Hyper-pigmentation and Optimal Skin Resurfacing Treatments

Hyper-pigmentation may be the result of the sun, medications, hormones or disease. The breakdown is, as follows:

Hormones: Unlevel hormones are a common reason for hyper-pigmentation. Hyper-pigmentation may occur as a result of pregnancy, estrogen imbalance, oral contraceptives, and hormone replacement therapy. Pregnancy caused hormone changes that may produce hyper-pigmentation may naturally improve following pregnancy. Hyper-pigmentation that does not naturally improve may otherwise improve with micro-dermabrasion, chemical peel and laser skin resurfacing treatments.

Sun: Sun damage can cause age spots that may be improved with laser skin resurfacing, micro-dermabrasion, and chemical peels.

Medical Conditions and Disease: Sexually transmitted diseases, diabetes, malaria, and Addison's disease are some of the diseases that may produce hyper-pigmentation. Some types of hyper-pigmentation produced by disease may be treated with laser skin resurfacing, chemical peels and micro-dermabrasion,.

The Advancements

There are several types of micro-dermabrasion manufacturers which assist with minimal types of hyper-pigmentation imperfections. There are a variety of chemical peels which may be mild, moderate or greater in strength.

The greatest advancements have come in lasers, including: the IPL to treat large areas of hyper-pigmentation, CO2 lasers for smaller areas and Fraxel's Restore laser which was recently introduced as a laser that can provide optimal treatment for hyper-pigmentation. In fact, each laser serves a different type of imperfection so it is important to screen several doctors in order to determine if the physician has the particular laser for your need as well as the level of experience that the physician has with a specific laser.

Women interested in an advanced degree of skin resurfacing were formerly provided with 2 options for resurfacing the skin: 1) ablative lasers (such as CO2 or Erbium laser), involving the decomposition of targeted skin surface layers so that increased collagen production will develop new surface skin, and 2) non- ablative lasers focusing a the delivery of lower level energy to damage the dermis layer of the skin which, in turn, is meant to trigger collagen production and skin renewal. Close to 350,000 women and men underwent laser skin resurfacing in 2007, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

Perhaps, plasma was introduced because the plastic surgery and dermatology community has always sought after improved methods to limit downtime associated with the skin resurfacing procedure, deliver improved results, and decrease recovery discomfort. Recently, the FDA approved Plasma skin resurfacing for wrinkles, fine lines, Actinic, seborrheic keratosis (colored, textured patches of the skin) and Viral papillomata (benign tumor such as a wart). Plasma skin resurfacing allows for the use of nitrogen plasma (an inert gas) to "damage" surface skin layers in order to remodel skin tissue. The idea behind the Plasma is that the high energy gas is capable of stimulating skin renewal with a reduced risk of scarring, infection, pigmentation loss and open wounds.

Reports documenting the use of Plasma technology date back to 2005. Thus, the long term effects of Plasma skin resurfacing have not been established. Yet, Plasma technology holds promise as a viable skin resurfacing alternative to other non-ablative types of skin resurfacing procedures and treatments.