Here’s How to Get Rid of Pigmentation
Here’s How to Get Rid of Pigmentation & Treatments Available
12 Mins Read – In our previous blog, we looked at preventive measures to prevent pigmentation problems through using sunblocks and people who are having Melasma. Here we look at Age Spots and Post Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation.
What are Age Spots?
There are a host of other conditions that can inflict psychological distress apart from wrinkles and fine lines as we start hitting our late 30s and onwards, ouch. We want to age gracefully like Michelle Pfeiffer or Daniel Craig but sometimes nature isn’t very fair, we blame inherited genes or stress, and often find ourselves needing that extra push. That’s what skin experts like us at Dr Cindy’s Medical Aesthetics here do. We can all age better with a helping hand, even machines require maintenance from time to time and humans are no better.
“We can all age better with a helping hand,
even machines require maintenance.”
Age Spots are generally small dots of black, brown or grey in colour and tend to be more associated with aging due to prolonged exposure in the sun and yes, it’s a hallmark sign of showing the world that we’re in our prime. Age Spots are largely triggered by extensive ultraviolet exposure. They are also known by other terms: Solar Lentigines, Senile Lentigines, Liver Spots, Sun Spots or sun-induced Freckles.
Areas Susceptible to Age Spots
- Face
- Shoulders
- Upper back
- Forearms
- Back of hands
- Shins
Signs of Age Spots
- About 1-3cm in diameter
- Dark brown, light yellow in colour
- Occurs mostly on sun exposed areas
- Age Spots are not painful, cosmetic in nature
People Most Susceptible
- Older People >40
- Fair-skinned people
- History of sun exposure and tanning
Also, dependent on your skin type, some people are more predisposed to certain skin pigmentation problems than others. Known as The Fitzpatrick Scale, it can be used to determine how your skin will react when exposed to ultraviolet rays. First developed in 1975 by Dr Thomas Patrick from Harvard Medical School, it lists six skin types classified from light to dark-skinned.
People who are most at risk of developing serious skin problems like skin cancer are with skin types I and II while types V and VI at a lower risk as people with more pigmentation have more protection from the sun but it should be noted that anyone, even people with darker skin can also get skin cancer.
The Fitzpatrick Scale
| Skin Types | Skin/Hair/Eye Colour | Skin Characteristic |
| I | White, very fair skin, blond or red hair, blue eyes | Always burns easily, doesn’t tan |
| II | White, fair, blond or red hair, hazel or green eyes | Burns easily, difficult to tan |
| III | Cream, White, fair, any eye colour, very common | Burns mildly, gradually tans |
| IV | Brown, atypical Mediterranean/Caucasian skin | Seldom burns, easy to tan |
| V | Dark brown; Middle eastern skin | Seldom burns, easy to tan |
| VI | Black, very dark skin | Doesn’t burn, very easy to tan |
Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation (PIH)
This type of skin problem is a result of injury, trauma, or inflammation that occurs primarily in people with darker skin types (III – VI) or due to acne1. When pimples heal, the dark spots that remain are known as PIH and even though the acne may have healed, the resultant scar is even more distressing.
As the skin heals after recovering from acne and/or pimples, it may overproduce melanin and it is this access and discolouration that can cause these blemishes to appear. Most people with acne do get some form of PIH but unlike an atypical acne scar that is either pitted, depressed – loss of tissue – or an overgrowth of tissue – resulting in a raised area – PIH doesn’t always result in an indelible mark that cannot be treated. As always, either acne or pigmentation-related, it is always easier to prevent than treat so getting skin treated early is easier than the cure.
Post Treatment Results – Pigmentation Issues
Age Spots or PIH can be treated with a variety of lasers and Dr Cindy’s Medical Aesthetics has the means to treat this problem holistically with a combination of different treatments but not limited to: CO2 Laser, Sylfirm, Natural Radiance Program, Clear and Smooth Laser, LaseMD.
- Zero – No downtime
- Treatments can be combined for maximum results
- About 4-6 sessions for each treatment on average
- About 10min – 30mins for each treatment
Using regular skin brightening peels and Medical Facials can also be used to further boost treatment results and achieve better outcomes.
Holistic Treatment Approach – Works best
We recommend combining these various treatments rather than sticking to a single treatment as medical research has shown by combining different laser types like with our Natural Radiance Program using a Norseld Dual Yellow Laser or with Sylfirm, using a pulsed type Radio Frequency (RF) approach is needed as Melanin has a broad absorption spectrum2. The melanin granules are broken up with the speed and wavelength of the laser beams by dispersion.
Make Lifestyle Changes
Medical follow-up and lifestyle changes are part and parcel of a successful recovery program3 but do note, individual results vary depending on how your skin responds to the treatment and pigment condition. Creams that can be purchased over the counter may not work as effectively as combination laser treatments and makeup only cover pigmentation spots, not treat them.
