Freckles

What are freckles?

Freckles are small brown spots on your skin, often in areas that get sun exposure. In most cases, freckles are harmless. They form as a result of overproduction of melanin, which is responsible for skin and hair color (pigmentation). Overall, freckles come from ultraviolet (UV) radiation stimulation.

Freckles are commonly found in skin types I–IV and are uncommonly noted in skin type V. They are seen as small, poorly marginated, pale brown macules on sun-exposed skin areas. Often there is a genetic predisposition. Microscopically, an increased amount of melanin is produced in the melanocytes. Sun exposure results in the aggravation of freckles, and there is an increase in density and color in the summer months.

How to remove freckles?

The laser treatments such as Q-switch Nd:YAG and PicoSure laser are mostly common used to get rid of freckles. The procedures are fast and effective.

Q-switched Nd:YAG

lasers are highly pigment selective targeting the endogenous melanin. The Q-switched device acts as an extremely high-speed shutter. It allows the Nd:YAG rod to store a large amount of energy and permits a single, high-energy, high-speed pulse to exit the cavity. It deposits energy in pulses in the range of nanoseconds. The beam can be made uniform or fractionalized. A fractional hand piece reduces the time the laser beam touches the skin and minimizes the damage in normal cells with a quick recovery time, as the laser’s energy is deposited on the skin surface in an interval pattern with islands of unaffected skin. Heat-induced steam cavities in the melanosomes cause the scattering of visible light, resulting in an ash white color at the site of treatment.

Immediately after the laser treatment, all patients had erythema and edema at the treated site, which decreased after some time. Crusting was observed on day 2 and scabs from day 3 onwards. Some patients showed significant improvement after the laser treatment and some of them developed hyperpigmentation at the treated site. In that case topical such as Hydroquinone and Tretinoin would be prescribed.

Q-switched MedLite

The MedLite is a Q-Switched laser that focuses on skin cells with pigmentation. This makes the MedLite the best laser to remove brown spots. Because the MedLite focuses on pigmentation, it can remove brown spots without harming the skin. MedLite is a time-tested laser so it’s safety and efficacy are well known. The MedLite is different that IPL light or other lasers because its effects work longer. IPL light can remove brown spots, but the spots will return. The MedLite removes brown spots and keeps them away.

PicoSure laser

PicoSure laser is the world’s first and only picosecond aesthetic laser platform for multiple aesthetic applications including tattoo removal, acne scar treatment, removal of pigmented lesions, wrinkle treatment as well as get rid of freckles.

This unparalleled breakthrough in laser technology delivers ultra-short pulse bursts of energy to the skin in trillionths of a second to gently target and eliminate pigment without harming the surrounding skin.

Unlike lasers in the past that relied on intense heat energy which caused pain and led to significant skin redness and downtime, this gentler treatment provides impressive results without the associated discomfort and downtime of traditional lasers.

With PicoSure, most patients find the procedure tolerable and require no numbing cream or anesthesia. PicoSure delivers energy in ultra-short bursts, and patients often compare the laser pulse to a snap of a thin rubber band.

Freckles

What are freckles?

How to remove freckles?

Q-switched Nd:YAG

Q-switched MedLite

PicoSure laser

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Please consult our dermatologist at Radiance Skin Clinic.

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