Dear Dr. Seckel, I have one dark spot on my face under my left eye. I am using tri-luma skin crème. Should I treat the spot or the whole face? I would like to know what you think about lasers for people with medium to dark skin? Would lasers still be a good idea? I only have one dark spot that I really need help with but the tri-luma is turning the area around the scar lighter do you have any suggestions? Am I using it wrong? Will the laser treat this problem too? What is IPL and Photo facial rejuvenation? Thank you, Claresse, Adelanto, CA.
Dear Claresse,
Tri-luma skin cream is excellent for removal of pigment and removal of brown spots and skin pigmentation. Try the Tri-luma just on the dark brown spot for pigment removal that does not lighten the surrounding skin.
Laser skin rejuvenation peels can be used on medium to dark skin but there is always risk of hypo pigmentation or skin lightening after a laser skin peel.
In my opinion IPL or Photo-facial is safer on dark skin. IPL or Photo facial is not a laser, rather IPL stands for Intense Pulsed Light-the machine creates an intense pulse of visible light that is absorbed by the pigment that is then broken up and removed by the body. IPL or Photo facial can also be used to treat wrinkles, fine lines and wrinkles, broken blood vessels, facial aging, and pigment removal. The IPL is used for non-surgical skin and facial rejuvenation and is a no down time procedure.
It is important to find a board certified plastic surgeon or dermatologist who has experience with IPL, as expertise is required especially when treating darker skinned people. You can check the websites of Lumenis.com and Palomarmedical.com, two companies that make IPL machines to find physicians in your area who they recommend. For further information on facial rejuvenation read Save Your Face or contact me.
Boston, Massachusetts