Pigmentation (dark spots) on the skin cause many people to seek treatment.
You should always be checked by a physician first to ensure the spots are not of a medical concern. If you do not have a physician, our experienced medical director will do an assessment. Spots include melasma, solar lentigines (“old age spots”), and postinflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH).
We have many available treatments for this disorder including topical therapy such as retinoids, azelaic acid, kojic acid, hydroquinone in prescription formats as well as cosmeceutical products. Procedures such as microdermabrasion , chemical peels , laser and IPL phototherapy can be used in combination with optimal results. Our favorite treatment is the picosure technology of the laser. This is a laser that works so fast – trillionths of a second . This laser will target the pigment cells themselves called melanocytes and makes them fall apart, like pieces of sand. Your body will then remove the particles slowly. It is for this reason we recommend several sessions spaced a couple of months apart.
We also recommend particular combinations of sun protection to reduce the chance of the spots returning.
Melasma mostly occurs in women, although up to 10% of men may experience this problem also. Heredity combined with hormones and sun do play factors in this.. Lasers, peels and products must be used with caution because irritating the skin may in fact cause more pigmentation.
At Clarite we offer a special regime for this difficult to treat condition consisting of a series of specialized peels with products and procedures for the face such as the picosure laser. The results are slow but noticeable. For “age spots” often the IPL treatments or laser treatments with the Alexandrite laser can be offered with results in 1-3 treatments.
