Facts, causes, treatment
Most of us have pigment spots and in most cases they are completely harmless. For many, however, they are a cosmetic problem. Especially if the pigment spots appear on the face, décolleté or hands. There are various causes of pigment spots or hyperpigmentation. In general, however, it can be said that pigment changes increase with age. This is why they are also commonly referred to as age spots.
Remove pigment spots
You don’t have to put up with the unpleasant stains. Nowadays there are good treatment options for removing pigment spots. The most common method is certainly laser treatment.
Laser treatment for pigment spots
With Lumenis® IPL
Chemical peelings
Medium depth or phenol peelings
Retinol treatment with ZO® Skin Health
for lightening hyperpigmentation
LaseMDTM
Laser treatment with cosmeceuticals
The most common cause of pigment spots is the sun. Protective clothing and UV protection are therefore essential to effectively prevent pigmentation spots. However, creams and serums with antioxidants can also provide long-term protection against hyperpigmentation.
Dr. Frank Muggenthaler
Causes of pigment spots
How do pigment spots or age spots actually develop? These skin changes are caused by melanocytes, which release an increased amount of melanin as a result of certain triggers. Pigment spots develop in areas where an excessive amount of melanin is produced. This overproduction of melanin can have various causes, such as hormonal changes, ageing processes, metabolic disorders, autoimmune diseases or medication. However, the most common cause of pigment changes is sunlight or UV rays.
Pigment spots due to sunlight
If you spend a lot of time in the sun over the course of your life, the first pigment spots can appear from a certain age. If you want to avoid stains, you should therefore stay in the shade and use a good sunscreen.
Laser removal of pigment spots
Laser treatment of pigment spots is a very effective and uncomplicated method. Both on the face and on the hands or body. We can successfully remove pigment spots with the IPL laser after just one treatment. The melanin deposits are destroyed with a laser beam. Thanks to air cooling, the treatment is painless and there is no downtime.
Frequently asked questions
Can pigmentation spots be prevented?
Yes, by avoiding intense sunlight. Or at least use a sunscreen with a high sun protection factor. However, creams and serums with antioxidants can also provide long-term protection against hyperpigmentation.
Are pigment spots dangerous?
Most pigment spots are harmless. Nevertheless, you should constantly monitor the stains and watch out for changes. If in doubt, the pigmented spot should definitely be examined by a doctor.
How many laser treatment sessions are required to remove pigment spots?
As a rule, approx. 1-3 treatments are necessary at intervals of 2-4 weeks.
Laser, peeling or cream? Which treatment is appropriate and when?
In our practice, the laser is usually the first choice when it comes to treating pigment spots. Especially if they are caused by UV rays. The laser beam penetrates the skin and “shatters” the deposits of the pigment melanin, which is responsible for the brown spots. As a rule, 1-2 treatments are sufficient to successfully remove the pigment spots.
If hormonal conditions are the cause of the hyperpigmentation, a trichloroacetic acid peel can lead to better results than the laser. However, this type of therapy is somewhat more complex.
If the hyperpigmentation is not yet so pronounced, a retinol/hydroquinol treatment may be useful. Vitamin C can also be used as an adjunct. An absolute must: good sun protection. Which treatment is appropriate must be determined and defined in a personal consultation with the doctor. It often makes sense to combine the methods.
