So what if you're focus is on neutralizing the dreaded brown spots or freckles. Maybe you thought they were cute when you were a young hipster, but now they make you think of your Aunt Doris...what can be done? And how about pink cheeks or those pesky veins around your nose? Do we offer anything to help control those?
Well commonly I would make a recommendation for one of two or three services I offer. Unfortunately treating pigment with only topical creams or gels is tricky and lackluster. If you have a lifestyle that will allow you to be a recluse for a few days and you aren't a picker, you could consider a medical grade chemical peel In combination with kojic acid or tyrosinase Inhibitors to lighten things up . These are fairly cost effective, and can do a great job of shedding the top layers of skin revealing new baby skin that hasn't yet been assaulted by the sun. This is also a great choice if the pigment you have is related to Melasma (a specific hormonal hyperpigmentation that worsens with pregnancy or other hormone changes). Melasma can worsen with heat, making it more risky to try a laser or light based treatment for correction.
If you're a social butterfly or simply cannot work from home for a few days, you should consider a light based treatment. I have both LaseMD which is a thulium non-ablative fractional laser that does a fairly good job at encouraging fresh skin and reducing pigment. But (in my humble opinion) the better option for lighter skin tone individuals with spots is a series of Sciton mJoule Broad Band Light treatments. Let's talk about those a little more!
Sciton BBL (no, not brazilian butt lift) is very similar to IPL (intense pulsed light) however it uses dual flash lamp technology so essentially doubling the light you receive during the treatment, greatly increases the effectiveness of the treatment. And while the heat from a xenon flash could burn the skin, this device Is also equipped with a cooling function to take the heat out of the flash at the skin surface while allowing heat delivery deeper. BBL uses a sapphire technology cooling plate offering predictable cooling that wicks heat away from the skin even when double the energy is being supplied much deeper into target tissues. This cooling is so effective BBL can be used in slightly darker skin colors-though I prefer a peel in those patients for safety reasons.
Sciton BBL offers multiple size applicators, to narrow the light to a smaller target (such as a specific vein or dark patch) so the treatment can be customized and targeted; something moset IPL devices lack. I specifically offer general treatment with a larger adaptor, then switch to a choice of smaller and smaller adaptors to target brown spots and small vessels without overheating surrounding skin. I find this to support a well tolerated, effective treatment. Who does't love customized care?!
My favorite way to use Sciton's BBL is called "forever youn g" which involves a predetermined number of pulses in a base pass, a vascular pass and a pigmentation pass. With each pass the filters on the laser are changed in order to target different issues. When done twice a year, this trade-marked protocol of treatment has been proven through studies done at Stanford University to change the genetic expression of skin cells such that the skin cells behave like younger cells. In effect, it reverses the aging process.
Of course you want to know if it hurts--so lets call it "spicy". The heat is cumulative, and when you're done you may feel like you have a mild sunburn. Some people have a pink glow, others do not. Dark pigment almost always darkens before it flakes or fades away. And if we're also treating redness, that can tend to get a little puffy for a day or two. My recommendation is to start with a series of 3 sessions, spaced about 4 weeks apart. Maintenance should be 2-4 times a year with a single session-depending on your goals. I do not use a numbing cream prior to the session but I promise we can work together to give you a good treatment without you leaving kicking-and-screaming.
So now you know!
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