Melasma

Individual results will vary, but can depend on the body surface that is affected. While some patients may see relief in just one treatment, other patients may need 3 to 4 treatments to achieve their desired result.

This can vary depending on the size density of melanin and depth of the affected area. Typically melasma will lighten or disappear completely after 3–5 treatments although in some cases more treatments may be necessary.

It is recommended that one treatment be completed once every 3 to 4 weeks.

1064nm laser energy is absorbed in hemoglobin to break down diffused redness, and at higher fluences will also coagulate capillaries or spider veins that may supply blood into affected areas.

Rosacea is typically characterized by having up and down periods where the symptoms heighten and lessen. While rosacea is not curable, it can be controlled with laser light so that the redness will decrease. While rosacea may improve with treatment and even be gone for a number of months, it may never completely go away.

Immediately after treatment there may be some transient erythema or purpura, in or adjacent to the treated area, which is more common in older patients or those who are taking blood-thinning medications and should resolve within a few days. The redness and vasculature may not immediately disappear and may take up to several months to fully improve and clear. Typically, maintenance sessions will need to be scheduled for continued improvement of flare-ups.

It is possible that some vascular lesions may scab so it is important to always keep the area moist as to reduce the risk of scarring.

Melasma is a very common patchy brown, tan, or blue-gray facial skin discol- oration, primarily seen on the upper cheeks, lip, forehead and chin of women 20–50 years of age. Uncontrolled sunlight exposure is considered the leading cause of melasma, especially in individuals with a genetic predisposition to this condition. Melasma is most common among pregnant women, called Chloasma, especially those of Latin and Asian descents. People with olive or darker skin, such as Hispanic, Asian, and Middle Eastern individuals, have higher incidences of melasma.

Melasma is typically characterized by having up and down periods where the symptoms heighten and lessen. While the laser light can help lighten or completely rid of the pigmentation factors such as sun exposure, hormones and your genetic disposition can play a role in a recurrence of the symptoms.

Typically, melasma will slowly lighten over the course of the next few days to weeks as the pigmented area is slowly absorbed into the skin by your body’s natural healing process. In some cases, the pigment will darken before becoming lighter. In the event that any crusting or scabbing occurs, it is important to always keep the area moist as to reduce the risk of scarring.

Actually, the Neo Elite is the safest laser in the industry for darker skin types or tanned skin. This is because of MicroPulse-1064 technology, which essentially eliminates treatment pain while minimizing the chances of hyper- and/ or hypo- pigmentation. Patients with skin types IV–VI should be treated very cautiously, especially in the facial region, as they pose a higher risk of having hyper- and/or hypo- pigmentations.

• Those who are sunburned or have irritated skin in the sites to be treated

• Those who are exhibiting unidentified skin conditions in the sites to be treated

• Those who have healed poorly after other types of laser treatments

• Patients prone to skin discoloration

• Patients who are taking photosensitizing medication, such as Accutane, should consider discontinuing the medication 6 months before treatment

• Patients who are taking topical Retin-A, patients should wait 2 weeks before treatment

• Don’t apply laser energy to any raised lesions, aside from purely red ones i.e. angiomas; other lesions should first be checked by a dermatologist

  Patients who are sunburned should wait until the burn subsides. Herpes Simplex Labialis (fever blisters) can be activated by laser treatment, especially on the upper lip, and patients with a tendency for fever blistering can be started on antiviral medication before treatment.