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Laser treatment for hyperpigmentation

Hyperpigmentation is a very common concern amongst our patients at Cambridge Laser Clinic. Although hyperpigmentation is usually a harmless condition it can be a real problem for many and may cause considerable psychological distress.

Hyperpigmentation occurs when some patches of skin look darker than the surrounding skin and develops when skin cells make too much of a pigment called melanin. It can take many forms including freckles, age spots, melasma and liver spots.

How to prevent hyperpigmentation?

The best way to prevent hyperpigmentation is to look after your skin by keeping out of the sun’s harmful rays and by making sure you use a sunscreen with a high SPF rating. When we expose our skin to the sun it makes more melanin and this can show up on the skin as uneven patches of hyperpigmentation.

Not all hyperpigmentation is preventable. Hormonal changes, especially in pregnancy can cause unwanted pigment change. Abnormal skin growths, medications and other medical conditions can also cause hyperpigmentation.

How to get rid of hyperpigmentation?

There are many different treatment methods for this disorder including medical grade skin care, chemical peels, microneedling and energy-based technologies.

The choice of method is taxing even for the most experienced physician.

How effective is laser treatment for Hyperpigmentation?

Lasers are an ideal choice for treating pigment problems, as they can selectively target and destroy the darker, pigmented area without damaging the surrounding skin. The pigment melanin absorbs the laser light, which is converted into heat causing the dark, pigmented area to break up and disperse.

The choice of which laser to use in the treatment of a pigmented lesion is determined by many factors including the type and depth of the lesion, its size and location and the patients underlying skin type. The degree of contrast in colour between the lesion and the surrounding skin is a critical consideration.

A full medical consultation with a doctor is in our opinion mandatory for diagnosis confirmation, and exclusion of pigment problems associated with malignancy such as melanoma.

Cambridge Laser Clinic has the most advanced Pico, Q switched and Long Pulsed lasers ensuring optimal results and maximum safety for our clients.

Our technologies include:

  • Alex 755nm in long pulsed mode
  • Ruby 694nm in Q switched mode
  • KTP 532nm in Opti-Pulse / Q Switched or Pico modes
  • Nd Yag 1064nm in Q Switched or Pico modes
  • IPL 540-950nm / 570-950nm light source
  • Er Yag 2940nm
  • CO2 10,600nm

Laser treatment for dark skin tones

People with darker skin have more naturally occurring melanin which can mean that hyperpigmentation can be more prevalent in black people. Hyperpigmentation on black skin is one of the top five most commonly diagnosed skin conditions in black people.

A combination of chemical peel treatment and advanced laser technology often delivers optimal outcomes for treatment of this difficult disorder.

Our new PICO lasers are less thermal (generate less heat) than Q switched technology and are often the laser technology of first choice for this patient group.

Laser treatment is suitable for most skin types, however we would recommend that you proceed with high levels of caution when deciding on which laser clinic you choose to deliver your treatment. The use of lasers to treat pigment problems on pigmented skin types requires the highest level of skill set from an advanced laser operator.

Cambridge Laser Clinic

At Cambridge Laser Clinic we have an expert medical team who have over 30 years of laser experience. We treat each patient as an individual, tailoring our treatments so that our patients can be sure they will get the best results for their specific condition. If you would like to take advantage of a free consultation with us please follow this link.

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