Conditions

Pigmentation

In simple terms, skin pigmentation refers to the colour of your skin. It comes from a substance called melanin that’s produced by cells in your skin. When these cells work normally, your skin has an even tone. However, sometimes they produce too much or too little melanin in certain areas, creating patches that are darker or lighter than the surrounding skin. This is called skin pigmentation. The two common pigmentation types are hyperpigmentation (dark patches caused by sun damage, hormonal changes, acne marks or injury to the skin) and hypopigmentation (lighter patches where melanin production has reduced, often from skin damage or other conditions).

How does laser help with pigmentation?

Laser treatment can help with unwanted pigmentation by targeting the melanin in dark spots. This breaks up the pigment into tiny fragments, which your body naturally clears away over time, gradually reducing the discolouration. Where there is too little pigmentation in an area, sometimes lasers can be used to stimulate pigment cells so they start to produce the same amount of pigmentation as the surrounding skin. Multiple sessions are usually needed for best results. 

Skin pigmentation can be complex, with many different causes, and a whole range of intensities. For that reason, no two cases are the same, and laser treatment can be more effective in some cases than in others. The best way to judge how effective it could be on your condition would be to come in for a consultation, and perhaps a patch test. We should be able to get a good idea how well your condition would respond to the treatment.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Laser hair removal permanently reduces your hair. It can remove anything between 80-100% of all hair – any remaining hair is often light and fluffy. Our own branded diode machines are the most powerful on the market, therefore any successfully targeted hair follicles are permanently damaged. There are three stages of hair growth and at any one time only 30% of the hairs are visible on the skin surface the rest are in a dormant state, this is why you will need multiple sessions.
Following your FREE consultation and patch test, you will need to wait at least 48 hours, before your commence with your first treatment. This is for insurance purposes and to check you have no reactions to the laser.
We recommend that most people will need an average of 8-12 treatments every 4/10 weeks (area depending) to kill the hair follicles beneath the skin and prevent future growth. Some people will require more sessions if any future hormonal changes result in new growth. Yearly top ups may also be required 1/2 sessions, to keep any stray hairs at bay. The laser can only treat hairs that are in the growing phase or visible on the skin surface, as a result, multiple treatments are required to treat all hair in the skin.
At your consultation, we will always ask if you are taking any medication. If so, we would always advise that you check with your GP first, if you are safe for the treatment. Some medications can cause light sensitive reactions, for which this treatment would be unsuitable.
You can leave 4/8 weeks between sessions, depending on the area and how many treatments you have had. Our therapists will create a personal treatment plan for you at your consultation, prior to any treatments.
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