Best Treatment for Olive Skin with Age Spots, Sun Spots, Melasma?
I'm 47, light olive complexion w/ pinkish undertones, brown eyes and dark brown hair; was very active in sports from age 7 through 20's-prior to the emphasis on the importance of sunscreen & sun damage to exposed skin.
After 1 year of 4% hydroq., 0.4 retin A., and 4 IPL Tx's, no significant improvement is noted. The treating dermatologist of IPL(Nashville) states that my tx options are limited, states it's hormone related. Not much available for my skin type/color. A plastic surgeon (Chattanooga) advises against CO2 resurfacing.
Continued HQ and Rentin A have no significant impact. Have you successfully treated cases similar to mine with Fraxel repair?
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Melasma in your skin type is difficult to treat
Hi AG,
Melasma in your skin color type has been a very difficult condition to treat. Fraxel restore is probably the best technology to try to treat the melasma. It must be done very lightly at 3 to 4 week intervals.
We have seen significant improvement in about 80% of patients, the other 20% do not respond well. It sounds as if you are now taking excellent care of your skin and with avoiding sun exposure. In the 80% responders, there is a tendency toward recurrence during and after...
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There are options for ethnic skin
Age spots and melasma can be treated althought it is a difficult thing to treat. IPL's, and all types of resurfacing can improve the appearance of these conditions. IPL treatment can affect deeper pigment. Sometimes the cooling will protect the more superficial pigment and hence this can stay within the skin and also prevent penetration of other lasers.
Sometimes you need to combine very superficial peels or resurfacing to the mix to improve more superficial pigmentation. Very light co2...
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Bellevue Facial Plastic Surgeon