Lasers for Pigmentation

Skin pigmentation or brown spots on the face are very common, especially in Asians. Sun exposure, hormonal changes, and previous inflammation in the skin can all contribute to skin pigmentation. Pigmentation may present at different ages:.

• Birth - brown birthmarks such as café au lait, naevus of Ota
• Childhood/adolescence – freckles, Becker’s naevus
• Middle age - sun spots or solar lentigines, melasma, Hori’s naevus

Our highly experienced dermatologist will assess you carefully before embarking on any treatment as some pigmentation may worsen after aggressive laser treatment e.g. melasma.

TREATMENT OF PIGMENTATION

• Sun protection is the first line treatment of any pigmentation.
• Lightening creams that are of a high medical grade and only available on prescription can help lighten superficial pigmentation.
• Oral tablets such as tranexamic acid and phytofloral are new additions in our battle against melasma, and provides excellent lightening for most patients.

• Pigment lasers can be very effective for skin pigmentation. We use pigment lasers that deliver excellent results and yet have a low risk of post laser pigmentation. As we have a range of lasers available, we can help you choose the pigment laser that best suit your needs. If your busy schedule does not allow for any post laser downtime, we use our gentlest pigment laser that can gradually lighten your pigmentation over several sessions and yet allow you to pop straight to lunch after treatment. If you prefer a more aggressive treatment over fewer sessions, we can adopt a faster approach which entails some downtime. Very often, our patients favour a complete rejuvenation of the entire face. We are experts at combining lasers to improve texture, pore size, fine lines and pigmentation, all in the same session, giving you the superstar treatment.

  Any laser treatment is most effective when performed by a trained and qualified doctor. Your dermatologist will have an honest discussion with you about the different laser treatments, the predicted outcomes, the estimated number of treatments required, and the possible downtime or complications. Your dermatologist, using reliable and high-grade lasers, will perform all laser procedures, aiming for optimal results with the lowest possible risk.

SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS RELATED TO LASERS

Dr Ho has always had a deep interest in the use of lasers for the management of skin pigmentation, tattoos and skin rejuvenation, resulting in collaborative studies with eminent Hong Kong and Singapore dermatologists and the publication of several scientific articles and book chapters.

1. Ho SG, Chan HH. The Asian dermatologic patient: review of common pigmentary disorders and cutaneous diseases. American Journal of Clinical Dermatology 2009; 10(3): 153- 68
2. Chan NP, Ho SG, Shek SY, Yeung CK, Chan HH. A case series of facial depigmentation associated with low fluence Q- switched 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser for skin rejuvenation and melasma. Lasers Surg Med 2010 Oct; 42(8): 712-9
3. Chan NP, Ho SG, Yeung CK, Shek SY, Chan HH. Fractional ablative carbon dioxide laser resurfacing for skin rejuvenation and acne scars in Asians. Lasers Surg Med 2010 Nov; 42(9): 615-23
4. Chan NP, Ho SG, Yeung CK, Shek SY, Chan HH. The use of non-ablative fractional resurfacing in Asian acne scar patients. Lasers Surg Med 2010 Dec; 42(10): 870-5
5. Ho SG, Yeung CK, Chan NP, Shek SY, Kono T, Chan HH. A retrospective analysis of the management of acne post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation using topical treatment, laser treatment or combination topical and laser treatments in Oriental patients. Lasers in Surgery and Medicine 2011 Jan; 43(1): 1-7
6. Ho SG, Yeung CK, Chan, NP, Shek SY, Chan HH. A comparison of Q-switched and long-pulsed alexandrite laser for the treatment of freckles and lentigines in Oriental patients. Lasers in Surgery and Medicine 2011 Feb; 43(2): 108-113
7. Ho SG, Chan NP, Yeung CK, Shek SY, Kono T, Chan HH. A retrospective analysis of the management of freckles and lentigines using four different pigment lasers on Asian skin. J Cosmet Laser Ther. 2012 Apr; 14(2): 74-80
8. Ho SG, Yeung CK, Chan NP, Shek SY, Chan HH. A retrospective study of the management of Chinese melasma patients using a 1927 nm fractional thulium fiber laser. Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2013 Aug; 15(4):200-6
9. Ho SG, Goh CL. Laser tattoo removal: A clinical update. Journal of cutaneous and aesthetic surgery, 2015; 8(1): 9-15
10. Chan HHL, Ho SG. 2008. Special Considerations in Asian/Far Eastern Skin. In: Alam M, Bhatia AC, Kundu RV, Yoo SS, Chan HHL, eds. Cosmetic Dermatology for Skin of Color, 1st edition, Chapter 21. United States: McGraw-Hill
11. Ho SG, Chan HHL. 2013. Laser treatment of ethnic skin. In: Hruza GJ, Avram MM, Dover JS, Alam M, eds. Procedures in Cosmetic Dermatology: Lasers and Lights, 3rd edition, Chapter 10. United States: Elsevier
12. Goh CL, Ho SG. Tattoo book chapter – pending publication

 

For further information and advice, contact us on 6262 0880 for an appointment.