Lasers are powerful equipment that can address different pigmentation problems like age spots, melasma, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, and sunspots. While it is considered as a highly effective treatment for most stubborn pigmentation issues, there are people who have experienced the unexpected: skin discoloration that appears even darker than before.
Having pigmentation relapse is not uncommon and it can be very frustrating. Knowing its causes and choosing the right pigmentation clinic in Singapore (https://onefaceclinic.com/why-doesnt-pigmentation-improve-after-lasers/) can help you avoid this disheartening event. Read this article to know more.
Reasons why your pigmentation problem returns following a laser treatment
From procedural errors to your body’s reaction to treatments, there are diverse factors that cause your pigmentation problem to resurface after a successful round of laser treatment.
Operator error and inaccurate choice of laser treatment
Lasers are not a one-size fits all solution to every kind of skin pigmentation. These devices are created differently. Administering the inappropriate type of laser or using the wrong laser setting can be a reason for your pigmentation to recur. For instance, there are lasers which can be too aggressive for delicate skin, which leads to burns, damage to the surrounding skin, scarring or hyperpigmentation recurrence. Additionally, the risk of error increases with laser treatments when your skin is not properly assessed by your chosen pigmentation clinic.
Your skin’s reaction to inflammation
Understanding your skin type and how it reacts to inflammation can give you an idea of how it may react to a laser treatment as this procedure involves delivering intense heat to break up melanin build up in the skin. This approach is highly effective for reducing those stubborn dark spots, but the results can be the opposite if you have medium to darker skin tone. A common effect that laser treatments have on these types of skin is post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. This happens when the skin creates more melanin as a reaction to the injury caused by the laser.
Hormones causing Melasma
Melasma is a skin discoloration characterised by blue-gray or brown patches that affect a wide area of the skin, most often on certain parts of the face. Its appearance is linked to hormonal changes in the body, particularly during pregnancy, which is why it is called the “mask of pregnancy.” Aside from hormones, melasma may also be triggered by certain medications, genes, and exposure to the sun.
Melasma is known to be unyielding to laser treatments. Although laser treatments may help improve your skin’s surface after a treatment, its effect may only last temporarily as the procedure cannot address Melasma’s underlying causes. The laser’s heat can also provoke the production of more melanin, which can aggravate the pigmentation problem instead of reducing it.
Improper aftercare and sun exposure after a laser treatment
The success of a treatment plan is not achieved once you have completed it. It also depends on how you follow your pigmentation clinic’s aftercare instructions. Your skin is extremely sensitive after a laser session. It is critical that you pay extra attention to your skin by applying sunscreen, avoiding sun exposure, and diligently following your post-treatment care. Pigmentation often relapses because the skin does not receive the proper care it needs following a laser session.
A holistic and long-term strategy is essential for managing pigmentation
Persistent and stubborn pigmentation is not a one-time fix. The results of a laser treatment, which is considered as a gold standard one, may not always be permanent. Hence, it is important that your pigmentation clinic’s strategy to manage your skin is holistic and designed for the long haul. Your treatment should not only focus on one type of procedure, but should be combined with other effective solutions to achieve optimum outcomes.
How a good pigmentation clinic in Singapore can help improve your pigmentation problems
Choosing a pigmentation clinic in Singapore that specialises in providing comprehensive care for pigmentation disorders is your first step to a healthy and flawless skin. A good pigmentation clinic should address the main causes of your pigmentation and approach your condition with a holistic and customised treatment plan in order to lessen its risk of returning.
To choose the right clinic for your pigmentation needs, consider the following:
* Precise diagnosis and personalized care – Pigmentation clinics are led by expert dermatologists and staffed by professional medical practitioners that have a trained eye for distinguishing different types of skin pigmentation. Your treatment plan should be tailored around your precise diagnosis and personal needs.
* Use of combined treatments to achieve excellent results – Treatments offered by an exceptional pigmentation clinic in Singapore must not be based on a stand-alone treatment. They should be able to provide a range of procedures and therapies that can be combined and achieve the best results safely with low risks and complications.
* Comprehensive before and after care – A good pigmentation clinic makes sure that you understand the importance of taking care of your skin before and after skin therapies. Prior to any treatment, your skin should receive proper preparations using topical products to make your session safe and lessen the chances of triggering melanin production. Following your treatment, your medical provider should educate you on how to properly care for your skin, especially during recovery when it is highly sensitive. Your aftercare plan may include the use of moisturisers that help repair your skin barrier and strong sunscreens that protect and prevent your skin from pigmentation recurrence.
* Integrated lifestyle and hormone management – There are many underlying conditions that can influence your pigmentation disorder. This includes internal and external factors. Your chosen pigmentation clinic should be able to guide you through these and recommend changes to your lifestyle that can help minimise pigmentation development or prescribe medications to address hormonal imbalances.
* Long-term care and follow-up – An effective treatment plan requires follow-ups and adjustments whenever necessary. Your pigmentation clinic should schedule regular checks to track your skin’s progress and be able to catch and address complications to avoid pigmentation relapse.
If you have undergone a laser treatment and experienced unsatisfying results, then it may be time for you to get a second opinion. Find a reputable pigmentation clinic in Singapore that has extensive knowledge and experience in dealing with pigmentation issues. In the right hands, you can be sure that your skin will receive the best care possible and break free from recurring and unsightly flaws.