WHAT IS MELASMA?

Melasma, also known as chloasma, is a form of hyperpigmentation that appears on the face, especially on the cheeks, bridge of the nose, forehead, and upper lip and sometimes on other sun-exposed parts of the body, such as the forearms. Men can experience melasma, but it is much more common in women.

Melanin is the pigment that defines the colour of a person’s skin, and melasma is caused by an increase in melanin production. This increase is thought to be triggered by changes in hormone levels, especially those caused by pregnancy and oral contraceptives, as well as by the sun.

Melasma is not in any way harmful but can cause distress when it is very noticeable.

During pregnancy endogenous hormones stimulate the production of melanin pigments.

Some pregnant women experience melasma and the condition is sometimes referred to as “the mask of pregnancy”.

During pregnancy endogenous hormones (meaning the hormones that are produced naturally within the body) stimulate the melanocytes (the melanin producing cells located in the basal layer of the epidermis) causing them to produce more melanin.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

When laser treatment is used to treat pigmentation, the light from the laser targets the pigment in the skin and breaks it down into smaller fragments. These particles are then absorbed and eliminated from the body.

The laser is very precise, targeting the pigmentation precisely, without affecting any of the healthy surrounding tissue. The entire process involves using, short, powerful bursts of light energy to heat the pigmented areas of skin, breaking up the pigmentation and eliminating it naturally from the body. This is why laser treatment is an effective and safe way to reduce pigmentation and improve the overall appearance of the skin.

WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT DURING THE TREATMENT?

You can expect a laser treatment to take up to 20 to 30 minutes, depending on the type and size of the area being treated. During the treatment, you may experience some temporary sensations of heat and/or tingling, as well as redness.

Melasma is a complex condition that has been difficult to treat, with improvements only sustainable for short periods of time.
The patented MaQX Clear® procedure with the StarWalker® MaQX system is a multifactorial approach that not only treats the hypermelanosis symptoms, but is also believed to address the presumed vascular component of melasma.

StarWalker® MaQX from Fotona is a unique ultra-performance Q-switched laser system with the widest range of procedure modes optimal for delivering the multifactorial MaQX Clear® treatment.

The 1st step applies Q-s Nd:YAG with MaQX1, which delivers a subcellular photoacoustic effect oriented to the destruction of melanosomes and fragmentation of dermal melanin.

The 2nd step uses low-fluence, short FRAC3® pulses, which research suggests may be beneficial for microvascular components which cause erythema.

The 3rd step requires the use of the patented FracTAT™ technology for fractional non-ablative and ablative treatments with the purpose to stimulate
the exchange of keratinocytes and provide non-thermal rejuvenation of the tissue.

The 4th step VERSA Nd:YAG is applied when vascular lesions are visible.

For optimal results, several treatments (4-8) are needed. The final result is a visible reduction in melasma and other pigmentation disorders as well as rejuvenated, tighter and more youthful skin.