Pigmentation

Pigmentation: excess melanin as the target for light energy

Hyperpigmentation covers a broad spectrum of conditions in which melanin is overproduced locally or diffusely. The causes range from sun damage and hormonal influences (melasma) to post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) after acne or skin trauma. Each type calls for a different treatment strategy, based on the depth, severity and cause of the pigmentation.

The shared working principle is the selective absorption of light energy by melanin, which fragments pigment clusters so they can be cleared by the body. The choice of wavelength, pulse length and energy density determines the depth of the treatment and its impact on the surrounding skin.

Choosing the technology based on pigment type and skin profile

IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) is effective for superficial, diffuse pigmentation such as sun damage and lentigines in light skin types. Its broad spectrum treats several chromophores at once and lends itself to treating larger areas.

Q-switched and picosecond lasers offer greater precision for concentrated pigment lesions. Picosecond systems such as the PicoSure Pro and the Picoplus fragment melanin clusters into smaller particles than nanosecond systems, which can lead to better results in fewer treatments — including for more difficult indications such as melasma and PIH.

Fractional lasers such as the MOSAIC 3D and the eCO2 (via the Ultraclear) work through skin renewal and can be used as a supplementary treatment for deeper or more pronounced pigmentation combined with wrinkles or texture problems.

In darker skin types, every pigment treatment calls for extra caution: higher fluences or the wrong wavelengths can worsen post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Systems with an Nd:YAG wavelength (1064 nm) such as the DermaV™ and the Clarity II™ can be used more safely here.

The practice perspective

Pigmentation is an indication with broad patient demand and a clearly visible result — which makes it a commercially strong treatment for clinics. Combining IPL for maintenance with laser treatment for targeted correction gives practices the flexibility to offer a complete treatment pathway.

Medi-Invest helps you put together a considered range for pigment treatment — matched to your patient population, skin type profile and the level of result you are aiming for.