What pigmentation problems do we treat?
Here are the pigmentation problems we normally address for our patients:
- Age spots
- Broken blood vessels
- Brown spots
- Melasma
- Port wine stains
- Rosacea
- Sun damage
How our lasers help
For broken blood vessels, the laser’s energy is set to the wavelength that targets the blood vessels that are too close to the skin’s surface. The energy is absorbed by the blood vessel and is converted to heat. That heat damages the wall of the blood vessel, closing it off. The body then absorbs the now unused blood vessel.
For age spots and sun damage, the laser and IPL energy targets the cells responsible for skin color, the melanocytes. These cells produce melanin, which creates skin color. When our skin darkens with sun exposure, which is the function of melanin providing a defense mechanism. When treating these spots, the laser or IPL energy targets the melanocytes, destroying them. This removes the vehicle for the skin being darker in the age spot. Then the spot gradually fades over the weeks that follow.
How long before I see results?
Results are not immediate with pigmentation issues. With blood vessels and darkened areas, the laser stops the cause (either the vessel or the melanocytes), enabling the body to then take over and make the pigmentation problem go away. Patients will start to see results in 7 to 10 days. In that time, age spots will darken and then peel away, but the underlying pigmentation will take more time to fully resolve itself. Blood vessels have a similar timeframe. They will show a red mark or look like a cat scratch, but will continue to lighten with time.
Number of treatments
Pigmentation issues don’t resolve with one treatment. Depending on the problem, most Northcoast patients need from 2-4 treatments spaced 4-6 weeks apart.
Who needs extra pigmentation here and there on their body? Let the team at Northcoast Laser get rid of those blood vessel and sun damage issues. Call us at 440-NEW-FACE to make an appointment.