Lasers to Treat Hyperpigmentation from Sclerotherapy?

I'm 30 yr old active woman w/ multiracial background of Irish, African American, Native American and Middle Eastern descent, I have dark hair and tan easily. I had 2 treatments for minimal spider veins that worsened during preg. the first 1yr1/2 ago and the last 1year ago. I got hpigmentaion the 1st time then was treated again and I still have it. my L leg was treated for spider veins and the R he says cross between a spider vein and varicose?(2 different solutions) my L leg is fine the R bad :( before not so bad, after terrible. so...sad, too embarrassed to wear shorts. are their any laser treatments to clear the hyperpigmentation that I have had for over 1 year 1/2?

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5 Doctor Answers | Asked by lotusblossom in Mobile AL

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Sclerotherapy and dark spots

Darkening of the skin after sclerotherapy could be post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation but often this fades before a year and a half. If you see a board-certified dermatologist they may use a Wood's light to see if the color decreases which indicates a deep pigment such that lightening creams will not work. Lasers may improve the darkening but they can possibly risk burning the skin or just irritating it enough to stimulate pigmentation, so you get or worsen the condition you're... more

Hemosiderin is hard to fade

This may not be melanin, but a pigment in blood called hemosiderin. It fades slowly. I have heard some patients get improvement with a long pulsed Nd Yag laser.

How to lighten the dark spots from Sclerotherapy

Think in terms of improvement, and not perfection because that is most likely all that will happen. First line treatment would be topical, prescription strength hydroquinone. You would have to apply this with a fine applicator and be sure to hide from the sun with an SPF of 55 (available from aveeno, neutrogena and others). If this is not successful the treatment might include intralesional steroid or even cryotherapy if you don't't mind trading a dark spot for a light spot... more

Beverly Johnson, MD

Washington DC Dermatologist

skinhairnails.com

Lasers for Hyperpigmentation after Sclerotherapy

Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, especially on the legs in darker skinned people, can fade very slowly but 1 1/2 years is a long time to have waited. I have seen improvement of this problem using our long pulsed Nd Yag laser so I would recommend you try this next. But go slow - have only a few test areas done first to make sure it works or does not make it worse!