Brown Spots and Hyper Pigmentation

Melasma | Chloasma | Age Spots
Inflammatory Hyper-pigmentation

Facial brownspots and discoloration are the top reasons for cosmetic visits to dermatologists in Southern California. Year-round sun and outdoor lifestyle almost guarantees skin mottling and brown facial pigmentation.

Total Dermatology Patient treated with Cosmelan   

Although you may have tried and failed with previous efforts to erase pigment, the newer technologies over the last 2 years have resulted in some remarkable outcomes - new pigment-specific lasers, new topical formulations or blends of laser and topicals.

Effective Treatment Options for Brown Spots and Hyperpigmentation

Lumixyl Skin Brightening System  -  Topical - no hydroquinone

Silkpeel with Lumixyl Pro Infusion  -  A favorite!

Fraxel Dual Laser for Pigmentation  -  Micro-dot Laser
   
View Fraxel Dual Gallery

eMatrix Sublative Resurfacing  - Non-laser perfect for pigment prone skins

Cosmelan De Pigmentation  - Topical - with or without hydroquinone

  
View Cosmelan Gallery

IPL Photofacial   - Broad spectrum light
Perfecta Laser  - For combination red and brown discoloration

ViPeel Chemical Peel  - The "everything" 7 day peel

Recommended Treatment Products for Pigmented Skin

***Hispanic, Asian or Middle Eastern skin? Ask about the new eMatrix sublative resurfacing all-skin-type all-skin-color non-laser resurfacing.

Want to find out what works for YOUR skin? Call for a complimentary consultation - or if you need some professional discussion first, Request a personal call back from our Information Specialist. We offer close to a dozen options for clearing and blending brown spots so you can enjoy how you look!

How do Brown Spots and Age Spots form?

Pigmentation is color in your skin produced by melanin, a natural pigment that also determines eye and hair color. However, if too much melanin is produced in one area, the result is a brown patch on your skin ( brown spot or hyper-pigmentation.)

Types of Hyper-Pigmentation

Melasma or Chloasma: Skin coloration that appears as blotchy brown spots, often covering cheeks, forehead, or temples. This type of hyper-pigmentation can be hereditary, or triggered by hormonal changes such as pregnancy or menopause. Taking birth control pills can also cause Melasma.

Age Spots or "Liver" Spots: Smaller darkened patches usually on older adults who have been exposed to the sun for many years. These spots  can be seen on the face, forearms and backs of hands.

Post-inflammatory Hyper-Pigmentation: This type of hyper-pigmentation results from any inflammatory injury or trauma to the skin. Some causes of post-inflammatory hyper-pigmentation:

• Acne — particularly cysts or nodules — often leaves dark discoloration after a blemish heals.
• Poorly administered chemical peels or  laser surgery can leave behind hyper-pigmentation.
• Rashes like psoriasis and eczema often darken the skin as well.
• Even seemingly innocuous things like leg waxing and electrolysis can cause the melanin cells to over react.

Skin Rejuvenation Programs: To have skin that is free from brown spots, sun damage, hyper-pigmentation, age spots, and Melasma, a skin rejuvenation program is your first step. Any successful treatment for pigmentation problems will require achieving and maintaining healthy skin through pre-conditioning. Some patients will need only the skin rejuvenation program to have the beautiful skin they always dreamed of. All forms of pigmentation problems begin in the melanin cells beneath the skin’s surface. We offer topical and exfoliant/topical programs such as Lumixyl Skin Brightening System and Silkpeel with Lumixyl Pro Infusion. For a fast fix, the new Fraxel Dual Laser grabs and gets rid of much superficial hyperpigmentation.

Obagi NuDerm Clear (RX): This treatment uses 4% prescription-level Hydroquinone, a skin lightening agent. It is typically combined with Retin-A and /or Alpha Hydroxy Acids. Hydroquinone will suppress melanin production at the cell level, while Retin-A and Alpha Hydroxy Acids exfoliate the top layer of the skin. These products are used at home and are the first step to achieving clear healthy skin.

The exfoliation from a skin rejuvenation program will not penetrate as deeply as a chemical peel or laser treatment and results may take slightly longer if this treatment is used alone. However, used alone or as a pre-treatment plan with another procedure, this type product will bring you beautiful skin, and a healthy skin care regimen to ensure your results will last a lifetime.

Cosmelan De-Pigmentation Treatment: A "Power-Level" skin rejuvenation treatment for particularly stubborn and dense pigmentation. Cosmelan's synergistic ingredients work very quickly, resulting in a fast, effective blending and elimination of undesirable pigment. The melanin activity is regulated, causing the pigment producing cells to slow down production and function in a more uniform way.

Cosmelan is "sun-friendly", an especially appreciated factor for our California lifestyle, and works well even on darker toned Asian and Latin skin. Cosmelan will also produce a slight initial "peel" which helps refinish the skin surface while dramatically diminishing hyper-pigmentation. Cosmelan link

Cosmelan

(Photo source: Mesoestetics)

Perfecta Laser: New power-level laser blends resistant browns spots and red areas. Special MicroPulse technology treats faster with fewer sessions and dramatically reduces bruising which is common with older systems. Perfecta Link

Fraxel: Through a systematic gentle resurfacing of the skin, Fraxel removes even stubborn melasma and has FDA approval for that particular condition. A series of comfortable laser treatments resurfaces 20 to 25% of the treated area each time. Typically a package of 4 Fraxel treatments are given, from 10 to 14 days apart. Fraxel can be used to treat the face, neck, chest, arms and hands. Fraxel Link

Chemical Peels: Some pigmentation problems are more serious and therefore must be treated with a chemical peel. A chemical peel is a safe and effective form of treatment for many pigmentation problems. Generally without anesthesia, a chemical compound such as Trichloracetic acid is applied to the face. This application will lead to the removal of the surface layer of damaged and irregularly pigmented skin. After the treatment, the dead skin peels away, allowing healthier, clearer skin to emerge. The ViPeel Chemical Peel link

Microdermabrasion: This treatment is a comprehensive approach to skin care that is non-surgical, safe and effective. The skin is literally "polished" with micro-crystals which are then vacuumed away along with the dull, flaky and discolored skin cells. This technique delivers a gentle abrasion, which efficiently produces satisfying results. Discomfort is minimal and normal activities can be resumed immediately with no downtime. Microdermabrasion link

Light Therapy/Photo Facial: Light Therapy is an alternative to addressing the issues of hyper-pigmentation. Light treatments (referred to as IPL, Intense Pulsed Light, Photo Facial or Foto Facial) affect the melanin-producing cells deep within the skin. This totally painless treatment is not only very effective for those aging, unsightly-looking sunspots on hands, but is excellent for irregular pigmentation on face, neck and chest.

The hand piece is placed on the skin over the brown spots or other pigmentation and a bright flash of light is released. This light is absorbed by the pigmented area, which will darken over the next few hours. The area will look a bit “dirty” or dark for about a week, then the exfoliating melanin will slough off leaving clear fresh new skin. Often only one treatment is necessary to create a stunning difference with subsequent treatments keeping new spots from emerging. Photo Facial link

IPL- Intense Pulsed Light Photo Facial

       

(Photo source- Lumenis)

All the above treatments for Hyper-Pigmentation provide additional benefits to overall skin tone, texture and clarity.

Diolite Laser: For specific spot treatments when there are singular or scattered spots that require precisely targeted treatment. The Diolite Laser works by generating an intense beam of light aimed at the exact location of the lesion. The melanin absorbs this light, creating sufficient heat to destroy the lesion, leaving surrounding healthy skin unharmed. This laser is appropriate for flat brown spots from sun exposure, keratoses, freckles or the very small black spots common to Asian or African-American skin. Diolite Laser link

How To Maintain Your Results
With any treatment of pigmentation problems, sun exposure must be avoided. Age spots and brown patches on the skin have been directly linked to sun exposure. To maintain results from a treatment and to prevent any further pigmentation damage from occurring, use of a physical block sunscreen containing Titanium Dioxide with a SPF of 45 or higher is mandatory. Also, maintenance treatments of the various therapies may be necessary.

During your consultation, Dr. Pilest will be able to determine the best course of treatment for your pigmentation problems.

Confused? It's easy to be overwhelmed by the options. A consultation is an excellent way to get you started on the path to evenly toned and more attractive skin. Call us today for a complimentary consult.

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