Sun Damage and Irregular Pigmentation

Brown pigment and excessive facial redness can be improved with several different treatment options.

Mild pigment irregularities respond well to Fotofacials - a gentle, no-downtime treatment.  While a series of treatments are usually required, Fotofacials can provide dramatic improvements in pigmentation.

Those with more advanced sun damage, may elect to have a more aggressive treatment that address not only pigment, but also sun damaged skin texture. Options for more aggressive treatments include: Photo-Rejuvenation –best for advanced sun damage with pre-cancerous lesions (actinic keratoses) or Pearl™ Laser Resurfacing – best for improving overall texture. These options provide more dramatic improvement after a single treatment, but do require 5-7 days of “down-time”.

FotoFacial™

FotoFacial™ is a no down-time series of intense pulsed light treatments that dramatically improve the following:

• Freckes
• Age Spots
• Sun Damage
• Enlarged Pores
• Facial Redness
• Irregular Pigment /Brown Spots

Treatments are performed on the face, neck, chest,  hands – anywhere you want to improve uneven pigment.  FotoFacial™ is quick, safe, and effective without downtime. You can resume normal activities immediately.

How does the treatment work?

An intense light is applied in a series of gentle pulses over the treatment area. Without damaging the skin, the light penetrates through the skin and is absorbed by the abnormally dilated vessels and brown pigmentation. The heat causes damage to the vessel or lesion, and the body begins its natural healing process. The lesion will darken before it flakes off or the body absorbs it. Treatment can be given as frequently as every three weeks.

How many treatments will I need?

For optimal results, a series of 3-5 treatments are recommended.  Follow-up treatments may be desired once a year to maintain results.  Fotofacial is sometimes combines with other laser treatments to target specific concerns and maximize results.

What is a treatment like?

Treatments may vary from 15 to 45 minutes depending on the size of the area to be treated. First, the treated area is cleansed and a cool gel is applied. When the pulse of light is delivered, the sensation is similar to a snap of a rubber band. After treatment, the gel is removed, the skin cleansed, and a sunscreen is applied.  For sensitive skin, a cool compress may be applied following treatment.

What improvement will I see?

Patients have a high degree of satisfaction with their results. Expect to see a gradual decrease in redness, broken capillaries, flushing, irregular pigmentation, pore size, and fine lines. After each treatment, the skin will feel smoother and appear to have a more even tone.

Those with more advanced sun damage, may elect to have a more aggressive treatment that address not only pigment, but also sun damaged skin texture: photorejuvenation is best for advanced sun damage with and pre-cancerous lesions (actinic keratoses).

PhotoRejuvenation

(Photodynamic Therapy with IPL)

The "Gold Standard" Treatment For Sun Damage And Pre-Cancerous Lesions.

The most recent advance in PhotoRejuvenation is the combination of a special photo-sensitizing agent (Levulan® 5-aminolevulinic acid) with intense pulsed light (IPL ).  The procedure can be considered a “super-charged fotofacial and is also known as Photodynamic Skin Rejuvenation.

A single PhotoRejuvenation treatment can make significant improvements in:

• Sun-damaged skin
• Pre-cancerous skin lesions (actinic keratosis)
• Rough Patches of Skin
• Brown Pigmentation
• Facial Redness
• Pore size / skin texture
• Sebaceous Hyperplasia
• Moderate to severe cystic acne

How does the treatment work?

 The photosensitizing agent (Levulan) is applied to the skin and allowed to incubate approximately 2 -3 hours. Following the incubation period, the Intense Pulse Light (IPL) treatment is performed which activates the Levulan.

Is the treatment painful?

During the treatment you may feel stinging, tingling, prickling, or burning of the lesions, but this should go away within 6-8 hours after the treatment. There should be some discomfort similar to a sunburn, but no significant pain.

Is there downtime associated with this treatment?

Yes, you should stay out of the sun and bright light for 48 hours after the treatment. Over the following three to seven days, the skin will turn red and swollen followed by peeling skin. After one week, there might be some residual redness that will subside after a few days and can be covered with makeup.

Pearl™ Laser Resurfacing