CO2 Laser Forum
75%
WORTH IT RATING
"Worth It Rating" shows the % of consumer reviewers that stated the procedure was "Worth It" or not. See more RealSelf Worth It Ratings or Add Your Review
40 Reviews
CO2 Laserbefore & after photos
View Before and Afters

Average CO2 Laser Cost: $2,665

Learn about CO2 Laser

239 people and 100 doctors are talking about CO2 Laser

Get Free Email Updates

CO2 treatment caused hypopigmentation - what can I do now?

By bettlerd on 09 Dec 2008

Thank you for the information and for your time. However, I believe the question was what can be done after hypopigmentation has already resulted. Are any treatments known to be effective for correcting hypopigmentation caused by CO2 laser treatment? Any success stories out there? Thank you.

View 1 doctor answer to Correcting Hypopigmentation from CO2 Laser Treatments

Comments (9)

Post a Comment
bettlerd 9 Dec 2008

Some of the supposed existing treatments for hypopigmentation are lasers (Relume; Fraxel), tanning accelerators (Novitil), creams (V-Tar, which is coal based and may be carcinogenic), steroid creams or immunomodulators (Protopic; Elidel), melanocyte transplantation procedures, and vitamin therapy (US Patent Application 20040170702).

Brent Moelleken, MD 7 Jan 2009
Sorry, probably too complicated an answer. I don't believe you can resurrect dead or dying (from apoptosis) pigment cells.
View answers from Brent Moelleken, MD
kerouc11 3 Apr 2009
bettlerd, where have you read that V-TAR may be carcinogenic? I am interested in trying this product.
bettlerd 18 Apr 2009
To Kerouc11: VTar is made of whole coal tar. Most tars are considered substances that "are known or suspected to cause cancer". See http://www.cancer.org/docroot/PED/content/PED_1_3x_Known_and_Probable_Carcinogens.asp So you'd want to research VTar's ingredients and its safety carefully before you begin putting it on your skin.
Jason - know how you feel 27 Feb 2009
Hi Bettlerd, I having been dong the same search for about 6 or 7 years now, and continue to see the same information without any new developments, as you posted. I continue to see different DR every few years waiting to hear that there are new developments correcting Hypopigmentation caused by Co2 laser resurfacing, to know success. It's very frustrating how with so much new technology and laser development they can't correct and on-going concern from so many people. I am not even looking for a 100% fix, i just want to know will some of those things you mention help just a little bit, and yet all I ever hear is hypopigmentation can't be healed. Good look with your continued serch....maybe one day we will finally find what we are looking for!
David Rankin, MD 5 Apr 2009
You can look into the Excimer laser. This has been shown to restore pigment and has been used on patients with Vitiligo AND on patients with pigment loss from laser procedures. Find out which Physicians in your area may have this laser. There are only a few as the indications for this wavelength laser is specific for resoration of pigment, psoriasis and some wound care modalities. Good luck!
View answers from David Rankin, MD
bettlerd 18 Apr 2009
Unfortunately the Excimer Laser for re-pigmentation requires continual maintenence (for life): "A major limitation of this new therapeutic intervention for pigment correction of scars and striae alba is the need for maintenance treatments," the authors write, noting that patients with lighter skin types would likely require maintenance treatment more frequently (every one to two months) than patients with darker skin types. Increased risk of carcinogenesis may also be associated with cutaneous use of the UV-B–based laser therapy. "Inconsistent results regarding squamous cell carcinoma and other non-melanoma skin cancer rates in UV-B–treated patients have been reported; nevertheless, the calculated increased risk appears to be low," the authors write. Taken from http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/487771
Michael B. Lyons, MD, FACS 24 Apr 2012
Cosmetic tattoo treatments are helpful. One needs to be treated by a professional that will match the color in the sunlight or similar wavelength office lights for best color match. This treatment may need to be touched up over time. M.Lyons,md
View answers from Michael B. Lyons, MD, FACS
Megan P (Community Manager) 27 Apr 2012

Dr. Lyons, if you have any tips on how to identify the best qualified professional to do this kind of work that would be great, such as any respected organizations to check for affiliation with or credentials to look for.

Post a Comment

used for verification