Nd:Yag Laser for Dark Skin Types

How

What is Skin Pigmentation? 

The body has a specialized cell called Melanocytes which produces its natural pigment, also known as Melanin. The color of your membrane, hair, eye, and skin’s surface is determined by the amount of Melanin produced in the area. People with little Melanin are fair-skinned, while dark-skinned people produce the most. However, like any part of the body, there could also be disruption in your melanin production leading to pigmentation problems. 

What Causes Pigmentation?

Believe it or not, but one of your skin’s first layers of defense is pigmentation. The skin produces excess Melanin when it senses external aggression. This excess Melanin protects DNA cells by becoming a physical barrier of protection. Below are more causes of pigmentation

Sun Damage/Exposure to UV Light
Any form of UV light, whether from the sun’s natural UV Rays or a tanning bed, can cause hyperpigmentation as you age. Common pigmentation disorders are solar lentigines, sun spots, freckles, and melasma. The UVA radiation causes damage to melanocytes, which are the cells responsible for producing the skin pigment called Melanin. Collagen and other vital proteins get damaged when the skin absorbs UV light. 

Hormonal Changes
This is common with women during pregnancy. Hormones can trigger melasma, which shows up as small, dark patches.

Medications
Some medicines can make your skin sensitive to the sun and can trigger melasma. Common culprits are medications used for treating thyroid or ovarian problems.

Inflammations and Wound Healing
Acne, psoriasis, and eczema are common inflammation that can cause brown spots to develop. Inflammation causes a temporary increase or decrease in the pigments because of the trauma experienced by the skin.

Most Common Types Of Pigmentation

The common types of pigmentation are:

Freckles
These are brown, beige, flat circle spots that usually multiply and develop through repeated sun exposure. They can also appear as light brown, reddish, black, brown, or tan – basically, they are darker than the rest of the skin. The sun’s UV Rays can make them darker, which is why freckles are more noticeable during summertime. Freckles are formed through an increase of Melanin and pigment-producing cells called melanocytes. The difference between freckles and solar lentigo is that freckles are common in children and may disappear as they grow up, while solar lentigo can get worse through frequent sun exposure.

Solar Lentigo
This is similar to freckles but larger and more defined. In time, freckles can develop into solar lentigo due to sun exposure. These are harmless patches that result in UV Rays. The UV Radiation causes the Melanin to accumulate within the skin cells, leading to dark spots. Solar lentigines are usually found on the face or the back of the hands

Melasma
Melasma results in symmetrical, brownish patches on the face. It is more common in women and darker skin types. It is caused by a variety of factors such as:

1. Sun exposure
2. Pregnancy
3. Hormonal imbalances

Due to the unique nature of melasma, it is more difficult to treat compared with most other types of pigmentation.

Hori’s Nevus
Hori’s nevus, also known as Acquired Bilateral Naevus of Ota-Like Macules (ABNOM) is a condition seen almost exclusively in Asian Chinese skin type.
It typically, appears as bluish-gray flat hyperpigmentation on the cheeks, but may involve the eyelids, forehead and nose as well.

Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation
Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation is seen after a skin injury, infection, or inflammation (e.g. Acne, Eczema) to the skin.
It can be temporary last a couple of months or may become a permanent feature on your skin.

Seborrheic Keratosis or Pigmentation Burns
Seborrheic keratosis is a pigmentation growth on the skin that is benign – which means it can’t lead to cancer. It usually appears oval or round and can range in the colors light tan to black.