Skin De-Pigmentation or Skin Brightening
Skin pigmentation covers a wide array of conditions that can present either in localized fashion on a particular part of the body or in a generalized fashion over larger areas of the body. The most common cause for a lot of these conditions is prolonged exposure to sun.
Hyperpigmentation (excess pigmentation) occurs when there is an excess of melanin present in the affected area. The presence of excess pigment can be seen in the form of various conditions listed here.
Skin De- Pigmentation or De-Tanning is the process by which the melanin in the skin is broken down / reduced and hence the result is a more even skin tone which gives the appearance of glowing skin. These processes are also called skin brightening or skin whitening.
The Procedure:
There are largely three levels of treatment available, each with variable degree of effectiveness and each of these should be combined effectively by a dermatologist to help the patient the most.
1. Creams and Serums that can be applied topically - These have lower efficacy for deep pigmentation and should be used only to augment the effects of the primary treatments.
2. Chemical / Medical Peels - These consist of a variety of different active ingredients which help conditions ranging from acne marks to generalized pigmentation. The type of peel to be used is best determined by a dermatologist and the procedure should always be done under the supervision of a qualified dermatologist only. The procedure involves deep cleansing of the area to be treated (face, feet, legs, hands) followed by application of the peel. The exact amount and exposure time is controlled by a dermatologist. The process ends with cleansing the area.
3. Laser Skin Toning / Laser Skin Rejuvenation - In this case an extremely safe Q Switched ND Yag laser is used to breakdown the pigmentation in the skin. This is extremely effective in terms of reducing overall pigmentation and creating a near instant glow. The process involves cleansing followed by exposure to laser. The laser parameters are determined by the dermatologist based on your skin type.
In addition to these there is a host of skin treatments that help the depigmentation process like using iontophoresis or using microdermabrasion. A dermatologist can guide you and decide the best line of treatment suitable to you
Conditions Treated
- Tanned Skin / Darkened Skin
- Melasma (Darker Patches around nose, cheeks, forehead etc.)
- Lentigenes and Freckles (Brownish / Reddish Spots) - Fair skin is more affected
- Patchy Skin (Uneven Skin Tone)
- Age Spots (Sun Spots)
Expected Results:
Both Chemical Peel and Laser Skin Toning Provide near instant results. However the best effect is seen 12 to 24 hours after the procedure. It is extremely important that in the days after the procedure one should limit their exposure to sun and diligently continue the oral or topical medications (if any) prescribed.
For deeper pigmentation conditions, there shall be a lightening of the pigmentation in the affected area, but the same will not go away instantly. Multiple sessions and possibly a combination of treatments are needed to see results.
Frequency of Treatment:
Laser Skin Rejuvenation and Chemical Peels have practically no down time. Within 24 hours ski returns back to normal. Some Specialized Chemical Peels need up to 7 days to take effect.
The general recurrence of treatment is set at 15 days intervals to bring about the best results. It is seen that with the correct protocol over 3 to 6 months, patients see remarkable improvement in their skin.
Laser is high intensity light of a particular
