NEW LASER TREATMENT OF MELASMA

New Laser Treatment of Melasma

If you have dark patches on the face, you could be one of the millions of women struggling with melasma. Commonly found among Asian women, melasma is considered the most difficult to treat among the disfiguring hyperpigmentation cases.

There are basically three types: the epidermal melasma, found in the outer layer of the skin; the dermal melasma, existing in the inner skin layer; and the combination type. Melasma is associated with age, hormonal factors, stress, genetic predisposition, pregnancy, use of oral contraception, and sun exposure.

Topical therapies such as bleaching agents (hydroquinone and kojic acid) and chemical peels (retinol and TCA), have been used but with limited success. The results are inconsistent and their effectiveness decreases with long-term use. Dermal melasma does not respond at all to any topical treatment.

Intense pulsed light (IPL) has also been used in recent years, but the results were less than expected. There were also reports of side effects related to IPL damage to the skin, particularly post-inflammatory secondary hyperpigmentation (PIH).

At SkinStation, we recently introduced DERMAX Medlight laser as an effective treatment of melasma. The laser used in MedLight is Q-Switched Nd:YAG,  which has produced successful results in several controlled clinical trials in Korea.

The MedLight laser creates an invisible beam of light that is pulsed repeatedly at a fraction of a second. The pigments in the dark patches of the skin are fragmented and subsequently reabsorbed over a 6 to 8 week period. This treatment is simple, non-invasive, with minimal risk and minimal recovery time. Some patients may feel a mild “sunburn” feeling that quickly subsides.

DERMAX MedLight is also effective in other hyperpigmentation concerns such as age spots, chemical burns, and marks caused by acne and chicken pox. Added benefits of skin toning and rejuvenation have been observed. On the average, 3 sessions at intervals of 4 weeks is prescribed, followed by maintenance treatments every 3 to 6 months.

Post treatment, our Dermatologist will require you to strictly avoid sun exposure. You will also be asked to follow a medical grade skin care regimen that will lighten, rejuvenate, and protect the skin. Our goal is to help you successfully minimize and manage your melasma.

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This column was published in the Manila Bulletin Lifestyle Section on October 28, 2014 . The author is the CEO of SkinStation. He received the 2011 Outstanding Chemist Award from Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) for his achievements in the field of cosmetic chemistry. Skin Smart aims to clarify facts and myths on skin care. Send your questions and comments to info@skinstation.ph.  

DO YOU REGRET HAVING THAT TATTOO?

Do You Regret Having That Tattoo?

We all have our regrets, past experiences we want to forget. Unfortunately, some leave permanent marks we cannot easily erase. This includes tattoo regret for some 20% to 30% of individuals with body ink.

The most popular reason: Falling out of love. They want the name of an ex erased. Other reasons are 1) Botched eyebrow tattoo job, and 2) A shot at a terrific job that is not compatible with having a tattoo of a fire-breathing dragon. With the increasing number of people having tattoos, the demand for tattoo removal is likewise growing significantly.

Before, there is no recourse but to go for invasive options such as acid removal or surgical excision.  The high-risk procedures can produce scars that are more unsightly than the tattoo itself.

Today, advanced aesthetic lasers have made it possible for safer and more effective removal of unwanted tattoos. They target the ink’s pigment with a high intensity laser beam causing it to break up into smaller molecules.  The natural bodily processes then absorb the ink, fading the tattoo until it is no longer visible.

The gold standard for tattoo removal is Q-switched Nd:YAG laser, with hand pieces delivering laser beam at 1064 nm for dark ink, and 532 nm for colored ink. They also have micro-adjustments for spot size and depth. Treatment may take between 3 to 6 sessions, depending on the depth of the tattoo and the inks used. Treatment interval is 3 to 6 weeks.

If you are one of those now saying, “I should have listened to Mom,” you know the good news. Start by having your free consultation at SkinStation for your MedLight Laser Tattoo Removal treatment.
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This column was published in the Manila Bulletin Lifestyle Section on October 14, 2014 . The author is the CEO of SkinStation. He received the 2011 Outstanding Chemist Award from Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) for his achievements in the field of cosmetic chemistry. Skin Smart aims to clarify facts and myths on skin care. Send your questions and comments to info@skinstation.ph. 

HOW TO LIGHTEN SKIN DISCOLORATIONS

How to Lighten Skin Discolorations

Skin discolorations come with many names: e.g. freckles, age spots, melasma, and PIH. These are all classified as hyperpigmentation, defined as skin darkening caused by abundance of melanin.

The location of excess melanin pigmentation is important. It is either in the outer (epidermal) layer or the inner (dermal) layer of your skin. If the skin discoloration is very pronounced, the excess pigment is probably in the outer layer. Subtle marks indicate deeper layer of pigmentation.

If the excess melanin is in the deeper dermal layer, like dermal melasma, the discoloration can be most difficult to treat. Topical remedy won’t work. Fractional lasers will not help either. The practical remedy is just a cosmetic cover up. The good news is that positive results have been achieved with multi-session Nd:Yag laser treatment.

Fortunately, most cases of skin discolorations are the epidermal type, like freckles and age spots, and non-dermal melasma.

Freckles are usually hereditary, with melanocytes producing more than the normal melanin pigments. The more you are exposed to the sun, the darker the freckles get. Daily sun protection is a must!

Age spots are small brown patches of the skin, the cumulative effect of unprotected sun exposure since birth. The number of pigment producing melanocytes is increased, leading to dark brown spots. Once age spots are formed, they remain pretty stable in their color even if you get more sun exposure.

Melasma is triggered by hormonal fluctuation, during pregnancy, and aggravated by sun exposure.

Exfoliate and lighten skin discolorations
with DERMAX Retinol C serum

Treatment options for epidermal discolorations are:

• Topical treatments with sunscreens and lightening creams & lotions
• Peels, combined with topical treatments
• Dermal roller
• Fractional lasers and Nd:Yag laser

Save on unnecessary expense by consulting first with your dermatologist. They are trained to diagnose if you have dermal or epidermal type of pigmentation. They will then prescribe the best treatment option for your specific skin condition.

 

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This column was published in the Manila Bulletin Lifestyle Section on August 5, 2014 . The author is the CEO of SkinStation. He received the 2011 Outstanding Chemist Award from Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) for his achievements in the field of cosmetic chemistry. Skin Smart aims to clarify facts and myths on skin care. Send your questions and comments to info@skinstation.ph. 

Laser Hair Removal 101 (Part 1)

Laser Hair Removal 101 (Part 1)

Next to facial, laser hair removal is probably the most commonly performed cosmetic procedure in the Philippines, with underarm hair as the most unwanted. The basic principle behind laser hair removal is selective heating of melanin in the hair follicle, while keeping the rest of the skin unharmed. Dark objects absorb light, so laser energy can be absorbed by melanin in the hair and skin. Light skin and dark hair is an ideal combination, producing the best results, but new lasers are now able to target black hair in darker skin tones.

Many clinics still offer hair removal by intense pulsed light (IPL) and commonly but incorrectly promote this as "laser hair removal.” IPL devices use full light spectrum from xenon lamps, and are therefore technically not lasers.  Lasers use a single wavelength, leading to a more precise and effective targeting of hair follicle.

Laser hair removal has become popular because of its speed, safety, and effectiveness, although results will depend upon the choice of laser technology used. These lasers are characterized by their wavelength, measured in nanometers (nm).

Alexandrite (755 nm) is used only on pale skin and has the highest pain score. Nd:YAG (1064 nm) is the gold standard for olive (type IV) and dark (type V) skin. Diode (810 nm) laser is the gold standard for pale (type I) to medium (type III) skin, and has now been made safer and virtually painless with the new Super Hair Removal (SHR) technology. 

Diode laser is the best option for the typical Filipino skin, which has light brown (type III) to fair (type II) skin tone. Painless diode laser is available at all SkinStation branches.

Spot size, or the width of the laser beam, affects treatment. The width of the beam should be about four times as wide as the depth of the target. Usual spot size used is about the size of a fingertip (8-18 mm). Larger spot sizes help laser light penetrate deeper and make treatments more effective.

Lasers must have a range of pulse width or pulse duration of 5 to 100 milliseconds. Longer pulse widths are safer for darker skin, but shorter pulse widths are more effective. Pulse width must be matched with the right fluence or energy level (measured in Joules/cm2) necessary to disable the follicles. Fluence levels of 10 to 30 J/cm2 are typically used. Although a higher fluence level can be more effective, it can also mean more pain.

Laser energy can have cumulative effect when introduced repetitively in the same target area. Using this principle, it is now possible to avoid painful laser procedure with the use of low fluence (4-8 J/cm2) and high repetition rate (10 pulses per second). This is commonly referred to as Super Hair Removal (SHR). Diode lasers with this new technology are virtually painless and as effective, making SHR a popular alternative to waxing in Brazilian hair removal. (Part 2 will be published on June 19, 2012.)

______________________________________________________________________________________(Updated on February 21, 2013) This was published in the Lifestyle Section of Manila Bulletin on June 12, 2012. The author is the CEO of SkinStation. He received the 2011 Outstanding Chemist Award from Professional Regulations Commission for his achievements in the field of cosmetic chemistry. He can be reached at fred.reyes@skinstation.ph.