Condition > Pigmentation

Pigmentation Treatment & Removal

What is Pigmentation?

Pigmentations are brown dark spots or patches on the skin caused by an excess production of melanin in the skin. Melanin is produced by cells called melanocytes at the lower layer of the epidermis and can be triggered by sun exposure. Other common factors that can trigger pigmentation includes, hormonal changes, pregnancy, genetics and skin trauma and inflammation caused by acne.

Types of Pigmentation

  1. Melasma is often found in Asian skin. It manifests as irregular patches of darker brown discoloration, usually on the cheeks, forehead, nose and even the lips. It is more common in women and in darker skinned people, and can be aggravated by sun exposure and hormonal changes.
  2. Freckles are small brown spots on sun-exposed areas, seen in genetically more susceptible people.
  3. Birthmarks can be brown or red in colour. Red coloured birthmarks are caused by a localized area of abnormal blood vessels. Brown birthmarks arise from localized areas of excessive pigmentation.
  4. Sun spots, also known as solar lentigo, are dark brown spots found on the skin. They are caused by sun exposure and commonly seen in areas of the skin exposed to the sun such as the face, hands and arms.
  5. Many patients get dark spots or brown spots after acne. They are also referred to as Post Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation (PIH), and is due to the skin’s pigment cells overreacting, which produces more pigmentation during the healing process. PIH often appears following other skin injuries like cuts and burns.
Treating and removing pigmentation in Singapore | Ensoul Medical Clinic

Fig 1. A graph showing how pigments were formed and how the laser can remove pigmentation on the skin


What Causes Pigmentation & What are The Options To Remove?

Pigmentation Treatment in Singapore

Dr Thean has devoted his years of aesthetic experience to the treatment of pigmentation. He has designed his unique treatment plan to eliminate dark spots with a range of combinations of medical lasers, such as pico laser, long pulsed Nd YAG laser,  yellow laser and etc. With this method, the majority of visible unwanted skin spots, discoloration or redness (blood vessels) , are rooted in a deeper vascular network of veins that extend beyond the treatable depth of traditional lasers that can be addressed. Patients with pigmentation come in different severity levels. There are also other energy-based devices such as pulsed radiofrequency microneedling that help to address pigmentation issues like Melasma. Dr Thean will permutate the combination of treatments and topical medications suitable to treat sun spots.

How many sessions do you need ?
Every individual is different, even for their treatments such as dark spots on your face. For pigmentation laser treatment, you would be able to see some results after one session. But may need a few sessions to completely clear the pigmentation as it is also dependent on the severity of the pigmentation.

Is there any downtime in this treatment ?
It is a gentle treatment and almost no downtime from this treatment. The possibilities of redness could be seen and the redness should subside in few hours.

Can pigmentation recur? 
Pigmentations can sometimes recur even after successful treatments. The recurrence is due to the constant exposure to the sun as well as our hormones. We can prevent pigmentation from recurring by applying sunscreen with at least SPF 50 diligently and adopting sun protection measures to have long-term sustainable results. Treatments can only clear your pigmentations, ultimately, proper skincare routine is equally essential in preventing pigmentation recurrence.

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