Pigmentation

Do you rely on thick foundations or concealers to hide your blemishes or brown marks on your skin?

Many of us have brown spots or marks on our skin which can sometimes cause concerns about our appearance.

Skin ageing is caused by long-term sun exposure while facial blemishes are due to excessive pigmentation. In general, imperfections caused by melanin are more common, especially among Asians.

Types of pigmentation

Brown spots, liver spots, age spots, sun spots, freckles, lentigos, or senile/solar lentigines are associated with premature ageing and exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun. These marks range in colour from light brown to red or black and are located in areas most often exposed to the sun. Particularly the hands, face, shoulders, arms, decollete, and forehead, and the head if bald. Most are harmless, but all are ageing signs and may be unattractive.

Café au lait, Nevus of Ota, and other pigmented birthmarks are localised areas of increased pigmentation in the skin, which are present at birth.

Melasma, also called ‘chloasma’, is a common skin condition for adults where light to dark brown or greyish pigmentation develops, mainly on the face. The name comes from ‘melas‘, the Greek word for black. Although it can affect both genders and any race, it is more common in women and people with darker skin-types who live in sunny climates. Melasma usually becomes more noticeable in the summer and improves during the winter months. It is not an infection, it is not contagious, and it is not due to allergies.

How do we treat pigmentation?

  • SilkPeel Dermalinfusion: It is a procedure where the outermost layer of the dead skin cells is mechanically exfoliated, carrying with it some of the pigment-containing cells. This is coupled with the dermal infusion of Brightening Solution which features the revolutionary Lumixyl peptide. It effectively lightens up uneven pigmentation and dark spots. About 8-10 sessions may be needed bimonthly, and maintenance sessions thereafter.
  • Skin Boosters: Teosyal Puresense Skin Booster contains hyaluronic acid and Dermo-Restructuring Complex – a combination of natural components that are all synergistically involved to redensify the dermis and provide antioxidant protection: 3 potent antioxidants, 2 minerals, 1 vitamin, and 8 amino acids. One of the potent antioxidants called glutathione is able to break down the melanin within the pigmented lesions and lighten them after several treatments.
  • Pigment Laser: Fotona QX MAX’s Q-switched Nd:YAG laser works by destroying the pigment in the skin without the need for excision. The laser produces short pulses of intense light that pass harmlessly through the top layers of the skin to be selectively absorbed by the melanin in the lesion. These melanin are subsequently broken down into smaller particles, which are then removed by the body’s own immune system. There is minimal discomfort with no downtime. Multiple sessions are needed and treatment intervals may vary from 1-4 weeks.
  • Pigmentation 1Pigmentation 2
    Pictures courtesy of Fotona
  • Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP): This treatment extracts high-concentration platelet plasma from your own blood and injects into the pigmented area. The growth factors and activation proteins contained in platelet-rich plasma to repair of cell tissue, for formation of capillaries and produce the collagen. PRP treatment also improve many other skin problems such as pores enlarged, fine lines, acne scars, and sagging skin on the face and neck.

  • Pigmentation 3
    After 4 sessions of Platelet Rich Plasma

Some pigmentations especially melasma can worsen via sun exposure. Broad-spectrum fragrance-free sunscreens with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or greater and a high ultraviolet A (UVA) star-rating should be applied daily throughout the year.

Check out our Pure Whitening Program

Message from Dr. Elson

Pigmentation is a common skin issue that bothers most of us. In our Pure Whitening Program, we combine SilkPeel DermalInfusion with Pigment Laser and Vitamin C Iontophoresis, as we believe this combination will give better results to lighten the pigmentation.