Treat Pigment Disorders with Laser Procedures for Improvement!

Provider: Lim Eui-seok Theme Dermatology Clinic

Laser toning treatment for

melasma and blemishes, and pigmentation improvement

​Pigment disorders, the enemy of clear skin, are conditions caused by abnormal activity in skin cells. Procedures using lasers that minimize skin irritation may be helpful and effective for improving small areas. Melasma and blemishes often recur even after treatment and make the face look dirty, so the number of people looking for ways to remove melasma and blemishes continues to increase regardless of the season.

Pigment disorders such as melasma, blemishes, age spots, and pigmentation can gradually spread over time. For this reason, active treatment is needed as soon as symptoms begin to appear. In many cases, symptoms start to appear gradually from summer to fall and then worsen as winter begins, so it is advisable to receive laser procedures such as skin blemish removal, age spot removal, and mole removal from the time symptoms first appear.

Causes of melasma, blemishes, and age spots

Melasma and blemishes occur more often in women than in men, and the main causes are related to women in the childbearing period, genetic factors, and constitutional factors. Exposure to ultraviolet rays, endocrine abnormalities, nutritional deficiencies, and impaired liver function are mentioned as aggravating factors.

In particular, ultraviolet rays reduce skin elasticity while also causing and worsening pigment-related conditions such as melasma, blemishes, age spots, and facial moles. These conditions tend to occur around the eyes or cheekbones, where there is more exposure to ultraviolet rays. To restore skin damaged by sunlight, vascular growth factors in the dermis respond actively, and through interactions with melanocytes, excessive pigment is produced, leading to melasma, freckles, blemishes, and age spots.

If symptoms are left untreated, melasma and blemishes can develop into moles, making treatment more difficult. In the case of age spots, they can gradually grow larger, creating greater difficulties in both cosmetic appearance and treatment. Also, if they become chronic conditions, they may continue to recur even after treatment, so it is advisable to seek treatment as early as possible.

What treatment methods are effective for melasma treatment, blemish removal, and age spot removal?

Age spot removal, melasma removal, and blemish removal are prone to recurrence even after treatment, as mentioned above, so using the same treatment for all patients is not effective. To improve pigment disorders such as facial melasma and blemishes effectively, customized treatment based on each person’s skin condition and the characteristics of the pigment is important.

1. Melasma treatment method

There are several types of melasma: epidermal type (in the outer layer of the skin), dermal type (deeply distributed in the dermis), and mixed type (pigment mixed in both the epidermis and dermis). In Korea, dermal and mixed types are more common. Laser toning for melasma is mainly used as a way to remove melasma, but ongoing care is needed to prevent recurrence after melasma removal. In particular, vascular dilation often accompanies melasma, so treating vascular dilation together with melasma removal can help reduce the recurrence rate.

2. Blemish treatment method

In general, melasma and blemishes often appear together, so both conditions are improved at the same time. For facial blemish removal, laser procedures are commonly used. Special light is directed to selectively destroy only melanin pigment to remove skin blemishes. Blemishes refer to unsightly pigmentation on the face other than melasma or freckles. They are relatively large and appear regardless of time or season, causing greater cosmetic discomfort.

3. Age spot treatment method

Unlike melasma and blemishes, age spots are one of the skin conditions that mainly occur in middle-aged and older adults. Causes of age spots include ultraviolet exposure, genetics, and aging. Once they appear, they do not heal well on their own, and symptoms worsen over time. Age spot removal is more difficult because they are larger and thicker than ordinary blemishes, so laser procedures are generally used as the way to remove them. Early age spots can be treated with simple laser toning, but advanced thick age spots need to be treated with laser equipment used for mole removal in order to be effective.

What are the treatment principles and devices used for melasma/blemish/age spot laser treatment?

The treatment principle begins with an accurate diagnosis of the lesion type and depth of pigment in the epidermis and dermis, followed by selective laser use according to the cause. Rather than treating with only one laser device, it is important to properly assess the form of the pigment and use effective treatment equipment. After laser irradiation, the skin pigment lesions become less visible, and melanocytes are suppressed. Post-procedure care is also important, so we recommend sufficient consultation before the procedure and treatment that takes your skin condition into account.

What are the easy preventive methods before melasma, blemishes, and age spots appear?

Sunscreen is an essential element for preventing melasma, blemishes, and age spots. Avoiding ultraviolet exposure is the best preventive measure, but since it is impossible to completely avoid UV exposure in daily life, applying sunscreen regularly is very helpful. It is best to apply it 30 minutes before going out, and reapplying every 2 to 3 hours after going out is recommended.

When the skin is dry, pigmentation can occur more easily, so when dry, it is also important to spray mist periodically and apply a moisturizer that suits your skin type after washing your face. In addition, eating vegetables rich in vitamin C and taking supplements can help the body’s antioxidant function and may help prevent pigmentation.