Pigmentation treatment is one of the most common treatment in Asia.
Not all the pigmentation is the same. Treatment should based on the cause of pigmentation.
Common pigmentation:
Most pigmentation is triggered by UV exposure. However, post-inflammatory hyper-pigmentation is caused by Inflammation (such as after acne, eczema, insect bite reaction, allergic reactions) or trauma to the skin. These skin injury cause melanocytes (pigment cells) to produce more pigment in the skin.
Treatment
Sun Protection
Strict sun protection including the application of a broad-spectrum sunscreen containing zinc and titanium dioxide.
Latest sunscreen such as Heliocare 360 protect skin from UVA, UVB, Infrared exposure and is especially important for pigmentation prone patients such as melasma. Laser treats pigmentation but cannot prevent future pigmentation.
Doctor Consultation
Doctor assessment is the most important step in pigmentation treatment as different cause of pigmentation respond to different treatment. For examples, topical skin bleaching cream is always the first line treatment for melasma and post-injury hyper-pigmentation. Dermal pigmentation such dermal pigmentation will only respond to laser, not cream.
Topical Cream
Pigmentation lightening cream contains Hydroquinone, Tretinoine are used by dermatologist for melasma. Mild exfoliative agent such as glycolic acid help the cell turnover and pigmentation removal as well. Before using these cream, it is important to consult doctor first.
Skin Peeling
Remove superficial pigmentation only.
Energy Devices
Not all the pigmentation is the same. Treatment should based on the cause of pigmentation.
Common pigmentation:
- Freckles (genetic)
- Lentigo (sunspots)
- Melasma (hormonal)
- Hori’s Naevi (genetic and hormone)
- Post-inflammatory hyper-pigmentation (post-inflammation of the skin)
Most pigmentation is triggered by UV exposure. However, post-inflammatory hyper-pigmentation is caused by Inflammation (such as after acne, eczema, insect bite reaction, allergic reactions) or trauma to the skin. These skin injury cause melanocytes (pigment cells) to produce more pigment in the skin.
Treatment
Sun Protection
Strict sun protection including the application of a broad-spectrum sunscreen containing zinc and titanium dioxide.
Latest sunscreen such as Heliocare 360 protect skin from UVA, UVB, Infrared exposure and is especially important for pigmentation prone patients such as melasma. Laser treats pigmentation but cannot prevent future pigmentation.
Doctor Consultation
Doctor assessment is the most important step in pigmentation treatment as different cause of pigmentation respond to different treatment. For examples, topical skin bleaching cream is always the first line treatment for melasma and post-injury hyper-pigmentation. Dermal pigmentation such dermal pigmentation will only respond to laser, not cream.
Topical Cream
Pigmentation lightening cream contains Hydroquinone, Tretinoine are used by dermatologist for melasma. Mild exfoliative agent such as glycolic acid help the cell turnover and pigmentation removal as well. Before using these cream, it is important to consult doctor first.
Skin Peeling
Remove superficial pigmentation only.
Energy Devices
- Pigment Laser - The PICO pigment laser has been innovated to target pigmented cells but causes minimal injury to the normal skin. Side effect is rare and if happen is temporary. The doctor has to access the pigmentation type and select the right laser for each condition.
- IPL - The pulsed light is non-ablative and effective for epidermal pigmentation. There is zero downtime and well tolerated.