Brown spots and freckles

The majority of brown spots, blotchy pigmentation and freckles are due to both age and sun exposure. Hormonal changes, such as the oral contraception and pregnancy may contribute to pigmentation.

The majority of brown spots and freckles are non- cancerous, however melanomas and skin cancer may resemble non- cancerous lesions. A specialist should make a diagnosis before any spots are treated to rule out cancer.

BBL photorejuveantion

BBL photorejuvenation is a safe and effective treatment for uneven skin texture and pigmentation, as well as redness and flushing. The procedure takes 15 minutes to perform and patients can return to normal activities the day after treatment.

Fractionated Photo Rejuvenation

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The experts at Westside combine TWO treatments in one- the use of BBL Photorejuvenation and the latest technology Fractionated lasers to give far superior results in only one treatment.

What is Fractionated Photo Rejuvenation?

In the past,IPL has been a proven method of photorejuvenation, and can safely and effectively reduce superficial  pigmentation. The limits of IPL however has been hampered by the number of treatments needed (often up to 4 treatments) and the inability to safely and consistently treat darker skin types.  Additionally, deeper pigmentation is relatively resistant to IPL/BBL treatments. With Fractionated Photo Rejuvenation we combine a more specific form of IPL know as BBL (Broad Band Light) together with a shallow resurfacing technique known as Fractionation to give far superior results then IPL alone.

More information on Fractionated Photo Rejuvenation

Chemical peels

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Chemical peels refer to a broad range of chemical treatments for the skin. Peels regenerate and resurface the skin at varying depths depending on the agent and concentration used. Superficial peels remove the dead layers of the skin and can help improve uneven pigmentation, whilst medium depth peels target the deeper layers of the epidermis. Apart from removing more stubborn areas of pigmentation, deeper peels have the ability to stimulate collagen production, which improves both texture and tone.

What types of chemical peels can be used to treat pigmentation?

Glycolic acid peels (AHA peels) - This peeling agent is the most commonly used chemical peel and is frequently referred to as the ‘lunch time peel’. Side effects are uncommon, recovery is quick (within an hour or two), and the procedure is affordable ($95 per peel.)  Our peel concentration starts at 20% and typically ends at 70%.  We recommend a series of peels spaced between 2-3 weeks apart.

Ideal for – pigmentation, mild acne scarring, mild sundamage, uneven skin tone and acne prone skin.

TCA (Trichloroacetic acid) peels - This peel is aimed at reaching the deeper layers of the skin. Depending on the concentration, a downtime of upto 6-8 days can be expected for TCA peels. One treatment with TCA peel can improve pigmentation, uneven skin tone and improve texture by upto 80%.

Ideal for heavy sun-damaged skin, stubborn pigmentation including melasma, wrinkles and freckles.

More on TCA chemical peels

Microlaser peel

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It is a superficial laser peel that precisely removes a thin outer layer of skin to a selectable depth.  MicroLaserPeel is an advanced laser method to improve skin texture, tone, and luminosity, and is easily customizable to each patient’s individual goals. Because only a thin layer of skin is removed, healing times tend to be very rapid.

How does MicroLaserPeel work?

The MicroLaserPeel procedure uses a laser wavelength that is preferentially absorbed in the water of the epidermis.  The laser instantaneously heats the water to a high temperature causing it to vaporize or ablate the skin. MicroLaserPeel precisely ablates skin anywhere from 4 to 50 microns deep (a micron is very small – e.g., a fine human hair is around 40 microns thick). Ablating the top layer of the epidermis removes old, tired-looking skin and depending on depth, will remove some light blemishes such as sun spots and pigment irregularities. During the healing process new, healthy cells re-grow, generally improving the overall appearance of the skin. MicroLaserPeel may be used alone or in conjunction with other procedures, such as Fractionated laser therapy or BBL/IPL.

Creams

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A variety of compounded creams can fade superficial pigmentation. Our Cosmetic Dermatologists at Westside can individually prescribe a variety of creams based upon the type of pigmentation, the depth of pigmentation and your skin sensitivity.

Creams include a blend of AHAs, Vitamin A and C, and a bleaching agent. As each skin type is different, no two prescriptions are the same!

Dermatologist will individualise a program depending on your skin type, skin condition and sensitivities.

The use of sunscreen forms the basis of all cosmetic treatments aimed at improving brown pigmentation, spots and freckles.

Creams form the basis of Melasma Treatments.

Melasma is a common cause of facial pigmentation which is often resistant to treatment. The high UV index in Brisbane contributes to this skin disorder. 80% of melasma patients will improve with prescription creams and AHA peels. Resistant cases maybe improved with fractionated laser resurfacing or TCA chemical peels.

What is Melasma / facial pigmentation?

Melasma is a form of facial pigmentation affecting the forehead, cheeks and commonly the upper lip areas. It tends to affect darker skin types, but is commonly seen in Australian women.

What is the cause of Melasma?

Essentially three factors contribute to melasma-

1. Genetic- not everyone will have a family history of melasma, however some people are pre-disposed to this condition. Melasma is more common in females of darker skin races, such as Asian, Mediterranean or Middle Eastern extraction.
2. Hormornal– oestrogen from the pill, or pregnancy stimulates the pigment producing cells in the skin, resulting in excessive pigmentation. In many situations, despite having no history of pregnancy or the pill, some people have melanocytes that are sensitive to normal amounts of hormones.
3. UV exposure (sunlight)– Even brief exposure to UV light can stimulate pigmentation. The use of sunscreen is the cornerstone of treating melasma.

Queenslanders have extraordinary doses of UV exposure compared to the Southern states, and the use of sunscreen, even on cloudy days is important.

How do the Specialists at Westside Dermatology treat Melasma?

Facial pigmentation and melasma can be difficult to treat.  It is important to carefully assess the patient skin to determine the depth of pigmentation, address factors which may contribute to the facial pigmentation and educating the patient in regards to their skin care regime including photoprotection and sunscreen use.

A Westside Dermatology’s four step guide to melasma treatment and facial pigmentation will result in clinically significant improvement in over 80% of patients.

Step 1 - Identification of causative factors, patient education

If female patients are on the oral contraceptive pill, if possible we recommend another form of contraception. Note that contraception measures such as Implanon and the Nuvaring have been documented to worsen Melasma. Depo Provera contraception worsens Melasma in 1% of patients. Discuss with your General Practitioner non- hormonal methods of contraception.

Step 2 - Melanocyte inactivation

This step inactivates the overactive pigment producing cells (melanocytes), which results in pigmentation.

Several prescription creams are available. Unlike over the counter creams, each prescription is individualized for every patient.  A custom prescription of a compounded cream containing variable concentrations of Vitamin C, Vitamin A, Alfa Hydroxy Acids and Hydroquinone is recommended. The concentration of each ingredient will depend on the depth of pigmentation, the ethnic skin type, the individual skin sensitivity and your current product use.

Step 3 - Removal of excess pigmentation

This step clears the excess pigmentation from the layer of the skin. This can be done withChemical peels or with Fraxel/ ProFractional lasers.

Chemical peels can help speed up the process of clearing up melasma by gentle exfoliation of the excess pigment from the deeper layers of the skin. An excellent starting point is 20% Glycolic Peels or AHA peels. Chemical Peels are performed every 2 to 3 weeks and are well tolerated.

More information on chemical peels.

For deeper pigmentation or for treating the last remaining areas of pigmentation – Fraxel or Fractionated laser can give excellent results. Usually 2-4 treatments are needed.

Step 4 - Prevention of melasma

The last step of melasma treatment is the use of a maintenance regime by the patient. Westside Dermatologist prescribe a Vitamin A cream or AHA/ Glycolic preparation to be used several nights a week. For continued long lasting affects patients must continue to be vigilant about the need for absolute sunprotection.

The Radiant Skin Program was developed by Westside Dermatologists for the treatment of pigmentation, in addition to those who would like to improve skin texture and skin tone. This program consists of a series of Fractional laser treatments and chemical peels, with minimal downtime after treatments.

More on the Westside’s Radiant Skin Program

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Dr Davin S. Lim

Assessing the cause of pigmentation is vital before any treatments are planned. The majority of brown spots, freckles and pigmentation are non cancerous, however skin cancers may present in this manner. The type and depth of pigmentation will dictate the treatment. Fractional Photo Rejuvenation is my preferred method of shifting the extent and depth of pigment seen in many Queensland clients. One treatment will give excellent results that are predictable with an acceptable downtime. A series of treatments can be tailored to those who lead an active lifestyle, where down time can be an issue. We developed the Radiant Skin Program for patient who lead an active lifesyle, where down time is an issue. I usually tailor a treatment program according to each patient- a solutions is always possible.

Enquire about brown spot and freckle treatments

"One treatment and my spots are all gone. Excellent results by the team at Westside!" Katie P, Milton

"The team at Westside was terrific- explained everything from start to recovery. My skin never looked better. Thank you." Liza H. Toowong