Having Asian skin has its pros and cons. One great advantage is that it ages slower. Yes, you can be in your 40s and still look years younger than your actual age. While your skin may look wrinkle-free, a downside to Asian skin is its tendency to develop various kinds of skin discoloration or pigmentation problems. Fortunately, there now exists different treatment options for pigmentation, so you can have them removed easily to maintain a flawless skin.
What are the available treatment options for pigmentation in Singapore?
The available treatment options for pigmentation in Singapore abound. If you have been doing your own research in finding the right solution for your pigmentation symptoms, then you may have come across treatments that can be done at home and in clinics.
The skin is a very delicate organ and treating it on your own can only increase the risk of aggravating your pigmentation symptoms. Sure, home remedies seem more convenient and cost effective, but if things go out of hand, you may end up spending more money in getting professional treatment. Hence, it is advisable that you get your pigmentation treatment done by a skin expert.
Here are several treatment options for pigmentation that you can consider:
1 Chemical peels – Chemical peels use a chemical solution like Glycolic acid and Salicylic acid that is applied to the top layers of the skin to remove the surface where uneven skin tone is present. New skin then resurfaces and evens the color of the skin’s outer layer.
Chemical peels are best for treating hyperpigmentation such as age spots and melasma. These are the chemical peels that are commonly used:
- Glycolic acid – This is a type of alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) peels. Glycolic acid peels exfoliate the skin superficially and may also reach the skin’s medium depths when combined with other chemical solutions for skin resurfacing.
- Salicylic acid – This is a type of a beta hydroxy acid (BHA) that is efficient in improving pigmentation flaws caused by inflammation or injury.
- TCA peels – TCA stands for Trichloroacetic acid. Among the other chemical solutions, Trichloroacetic acid is the strongest and most effective as it can penetrate deep into the skin. However, it also has the highest risk of developing side effects, such as scarring and infections.
You may be a good candidate for chemical peels if:
- You are not pregnant
- You have no family or personal history of developing keloids or overgrowth of scar tissue
- You have not taken any oral acne medication that contains isotretinoin over the past six months
- Your oral health is excellent and you are not prone to developing cold sores
Chemical peels may cause these side effects:
- Damage to the kidney or liver
- Discoloration in darker skin tones
- Infection
- Redness
- Scabbing
- Scarring
- Swelling
2 Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) – Intense Pulsed Light uses a machine that generates high-intensity light targeting the pigmentation that absorbs the thermal heat and eventually breaks down. IPL also promotes collagen production, which further improves the skin’s color and texture.
Intense Pulsed Light is most effective on the various types of pigmentation caused by sun damage (i.e. age spots).
You may be a good candidate for IPL if:
- You do not have active and/or severe acne or rosacea
- You do not have tanned or dark skin
Intense Pulsed Light may cause the following side effects:
- Bleeding
- Blistering
- Infection
- Scabbing
- Scarring
- Skin discoloration
- Swelling
3 Laser peels – Laser peels use a high-powered machine emitting energy charged light beams that target and break down the excess pigmentation in the skin. This skin resurfacing procedure has two types: ablative lasers, which are best for fair skinned individuals and non-ablative lasers, which are recommended for those with darker skin tones.
Laser peels can be used to treat these pigmentation concerns:
- Age spots
- Melasma
- Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation
You may be a good candidate for laser pigmentation removal treatments if:
- You are not pregnant or breastfeeding
- You do not have a weak immune system
- You do not have active acne
- You do not have a very dark skin tone
Laser peels may cause these side effects:
- Bacterial infection
- Burns
- Scarring
- Skin discoloration
4 Radiofrequency (RF) Microneedling – Radiofrequency Microneedling uses a machine with a handheld device equipped with very fine needles that puncture the skin to create micro wounds, which then stimulates the production of collagen. The increase of collagen in the skin allows it to regenerate and make the skin’s tone more even and smoother.
Radiofrequency microneedling can be used to treat the following:
- Age spots
- Hyperpigmentation
You may be a good candidate for an RF Microneedling treatment if:
- You are not pregnant or breastfeeding
- You are not taking anticoagulant medications
- You are not undergoing any chemo or radiation treatment
- You do not have active cold sores
- You do not have any personal or family history of developing keloid scars
- You do not have any skin disease or infection
Radiofrequency microneedling may cause these side effects:
- Acne flare-up
- Breakout of cold sores
- Dryness
- Itching
- Redness
- Scabbing
- Swelling
5 Topical medicated creams – Topical medicated creams are used as the first line of defense for mild pigmentation problems. The active ingredients commonly used in these medications are:
- Hydroquinone – This works to stop skin from producing excess melanin which causes pigmentation problems.
- Tretinoin – This works to trigger faster turnover of skin cells, which reduces the skin discoloration as it produces a new layer of fresh and smooth skin.
Hydroquinone and Tretinoin are powerful substances. These should be used under the proper guidance of an aesthetic professional.
Other ingredients that may be present in topical medicated creams include:
- Azelaic acid
- Corticosteroids
- Kojic acid
- Niacinamide
- Soy
- Vitamin C
Topical medicated creams can be used to treat these pigmentation problems:
- Age spots
- Melasma
- Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation
You may be a good candidate to use topical medicated creams if:
- You are allergic to any ingredients of the medication
- You are pregnant or breastfeeding
Topical medicated creams may cause these side effects:
- Acne caused by steroids
- Allergic reactions
- Atopic dermatitis
- Dryness
- Inflammation
- Irritation
- Open sores
- Redness
- Thickening of skin
Take away
Pigmentation problems can be solved using the right kind of treatment. However, it is imperative that your skin condition is accurately diagnosed and your treatment is planned by an aesthetic professional that has years of experience and knowledge in treating these types of skin flaws. This is to ensure that you are able to achieve your desired results without having to compromise the safety of your overall health.
Ozhean Zoey Medical & Aesthetic Clinic
#04-10 Triple One Somerset
111 Somerset Road
Singapore 238164
https://ozheanzoey.com
+65 6235 4534
