Is melasma laser treatment okay in summer?
There is a strong perception that melasma laser treatment should not be received in summer when strong UV rays are shining. However, this is a misconception. Hello, I am dermatologist Jung Ji-in. Today, I will clear up misunderstandings about melasma treatment in summer and answer your questions about melasma treatment, including the most effective melasma treatment method currently available.
Melasma, common but actually a refractory disease
Melasma is a pigmented disease that usually appears in various colors, from dark brown to gray, on the cheekbone area, forehead, and bridge of the nose, which are easily exposed to UV rays, due to excessive production of melanin pigment due to hormones, UV rays, or genetic factors. However, there are surprisingly many people who visit for melasma but turn out not to have melasma. Solar lentigo, seborrheic keratosis, or acquired nevus of Ota, which have similar conditions to melasma, are easily mistaken for melasma.
Rather than self-diagnosing melasma, an accurate diagnosis by a dermatologist and appropriate customized treatment are important.
How is melasma diagnosed?
Melasma diagnosis is primarily made by a dermatologist visually. In most cases, it is possible to determine whether it is melasma or not during this process. However, if it is ambiguous and difficult to determine at a glance, a special facial skin diagnostic device can be used for a more accurate examination.
Effective melasma treatment, frequency is more important than intensity
For melasma, treating it weakly multiple times is much more effective than treating it with a strong laser at once. Using a strong laser can stimulate melanin cells in the lower layer of the epidermis, or sometimes cause side effects such as post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH). Also, unlike general pigmented diseases, melasma tends to spread throughout, so it is difficult to remove it all at once. Melasma skin is often said to be like a fragile eggshell that needs to be handled like a baby. Therefore, when treating melasma, it is recommended to receive weak intensity laser treatment at least 10 times or more with low output. Therefore, it is also important to find a dermatologist with extensive experience in melasma treatment who can adjust the appropriate laser intensity according to the condition.
Which laser is effective for melasma treatment?
The type of laser used can also greatly affect the treatment results. While the existing 1st generation nanotech Nd:YAG Laser Toning was good, we recently recommend treatment centered on the 2nd generation PicoWay Laser.
PicoWay Laser works by hitting the 1064nm wavelength laser in extremely short picosecond units to quickly and finely break down and remove only melanin pigment without thermal damage to the surrounding area. Although the 1064nm wavelength is mainly used for PicoWay, shorter 532nm or 730nm wavelengths can be applied to shallow pigments, allowing for customized treatment according to the lesion.
- PicoWay Laser: Irradiates 1064nm wavelength in picosecond units to quickly destroy only melanin pigment
- Utilization of various wavelengths: 532nm or 730nm wavelengths can be applied to shallow pigments
- Combined whitening care: Expected to achieve highly satisfactory results by reducing inflammation and penetrating vitamins
If whitening care that reduces inflammation and penetrates vitamins into the skin is added, you will be able to achieve the highest satisfaction among existing melasma treatment methods.
Is melasma laser treatment okay in summer?
The exact cause of melasma is not yet known, but it is presumed to be due to the influence of female hormones, overall health status, etc. The main causes include UV rays and female hormones. Therefore, there is a strong perception that melasma laser treatment should not be received in summer when UV rays are strong, but this is a misconception. You can receive melasma treatment even in summer.
The reason is that UV rays consist of UVA and UVB, and while UVA mainly affects stimulating pigment deep in the skin and causing aging, UVB only becomes stronger in summer. UVA, which has a decisive influence on melasma formation, is known to be constant throughout the year regardless of the season, and is at a similar level on foggy or cloudy days as on clear days. And melasma laser treatment is not so strong that it often causes hyperpigmentation due to irritation after treatment. Therefore, when choosing the timing of melasma laser treatment, it is better to consider whether you will be exposed to strong UV rays or whether you can refrain from outdoor activities, rather than the season. Since melasma itself is very sensitive to UV rays, it is recommended to apply sunscreen thoroughly and use additional physical blockers such as hats and parasols during summer when there are many opportunities for outdoor activities.
How should melasma be managed during pregnancy?
Melasma is a common skin condition in pregnant women, to the extent that it is called 'the mask of pregnancy'. This is due to the influence of hormones, which are considered one of the causes of melasma. Usually, about half of melasma disappears within a few months after childbirth as hormones normalize, but in many cases, it remains or persists for more than 2 years after childbirth. In addition to hormonal influences, the possibility of it becoming darker or recurring increases with the addition of UV rays and genetic predisposition. In such cases, after consulting with a dermatologist, you can try applying melasma ointment containing arbutin, tretinoin, or hydroquinone, and the PicoWay Laser Toning mentioned earlier can also be effective. In some cases, tranexamic acid medication, laser toning, and vascular laser are performed together. However, simply applying sunscreen thoroughly can greatly help prevent melasma during pregnancy, so it is better to prevent it in advance than to treat it.
Melasma is difficult to cure completely, but consistent management is important
Unfortunately, melasma is a skin condition with a high recurrence rate, so there is no 100% cure. It is a pigmented lesion that occurs due to very complex factors among pigmented diseases, so even if only certain factors are removed, it is not completely cured, and it is not easy because other factors act in combination. However, after melasma has improved to some extent and disappeared through treatment, consistently applying sunscreen or whitening functional cosmetics regardless of the season, and consuming sufficient antioxidant vitamins, including vitamin C, can help prevent melasma from occurring.
So far, we have looked into questions related to melasma and the most effective melasma treatment currently available. As mentioned earlier, melasma is a skin condition that is difficult to cure 100%. Therefore, consistent management of melasma with treatment methods that can minimize recurrence and lifestyle habits such as diligently applying sunscreen is most important.