Hyperpigmentation can make people feel self-conscious and make skin look uneven. Dr. Brenman often recommends laser skin resurfacing as an effective treatment for hyperpigmentation as well as numerous other skin issues.
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*Individual results may vary
What is Hyperpigmentation?
When skin cells produce more melanin pigment than usual, the resulting darker patches are called hyperpigmentation. While usually harmless, it can make people feel very socially anxious or cause low self-esteem. The most common causes of hyperpigmentation are:
Sun Damage
When the skin accumulates damage from years of exposure to ultraviolet rays, spots of hyperpigmentation, often called sun spots, appear in areas like the face and hands. These occur frequently.
Melasma
This form of hyperpigmentation, often caused by hormonal changes, including pregnancy, often spreads across areas of the face. Some women develop melasma during pregnancy and see it go away afterward, but others will benefit from treatment.
Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation
Although the name sounds the most complicated, it applies to possibly the most common form of hyperpigmentation. It occurs when the skin heals after inflammation, such as an acne breakout or similar skin condition.
How Does Laser Skin Resurfacing Work?
At The Pennsylvania Centre for Plastic Surgery, two types of laser skin resurfacing are available effective treatments for hyperpigmentation. Both work effectively to remove hyperpigmentation. Dr. Brenman will help you determine which laser will work best for you based on your skin needs, the severity of your hyperpigmentation, and your individual treatment plan goals.
The first option, a CO2 laser, resurfaces the skin by heating and removing the outer layer of skin. This option requires a few days of skin recovery but requires fewer treatments. The second option, a fractional radiofrequency laser, selectively causes micro-damage to a certain fraction of the skin, leaving untouched areas in between that encourage and promote the healing process. As a result, this form of laser resurfacing has little recovery time but requires more treatments.
Hyperpigmentation Consultations Available
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What are the Benefits of Laser Skin Resurfacing?
People enjoy many benefits from laser skin resurfacing. These include:
- Reduced hyperpigmentation
- More even skin tone
- Smaller pores
- Reduced acne scarring
- Fewer lines and wrinkles
- Smoother skin texture
- Results last at least a year
Erasing hyperpigmentation turns out to be only one benefit of skin resurfacing. You will see an overall improvement in the appearance of your skin, which looks brighter, clearer, and smoother.
Is There Any Downtime with Hyperpigmentation Treatment?
Laser skin resurfacing with a CO2 laser may require a few days of recovery since the skin will be red and slightly swollen. However, this treatment may only require one session to achieve the desired results.
With a fractional laser, your skin heals much faster, and although you may experience redness and irritation for a day or so, you can usually resume your normal activities. However, you may need an average of three treatments to see better results.
“After losing 87 pounds I decided I would treat myself and get a tummy tuck that I have been wanting for some time. I researched and thought Dr Scot Brenman would be best. Well suffice it to say I am not thrilled with my results. Ultimately my tummy is flatter which was what I wanted but my belly button is 2 inches above the incision line which I hate! He promised lipo which til this day I’m betting he didn’t do! Also his aftercare was thee WORSE! He never followed up with me after the removal of my drains! No way will he receive another one of my hard earned dimes!” *
Take the Next Step
Want to learn more about hyperpigmentation? You can schedule a consultation at The Pennsylvania Centre for Plastic Surgery with Dr. Scott Brenman in Philadelphia and Plymouth Meeting, PA. Please call (267) 687-2180 to schedule an appointment with us.
