What Is Pigment Correction

Uneven skin pigment can be frustrating. For most people, there are two popular fixes – make-up to cover up dark spots and skin-lightening products. But the problem with these methods is that not all make-up is thick enough to correct pigment and skin-lightening products may create additional pigment concerns. At Princeton Aesthetics in Princeton Junction, NJ, we know that pigment correction treatments can restore the even tone of your skin.

What Is Pigment Correction?

Pigment correction is a series of treatments designed to break down pigmented cells that create dark spots, age spots, or sun damage on the skin. In general, laser treatments are the most effective way to restore the pigment of your skin. Laser treatments such as the original PICO Genesis and the PICO Genesis FX: Enlighten laser systems can gently, but visibly improve the pigment of the skin.

Why Do Pigment Concerns Happen?

Pigment concerns can happen for a few reasons. Hormones, sun damage, medications, and the natural aging process can all affect the pigment of individual skin cells. Some skin conditions, such as acne, can also cause long-lasting pigmentation concerns like post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Women, in particular, may experience hormone-related melasma or dark spots associated with both pregnancy and menopause.

That said, sun damage is the leading cause of pigment concerns. Dermatologists agree that the vast majority of visible aging is caused by unprotected exposure to sunlight throughout a lifetime. Unprotected sun exposure allows the skin to absorb UV rays that create free radicals in the skin cells, which then causes the skin cells to darken or lose elastic integrity.

What Are Laser Treatments Like?

Laser treatments are non-invasive aesthetic therapies that will resurface and restore the appearance of the skin. PICO Genesis uses a dual-delivery system with SR energy to break down pigmented cells and induce the skin’s natural healing properties. This treatment is comfortable and well-tolerated, although some people may prefer to use a topical numbing cream for added comfort.

Most of the time, patients will need a minimum of three treatment sessions to achieve visible results. Patients who have severe pigment concerns may require additional treatments. Your treatments will usually be spaced about four weeks apart to allow for adequate healing between appointments.

Where Can You Use This Treatment?

PICO Genesis can be used for pigment correction for virtually all superficial pigment concerns. Even better, this laser treatment can also be used on virtually any area of the body, including areas with sensitive or thinner skin.

You can use this treatment on the face, neck, and upper chest, as well as the hands, arms, and shoulders. If you have other areas with sun damage or pigmentation concerns, please let us know during your consultation so we can create a treatment plan that will address all of your aesthetic concerns.

Will You Need a Consultation?

Consultations are always required before new aesthetic treatments can be included in your treatment plan. During your consultation, our skin experts carefully examine and analyze your skin to assess your skin concerns, skin type, and whether or not you are an ideal candidate for laser treatments. This step is important since some skin tones may not respond well to laser treatments.

How Should You Prepare for Treatment?

Preparing for any laser or energy-based treatment means you need to be careful about sun exposure. When your skin is exposed to the sun, it triggers melanin production that can last for several hours or days. To avoid any unwanted additional pigment or undesired results, it’s a good idea to avoid any skin-darkening activities at least one to two weeks before your appointment. This means you should avoid activities such as:

• Sunbathing
• Tanning beds
• Self-tanning products

If you do need to be outside during the daytime, such as for outdoor sports or events, then you should be sure to wear strong SPF on any exposed skin. If your skin is damaged by the sun before your treatment, your appointment will need to be rescheduled until your skin is healed.

What Should You Do After Treatment?

After your treatment, your most important post-treatment direction is to avoid unprotected sun exposure. You will need to continue avoiding any skin-darkening activities for at least two to four weeks after your treatment. Wearing SPF 40 or higher is generally an ideal solution if you need to be outside during the daytime. Be sure to reapply SPF regularly if you are outside for long periods of time.

It’s also important to keep your skin moisturized after a laser treatment. Using gentle or simple moisturizers in treatment areas generally creates the best environment for skin healing. Products containing aloe vera, oatmeal, or hyaluronic acid are all ideal ingredients to have in your lotion or moisturizer.

What Are the Benefits of This Treatment?

There are several benefits to using laser treatments. For one thing, laser treatments are non-invasive, which means you will not need to worry about any discomfort, skin scarring, or other uncomfortable results after your treatment. Non-invasive treatments also have a much shorter recovery period than plastic surgery procedures. Other benefits for this treatment include:

Skin Tightening

One of the biggest side benefits of using the PICO Genesis laser treatment system is the fact that this treatment will also tighten your skin. PICO Genesis works by delivering energy directly to affected skin cells, which breaks down pigmented lesions, promotes cellular turnover, and stimulates collagen production along with other healing factors.

Renewed collagen production is the best way to tighten the skin. With more collagen, your skin will become more firm and elastic, so ultimately your skin will both look and feel younger. Additionally, increased collagen production in the skin is also associated with better, healthier-looking skin tones.

Few Treatments

There are very few treatments necessary for this laser system. While other laser systems may require six or more sessions to create significant improvements in the tone and texture of your skin, the PICO laser system for pigment correction really only needs one to three for most patients. The dramatic results of this treatment mean that you will be able to spot visible improvements in as little as one treatment.

Proven Treatment

PICO Genesis is a proven treatment. There have been several clinical studies conducted to assess the efficacy of this laser system for various skin conditions. For example, in at least one study, about 90% of people who used this treatment to reduce wrinkles and skin laxity were satisfied with their results.

Long-Lasting Results

After your initial round of treatments has been completed, you will be able to enjoy the results of this treatment for at least six to 12 months before you need to schedule a maintenance treatment. Your maintenance treatments will only require one annual session to maintain the collagen production and cellular turnover of your skin. We will help you identify the best treatment frequency for your needs.

That said, some results of this treatment may last for much longer than 12 months. For example, the treatment of mild to moderate scars may be permanently reduced or removed with this laser system. Pigmentation concerns can generally be treated for 12 months at a time or sometimes longer if you can maintain the overall health of your skin by using SPF when you are outside.

Restore the Even Tone of Your Skin With Pigment Correction Treatments

Topical skin-brightening products or make-up to cover up pigmentation concerns are only temporary solutions – and usually, the products are messy, expensive, and not as satisfying as promised. If you really want to make a dramatic improvement in the tone and texture of your skin, it may be time to turn to an energy-based pigment correction treatment. PICO Genesis is a versatile laser treatment that can fully restore the appearance of your skin. Contact us at Princeton Aesthetics in Princeton Junction, NJ to schedule your consultation today.