Looking good is important to almost everyone and for most people, their youth is when they have looked their best.
Hyper-pigmentation of the skin resulting in skin discoloration occurs due to the excessive production of melanin. It may affect any area of the body and could be a source of great distress to the patients but most people get impacted with pigmentation on face. In some cases skin pigmentation could be a manifestation of an underlying medical condition and therefore each case of hyper-pigmentation should be evaluated thoroughly.
There are various types of hyperpigmentation but the following are the most commonly seen:
Sunspots, which are also known as solar lentigines, are often caused due to extensive exposure to the sun. These also appear on those parts of the body, which are constantly exposed to the sun, such as the face and hands.
Melasma is often considered to be caused due to a change in the hormonal activity in the body. This is why it is most commonly seen in women, during their pregnancy. While the condition could show up in any part of the body, it is seen most commonly on the face and abdomen.
There is also something known as post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, which is caused due to an injury to the skin.
The method of diagnosis of pigmentation treatment depends upon the causes of these dark spots. Following are the various causes of the pigmentation and methods of diagnosis based upon it.
There are a few basic causes for hyperpigmentation:
The main methods of diagnosis include:
After a few sessions, you will start to notice that the pigments have started to fade away and the natural colouring of your skin is starting to return. In addition, the treatment can reduce the spread of the pigmentation. The treatment will also include treating the root cause of the condition, which will deter further appearance of the pigment.
Before treatment (laser, chemical or peel based) can be started, a detailed skin analysis will be required, because only after gauging the severity of the condition, can a course of treatment be charted out. This is why, it is important that an experienced doctor do the examination. It is also important to collect information regarding the lifestyle, medical history, consumption of certain medication and even genetics.Some of the important points of investigation will include:
Once you have been brought into the laser treatment room, here are the steps that will be followed:
Chances are that you will not be done in one session and you will be asked to come back a fair few times. However,
immediately after the first session, your skin will feel tender and there could be some superficial bleeding.
You will be given instructions on how to care for your skin and you might also be given certain medicines to
help with the same. You might be asked not to step out into the sun for a few days or protect the treated area,
if you do need to step out.
Absolutely; although it is important that all parties involved wear protective eye gear, because the bright light could hurt the eyes.
In most cases, after 2-3 sessions, the effects start to become obvious and the effects are long lasting.
In most cases, insurance companies will ask for an explanation for the medical requirement of the procedure. If the condition is severe, most companies will offer compensation.
As the treatment is done using lasers only, there will be next to no pain, however, there could be little discomfort, but this is not long lasting. However, if you are undergoing a chemical peel, there could be discomfort, itching or irritation, but all these will be temporary.
Of late, chemical peels are being used for pigmentation, but these will work best, only if the pigmentation is on the epidermal level. If the pigmentation has entered the dermis, then chemical peels might not be the ideal solution, especially in pigmented skin. However, this is something that only a dermatologist will be able to decide.
If the procedure has been done by professionals, then there is little that can go wrong, but there are certain side effects or possible complications, such as:
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