Amazing Doctor! - Glendale, CA
Thank you for your question.
Microdermabrasion is not a standard treatment for melasma. Rather, it would be better to try different bleaching creams, specifically Triluma, to try to lighten the area. Sometimes laser will work, but studies have shown that melasma will recur after laser in most cases, so at most, it is temporary relief. Contant use of a bleaching cream + laser (if desired) may be a great starting point. Also, Cosmelan is an excellent treatment. It is meant to be a once a year treatment, but you can repeat it in 4-6 months if the results are good, but not perfect. Other options for melasma include repeated glycolic peels. Theoretically, deeper peels would work, but I would worry about it coming back worse. The standard rules apply: birth control and pregnancy will worsen melasma. Those two and sun exposure will prevent any treatment from working. Hope this helps!
Thank you for your question. IPL is safe in both of these situations. Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) is simply visible light (like sunlight), but given at a high energy. There is no carcinogenic radiation, no ultraviolet light, and no cancer potential or potential harm to internal organs / baby. The light does not penetrate farther than the skin. You should be fine doing this procedure while pregnant and while breastfeeding. Good luck!
Thank you for your question. It does sound like you either had a deeper peel effect or a slight glycolic acid burn; both are normal with glycolic peels and can happen with anyone at any time (yours was the 4th time). Dry skin is usually the cause, and although this happened to you, don't worry. The darkness will take time to resolve and you can do two other things: 1. Wear sunscreen and avoid the sun, and 2. Get a hydroquinone or Triluma prescription to bleach the dark areas. With time, no matter what it looks like now, it will heal. They always do. Hope this helps!
Thank you for your question. Yes, you shouldn't have problems getting Botox while on microcurrent therapy, or while getting any other cosmetic procedure. The only time I tell patients to wait is if they are going to undergo any procedure that causes a great deal of heat in the dermis right after getting the Botox injections, namely laser resurfacing or IPL. You should do just fine with your treatment. Good luck!
