WHAT ARE PIGMENTED LESIONS?
Melanin is what gives our skin its color. Pigmented lesions are dark in color simply because melanin is abnormally concentrated in one area of the skin. This can be due to various factors. Some are present at birth, but most occur with age or as a result of overexposure to the sun. Most are harmless but can be aging and unattractive.
ARE THERE DIFFERENT TYPES OF PIGMENTED LESSIONS?
Yes. Lentigines or age spots are premature aging brown marks, which appear on the backs of hands. Sunburn freckles are the result of sun damage and occur on the back, upper chest, and shoulders.
WHAT SHOULD I DO BEFORE TREATMENT?
If the area to be treated has a fresh suntan or has been treated with self-tanning lotion, it is best to wait a couple of weeks for the tan to fade before having treatment, because the tan will absorb and waste some of the laser energy intended for the pigmented lesion. A fresh suntan or color from a recent application of self-tanning lotion could also absorb enough laser energy to increase the risk of skin irritation or blistering.
HOW ARE PIGMENTED LESIONS TREATED?
We use the Cynosure® Apogee Elite™ laser set at the Alexandrite wavelength. Energy from the laser is very well absorbed by cells containing excessive concentrations of pigment, and not well absorbed by normal tissue, so the laser stimulates your body to eliminate the unwanted excessive pigment while having little or no effect on other tissues or on normal skin color. Lesions typically become raised and darker immediately after treatment and flake off the skin in about 10 days.
HOW MANY TREATMENTS ARE NEEDED?
Most people require 1-3 treatments spaced 4-8 weeks apart.
DOES IT HURT?
No, each pulse of laser light feels like tiny specks of hot bacon grease on the skin. Most patients find it very tolerable.
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER TREATMENT?
For the first half hour after treatment, the treated area may feel hot like sunburn and it might be red for the rest of the day. Protect the treated area from sun exposure until the skin is completely healed and the skin color has returned to normal.
WHERE SHOULD I GO FOR PIGMENTED LESIONS TREATMENTS?
Only a licensed professional with the knowledge and skill required to achieve optimum results should treat pigmented lesions.
CAN PIGMENTED LESIONS TREATMENTS BE COMBINED WITH OTHER TYPES OF TREATMENTS?
Absolutely! Many patients take advantage of the office visit to have Botox® which is a purified protein that reduces frown lines between the brows as well as dermal fillers like Juvederm™ that correct fine lines and enhance lips.