Age-spots, Moles, Melasma and other Pigmented Lesions

A variety of lasers and pulsed light can be use to treat these varied pigment problems.

Discoloration of the skin can be present at birth or acquired as the result of age, sun, or other influences. Pigmented lesions can be cosmetically undesirable and distracting from how we want to be perceived by others. Fortunately, modern laser technology provides effective treatment for may types of pigmented skin lesions.

Birthmarks
The pigmented birth-marks include Café-au-lait spots which are the light brown color of milky coffee. These can be small or very large and can appear on any part of the body.

Nevus of Ota is a pigmented birthmark which can be very large and occurs on the face. It is most common in Oriental skin.

Freckles
Freckles, also called ephilides, are very small spots of concentrated pigment stimulated by the sun that tend to remain in stable locations on sun exposed areas. This is, of course, a very common condition.

Age spots (lentigines)
Age spots, also called liver spots or lentigines are abnormal pigment accumulations in the epidermis due to many years of sun exposure. They occur on the face, neck, chest, back as well as the forearms and hands.

Melasma
Melasma is called "the mask of pregnancy". It is pigment that has been stimulated by hormonal influence such as from pregnancy or certain hormone medications. It commonly occurs around the eyes with a mottled appearance from the various intensities of pigment in the spots.

Tattoos
Cosmetic tattoos vary in the color of inks used, the depth of ink placement (professional vs. amateur tattoos) and chemical nature of the inks. The laser light color must be selected which is effective for each color in the tattoo. Traumatic tattoo are from the deposition of colored material under the skin from a deep dirty abrasion or other injury.

Laser Treatment of Pigmented Lesions
Lasers can effectively treat many types of pigmented skin lesions. The choice of laser depends primarily on the depth and color of the pigment that is being removed. Pigment in the epidermis is fairly easy to treat with a variety of lasers and non-laser methods.

Resurfacing procedures such as laser skin resurfacing and even the "power peel" treatments are effective in removing epidermal pigment. Patients undergoing these treatments can expect significant improvement or complete clearing of epidermal pigment. A series of light chemical peels can also remove pigment abnormalities safely.

But for small concentrations of unsightly pigment such as age spots, a pigment specific laser often is a better solution. At Aesthetics MD we use a "KTP" laser (a green light laser), Intense pulsed-light treatments, Fraxel Treatments, or the Erbium Laser for epidermal pigment spots. In just a few moments the pigment is broken up within the skin to be cleared by the body. In a week to 10 days it is gone. Sometimes a second treatment is necessary for complete results. The only usual side effect is superficial skin crusting which rapidly heals.

The KTP laser is effective for age spots, freckles, and cafÈ-au-lait spots. The Erbium laser is used when complete removal is desired in a single treatment session. Choice of treatment is discussed during your consultation.

For deeper pigment, in the dermis, a higher energy Q-switched laser is used. These are effective on junctional and certain other moles, Nevus of Ota, Beckerís Nevus, and tattoo pigments. There are four types of Q-switched lasers that have certain advantages with various forms of pigment. For multi-colored tattoos it takes two or more different lasers to treat the various tattoo pigment colors. Multiple treatments are to be expected for good results. Moles may often be more easily removed by simple excision rather than by laser treatments.

Melasma can sometimes be improved with laser therapy. But it might tend to come back regardless of which method is used. Fraxel laser treatment is the most effective treatment method for melasma currently available.