Pigmentation & Melasma

Melasma is a completely harmless skin condition that causes dark grey or brown freckles or patches on the skin. Melasma is called the mask of pregnancy, as it sometimes develops due to the hormone changes in pregnant women. Melasma appears when the skin overproduces melanin, the cells that give your skin its color. In a non-pregnant woman, melasma is sometimes called chloasma, but the conditions are the same.

Post inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) appears as dark spots or patches on the skin. Also known as post inflammatory melanosis, PIH appears after a trauma to the skin creates a change in cellular production. This is commonly seen in people who suffer from acne; it appears as dark spots where acne sores have healed.

There are some home remedies that can fade dark spots on your skin over a long period of time. However, these often don’t fully remove the pigmentation and can take a year or more to become effective. If you seek medical spa treatments, the results and the time it takes to get them could be drastically reduced.

In some cases, dark spots on your skin can be removed after just one treatment. In other cases, and depending on the treatment that’s best for you, it may take up to six treatments to see your dark pigmentation fade.

At your initial consultation, we will perform a comprehensive digital skin analysis and give you a complete treatment plan that includes information about how long we expect it to take for your melasma or hyperpigmentation to fade.

This depends on what treatment you choose, however, if your treatment may be painful, we can provide a topical anesthetic to minimize your discomfort.

Some treatments do not cause any pain. Others, like chemical peels, may cause mild but tolerable discomfort. Laser treatments may be painful and require an anesthetic. At all times, you will be in control, and if the pain or discomfort becomes too much for you, your aesthetician will stop the treatment.

The recovery time you require depends on the course of treatments you choose. Some treatments like IPL require no downtime. Others, such as chemical peels, may leave you mildly red for a few days. Laser treatments might cause more irritation and you may need a week to see the redness fade completely. However, with all our treatments, you should be able to return to your regular activities immediately.

Because there are so many different treatments for hyperpigmentation and melasma, it’s important to understand each one will have its own after-care procedures. At your treatment session, your aesthetician will give you complete instructions about your aftercare. Here is some helpful information.

What To Do After Your Procedure

• Use your homecare products as described. Beautiful skin is built in your bathroom each morning and evening. The products we give you will help you maintain and enhance the results of your treatment, and you will not have the best results without nourishing your skin at home.
• Wear sunscreen. This will give your skin an opportunity to heal without causing dryness or damage from UV rays. We recommend you wear an SPF of 30-50 every single day of your life.
• Drink plenty of water. You’ll give your body the best chance at healing if you are well hydrated.

What Not To Do After Professional Melasma Treatments

• Try to avoid cosmetics on the day of your treatment. If you must wear makeup, apply it sparingly.
• Don’t use chemical peels or other harsh exfoliants or products for at least a week following your treatment. Depending on what treatment you had, you could potentially strip your skin and cause more damage.
• Don’t expose your skin to direct sunlight or use tanning beds for at least a few weeks following your treatment. Your skin may be more sensitive to light and you may cause damage to your healing skin. Wear SPF and if you’re going to be in the sun, be sure to wear a shade hat and sunglasses.

You’ll likely see a noticeable difference in your hyperpigmentation spots almost immediately. In some instances, your pigmentation might be gone! Generally, you can expect to see residual fading in the days and weeks after your treatment that is cumulative – the more consistent you are with your treatments, the better (and quicker) your results will be.

Contraindications

We will make sure to discuss any contraindications, dangers, and risks to your treatment at your consultation. If you feel you may have a contraindication, please feel free to ask us. For some treatments, these may be contraindications, however, because you suffer from something on this list, it does not mean you are disqualified from all our treatments. Please book a consultation so we can discuss your options further.

• If you’ve been using Accutane or other products or medication that thin the skin
• If you’ve had recent cosmetic surgery or laser treatments
• If you have psoriasis, active rash, or open wounds in the treatment area
• If you have any infectious diseases
• If you have high blood pressure or heart disease
• If you are pregnant or breastfeeding
• If you have severe rosacea
• If you’re suffering from active herpes simplex
• If you have gotten a tattoo or permanent cosmetics in the past week
• If you have folliculitis 
• If you have skin cancer
• If you have autoimmune disorders of the skin

Side Effects

Hyperpigmentation or melasma treatment can cause:

• Red skin or inflammation; most people experience redness after chemical peels and laser treatments. This is a normal reaction. 
• Peeling and scabbing
• Scaring
• Infection
• Allergic reactions like blotchiness or hives
• Breakout after the treatment

The risks of treatment are minimal.