Why You Should Never Treat Melasma And Blemishes With The Same Laser IPL Toning

When brown spots appear on the face, it's easy to assume they are melasma. However, while melasma and blemishes may appear similar at first glance, they differ in their causes, depth, and treatment methods. For effective pigment treatment, accurate diagnosis is paramount. Today, we will delve into how to distinguish blemishes, which are often confused with melasma, and effective treatment methods.

Blemishes refer to pigmented skin lesions that occur in the outermost layer of our skin, the epidermis. They can be caused by prolonged exposure to sunlight or skin damage from troubles. You can understand this as a general term for most epidermal pigment disorders, excluding conditions with clear diagnostic names such as freckles, Nevus of Ota, and lentigo. Blemishes appear as scattered brown spots of various sizes across the face, and they are often accompanied by melasma, making them easy to confuse.

Melasma, blemishes, and freckles each have distinct characteristics that allow for differentiation.

• Melasma: Characterized by appearing symmetrically on both cheekbones and cheeks, forming broad, hazy brown patches, as if paint has spread.
• Blemishes: Relatively distinct brown spots, the size of rice grains or beans, appear scattered across the entire face. They tend to appear mainly after the age of 30.
• Freckles: Appear as if sesame seeds are sprinkled on the face, mostly emerging during puberty.

However, sometimes blemishes can appear faint like melasma, or melasma can occur asymmetrically, making visual distinction difficult. In such cases, it is crucial to visit a dermatologist for an accurate diagnosis.

Since blemishes are pigmented disorders located in the epidermal layer, they are relatively easy to treat. Various treatment methods exist, including laser treatment, chemical peels, and medical skincare, but among these, laser treatment is by far the most effective. Pigment lasers and IPL are commonly used for laser treatment.

The type of laser used for blemish treatment may vary depending on the nature of the lesion and the presence of other accompanying pigment disorders.

• IPL: Primarily used when blemishes are widely distributed across the entire face. It has the advantage of minimizing scabs and pigmentation, but it is not used if melasma and blemishes appear together, as it can worsen melasma.
• Pigment Laser: Effective when blemishes appear only in certain areas or are not numerous. This method involves irradiating the blemish lesion with an appropriate intensity of laser to remove the pigment in the epidermis. Unlike melasma treatment, which usually requires more than 10 sessions to see effects, blemishes can often show noticeable improvement with just 1-2 sessions.

Melasma primarily appears in the deep dermal layer, and due to the characteristics of melanin cells, strong lasers can stimulate and worsen symptoms. Therefore, treatment with weak intensity toning multiple times is effective. On the other hand, blemishes are located in the epidermal layer, and they do not worsen with typical laser irradiation, allowing for destruction and removal in one go. Especially, pigment lasers have the advantage of being able to treat cases where melasma and blemishes are mixed.

In the past, when blemishes were removed with conventional pigment lasers, thick scabs would remain for about 5-7 days after the procedure, causing inconvenience in daily life. However, with the recent advent of picosecond lasers, which are 1000 times faster than existing pigment lasers, the effectiveness has improved, and downtime such as scab formation has been minimized, leading to high patient satisfaction.

After blemish treatment, consistent management is necessary to prevent recurrence and maintain healthy skin.

• Avoid Sun Exposure: It is best to avoid sun exposure, which is a major cause of blemishes, as much as possible. When going out, apply sunscreen thoroughly every 3 hours.
• Consult for Whitening Care: When performing whitening care using vitamin C, individuals with sensitive skin may experience redness or stinging. It is safe to consult with a dermatologist before starting such care.

We have discussed blemishes, which are often confused, and effective blemish treatments. We hope you find the right treatment for you through accurate diagnosis and maintain clean and healthy skin with consistent care.