cells. This energy then proceeds to break down the excess melanin which is then eliminated by your own body. This helps to lighten and reduce the appearance of melasma spots.
Pico laser treatment is considered the current gold standard for hyperpigmentation treatment for the following reasons:
- Speed and precision:
Pico laser delivers ultra-short pulses of energy in picoseconds, which is faster and more precise compared to other laser machines. The rapid pulses minimize heat build-up in the skin, reducing the risk of thermal damage and discomfort during the treatment. The ultra short pulses also eliminates one of the major complications faced by other lasers, as they would usually cause rebound hyperpigmentation and coupled with the fact that many other lasers are not very suitable for our Asian skin tone. - Enhanced safety profile:
Pico laser treatment has a lower risk of side effects such as hyperpigmentation or post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation compared to other laser treatments. The shorter pulse duration of the Pico laser allows for targeted treatment of the pigmented cells while minimizing damage to the surrounding skin. - Deeper pigment clearance:
Pico laser can target and break down pigmentation at deeper levels of the skin compared to other lasers. This enables more effective clearance of melasma pigmentation. - Stimulates collagen production:
Pico laser treatment stimulates the production of new collagen in the skin. Increased collagen production can help improve the overall texture, tone, and elasticity of the skin affected by melasma.
What to expect from your Melasma Pico Laser Treatment:
In the context of melasma treatments, treatment time usually ranges from 5 to 15 minutes, depending on your personal pigmentation condition. Directly after your session you will experience some redness which may last around 1 to 3 hours.
Most patients will see results within 2 to 4 weeks after treatment as the body requires some time to expel the fractured pigments. You may experience some slight darkening of the treated melasma areas initially, but do not worry this is only a temporary side effect, and maximum results can be seen 2-3 months after starting your Pico laser treatments.
Subsequent treatments are typically spaced around 3 to 6 weeks apart.
