Pigmented Lesions
WHAT IS PIGMENTED LESIONS/SUN SPOTS/ AGE SPOTS?
Pigmented lesions are areas of skin that have become discolored due to an increase in the amount of pigment cells in the area. These lesions can occur on any part of the body and can vary in color, size, and shape. They can be caused by age, sun exposure, genetics, hormones, or other medical conditions. Most pigmented lesions are harmless, but they should be checked to rule out melanoma.
These skin spots and growths are caused by melanocyte cells in the skin. Melanocytes are the cells that produce melanin, the substance that gives color (pigment) to the skin. Common pigmented lesions include: Age spots/Sun Spots/Liver Spots
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 ant 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?
During laser age spot or sun spot removal, you can expect the affected area to be treated with a laser to break up the pigmentation of the spots. Depending on the size, shape, and number of spots, the laser energy can be adjusted to target the area with precision. The laser beam is typically cooled simultaneously to minimize discomfort. After treatment, the area may be slightly red and swollen and will usually heal within a few days.
AFTER THE TREATMENT
The purple/red colour will generally fade within 12 hours but the darker pigment over the area treated can remain for up to 10 days. This will gradually flake away and leave fresher skin with reduced pigmentation behind. Do not pick and scratch treated area. It may appear as a dry skin patch and sometimes a scab will form over the treated area.There will be some redness where you have been treated. The skin will also be a little dry and require moisturising, sometimes the skin gently peels – again this depends on the treatment regime your somatologist decide on with you. You will be advised to use a sunscreen factor 50 for a minimum of 2 weeks before and after treatment. If you do not continue to use sunscreen then you are going to expose your skin to the risk of further sun damage.
HOW MANY SESSIONS
The treatment usually requires 3 to 5 sessions, depending on the severity of the spots, and the healing time is very short.
Before and Afters
What is Laser Removal of Pigmented Lesions?
Lasers are a simple, fast, effective and safe tool for removing a wide variety of benign pigmented lesions, such as freckles, age spots, birthmarks, moles, certain vascular lesions, ephelides, melasma, seborrheic and actinic keratoses
How does it work?
Laser removal of pigmented lesions works by destroying the pigment in the skin without the need for excision.
This process in completed in 3 simple steps:
Step 1 – LIGHT ABSORPTION:
The laser produces short nanosecond pulses of intense light that pass harmlessly through the top layers of the skin to be selectively absorbed by the melanin pigment in the lesion.
Step 2 – PIGMENT BREAK-UP:
The laser light is transformed into photoacoustic waves which mechanically break up the melanin pigment into smaller particles.
Step 3 – PIGMENT REMOVAL:
These particles are then removed by the body’s own immune system, as the skin’s macro-phages clear the excess pigment from the area.
Why is wavelength important?
The laser wavelength is what determines which chromophore will be predominantly targeted by the laser to be selectively removed. Clinical studies show that superficial lesions can be treated most effectively with the KTP 532 nm wavelength, while the Nd:YAG 1064 nm wavelength can be used to target deeper-lying chromophores. Additionally, Q-switched light, available with Fotona’s QX MAX laser system, is especially effective due to its high peak powers and selective nature, enabling it to break apart pigments only and not cells. This means that pigment destruction can take place without ablating the skin.
Why is the QX MAX perfect for Laser Removal of Pigmented Lesions?
It is widely recognized in the medical community that Q-Switched lasers are the ideal tool for effectively removing benign pigmented lesions. Combining 4 laser modalities in an advanced, high-powered solution, Fotona’s QX MAX laser system effectively removes all common pigmented lesions. Fotona’s innovative R-HX handpiece produces a completely flat laser beam profile that is hexagonal in shape to allow for more precise and uniform coverage. Homogeneity of the laser beam profile is important in pigment removal treatments and skin whitening.
It ensures safety during treatment since laser energy is evenly distributed across the treated area. The system’s OPTOflex articulated arm increases precision and safety. OPTOflex generates absolute uniform beam profiles. Its ergonomic design allows easy and natural hand movement during procedures.
Advantages for You and Your patients
Laser treatment of pigmented lesions is quick, sutureless, has a rapid healing time and produces excellent results. It is suitable for all ethnic skin types. For example, Asian skin is highly sensitive to heat and often hyper-pigmentation can result from using the wrong laser sources or as a result of poor administration of the laser treatment.
The Nd:YAG or KTP Nd:YAG laser sources, on the other hand, have been generating desirable treatment results to all ethnic skin types.
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