Irregular skin pigmentation is a common problem among many people. It is usually characterised by a patch of skin being darker than adjacent skin colour or the skin colour on the rest of the body. The size of the pigmented skin can be as small as a coin or larger patches may form all over the body leading to uneven skin tones.
Why does pigmentation happen?
Hyperpigmentation of the skin happens when the body produces excessive quantities of melanin, a pigmented substance responsible for giving the skin its colour. The excessive amounts of melanin are deposited under the skin surface and contribute to a darkening of the skin.
Pigmentation can occur due to a variety of reasons:
1. Sun exposure – Coming in contact with the harsh rays of the sun can lead to severe pigmentation. In fact, exposure to harmful UVA and UVB rays is one of the major causes of pigmentation.
2. Hormonal changes – Sometimes during pregnancy, certain hormones are responsible for a spurt in the growth of melanin. This excess melanin gets deposited under the skin, leading to darkening of the skin.
The laser procedure
Pigmentation removal can be effectively done with lasers. The procedure is quite simple. The lasers focus the laser light on the area. Following this, the laser sends out pulses of laser light consistently until all the pigmented area to be treated is covered.
The anticipated healing time should be between 5 to 14 days depending upon the person and the type of scar treated. The treatment is fairly painless and some patients do not even need to use anaesthetics.
