Dark Spots After Summer: Why Dermatologists Recommend This Laser in September

Hello. I am Lee Sang-ju, a dermatologist. After exposure to strong UV rays during the summer vacation, many people come to us saying they've developed new melasma or that existing spots have become much darker.

But are the spots you see in the mirror truly melasma, or are they lentigo, which can look similar to melasma? Since these two conditions require completely different treatments, accurate differentiation is paramount.

This is because the strong sunlight from around June accumulates and leaves pigment on the skin. People often don't notice it during the hot weather, but it starts to become visible as the heat subsides.

Melasma spreads like a fog over the cheekbones. Its boundaries are often blurry, making it difficult to determine its exact extent, and it typically appears as a broad, diffuse patch.

Lentigo is different. You can think of it as distinct spots, slightly larger than freckles, scattered with clear boundaries.

Laser toning is most commonly used for melasma. However, toning has continuously evolved from the 1st to the 5th generation, aiming to increase effectiveness and reduce side effects.

Until recently, Pico Toning was widely used, and new methods like GD Toning and Cool Shot Toning have recently emerged, showing good results.

GD Toning not only treats melasma but also refines the skin's stratum corneum, which can result in a radiant skin effect and improved elasticity. It's a method that addresses whitening, brightening, and elasticity in a single treatment.

Cool Shot performs the procedure while lowering the skin surface temperature. It is suitable for those with sensitive or thin skin who are concerned about laser irritation. By cooling the surface and treating only the underlying pigment with high energy, it can reduce irritation and pain while increasing treatment effectiveness.

If it's lentigo rather than melasma, the treatment method changes. Recently, RePott Laser has been known to be effective. It features surface cooling technology, constricting capillaries on the skin surface while treating the pigment.

Even if they appear as the same brown spots, melasma and lentigo are different conditions, and an incorrectly chosen laser may not only be ineffective but can also stimulate the pigment. We recommend accurately distinguishing between the two before starting treatment.