Hello!
I am Cho Hyuk-chan, the head director of Cleor Clinic Uijeongbu.
Many patients who visit us for freckles and blemishes often say this:
“Doctor, my skin doesn’t look clear even with makeup, and
the blemishes look even more prominent in photos.”
The reason why skin looks uneven is
not just because of the noticeable spot-like pigmentation.
It's also due to the subtle pigmentation spreading around it,
pigmentation settled in the dermal layer, repeated UV exposure, and
even micro-inflammation, all acting in combination.
Therefore, rather than "pinpointing" and removing only a specific area,
an approach that evens out the overall skin tone may be more appropriate.
Can you achieve a clear and bright skin tone with just one laser session?
"Isn't it over if you just do one strong laser treatment?"
To answer that first, it is rare to solve it with a single treatment.
Especially if melasma is involved, the treatment strategy changes.
Melasma has the characteristic of activating pigment cells with strong stimulation,
so an approach is needed to minimize irritation and stabilize the pigment reaction.
Even if it takes a little longer, proceeding step by step according to the skin condition
is the way to reduce recurrence and create stable results.
Is it melasma or freckles? First, distinguish them.
The most important thing I look at in melasma and freckle treatment
is accurate differentiation!
Although they may look similar on the surface, melasma and freckles
have different causes and treatments.
This is because it is common to think it is freckles but it is mixed with melasma tendencies, or to think it is melasma
but the proportion of freckles is larger.
If you don't distinguish this accurately, the laser intensity and
treatment interval settings will be misaligned.
At Cleor, we check even the parts that are not visible to the naked eye through MarkVu imaging.
Therefore, we establish a treatment plan after comprehensively analyzing the pigment distribution hidden under the skin, redness and vascular reaction,
and skin texture condition.
A Pico Laser Approach to “Toning Pigments” Rather Than “Burning Pigments”
At our Uijeongbu dermatology clinic, we use PicoSure and Picolo Premium
pico lasers according to the condition for melasma, freckles, and overall tone improvement.
Pico lasers deliver energy in a very short time tobreak down pigments into fine particles.
If heat stays for a long time, it affects the surrounding tissues,
so we approach it in a way that acts briefly and accurately only where needed to reduce the burden on the skin.
For those who say, "My face is generally dull, and I also have spots
and melasma," it is better to subtly correct the residual pigments spread all over the face
and even out the skin tone than strongly removing only specific pigments.
However, pico lasers are not applied in the same way to everyone.
If the proportion of freckles is large, it is safer to target the lesion, and if the proportion of melasma is large,
it is safer to set a plan with a toning method that minimizes irritation.
When is an Erbium Laser needed?
The Erbium laser (Er:YAG) is a device that treats the skin surface relatively precisely.
It is not a "basic must-do together" in melasma and freckle treatment,
but an option to be considered as an aid.
Milia/Flat Warts:
When removing benign tumors that are bumpy around the eyes or face
Moles/Age Spots:
When minimizing scars and shaving off lesions that are deep-rooted or protruding
Rough Skin Texture:
When the stratum corneum is too thick for laser light to penetrate properlyErbium lasers are a very excellent tool,
but they should be used with caution in patients with melasma!This is because if the skin surface is touched too much, melasma can
be stimulated and become darker.So I pinpoint only the necessary lesions
and use it very delicately.
Wait, the treatment approach should be completely different for these people!
You can consider a 'tone improvement' centered approach
Those whose entire face looks dull and uneven
Those who have freckles here and there and residual pigments spread widely
Those who have a history of irritation control being needed because they have had a darker experience after a strong laser in the past
Conversely, there are also cases where you need to be more careful
Those whose skin has recently become sensitive and often have redness/tingling
Lifestyle patterns with a lot of UV exposure and difficult to block (outdoor activities/occupation)
Cases where deep pigmentation is suspected or pigment activity appears high
In these cases, rather than pushing through with laser alone,
you may need a different combination or treatment order tailored to your current skin condition.
Things to note after melasma and freckle treatment
After melasma and freckle laser treatment, depending on the skin,
redness, heat, and dryness may appear, and
the color may temporarily appear darker
(post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation) may occur, and
in rare cases, melasma may appear to spread.
That's why I emphasize pre- and post-treatment care as much as the procedure itself.
You should sufficiently block UV rays and adjust irritating home care according to your condition,
and focus on moisturizing and soothing as a basis.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q. How many laser treatments should I receive?
It depends on the skin condition and pigment proportion.
If it is mainly freckles, the reaction often appears with a relatively small number of treatments,
and if melasma is mixed, it may take more time because it proceeds step by step.
Q. What is the appropriate treatment interval?
Usually, the basic interval is 3-4 weeks,
but it is adjusted according to the skin recovery speed and pigment reaction.
Repeating at too short intervals can burden the skin,
so we look at the condition and schedule the next appointment.
Q. Is it possible to return to daily life immediately after the procedure?
Most are possible immediately. However, immediately after the procedure,
there may be redness or heat, and you should take more care of UV protection and
moisturization than usual.
Q. Is it okay to receive treatment in the summer?
Yes! It's okay to receive it.
However, it is a season with a lot of UV exposure,
so post-treatment care is more important.
You must apply sunscreen carefully when going out.
We also adjust the treatment interval during periods with a lot of outdoor activities.
Q. Can it recur?
Pigmentation is closer to "stabilization" than a completely "removed" concept.
Especially melasma is affected by various factors such as UV rays, hormones, and stress,
so if you neglect management, it can come up again.
Cleor Clinic Uijeongbu treats it with this process!
Based on MarkVu diagnosis, we identify the proportion of melasma and freckles,
and basically aim to control irritation with pico lasers and correct residual pigments,
and consider erbium lasers as an aid only when necessary.
If you visit Cleor Clinic Uijeongbu with concerns about melasma and freckles,
we will look at the current pigment distribution, redness, and sensitivity together
and create a customized plan.
클레오르 의정부점은 이런 과정으로 치료합니다!
저희는 마크뷰 진단을 바탕으로 기미·잡티 비중을 파악하고,
피코레이저로 자극을 조절하면서 잔색소를 정돈하는 방향을
기본으로 필요할 때만 어븀레이저를 보조적으로 고려합니다.
클레오르 의정부점에 기미 잡티 고민으로 내원하시면
현재 색소 분포와 붉은기, 예민도를 함께 보고
맞춤 계획을 세워드리겠습니다.