Can hyperpigmentation on upper lip be treated in between laser hair removal?

Fractional laser is an amazing and highly effective treatment in our office. We use the laser treatment to help with acne scars, large pores, fine wrinkles, tissue collagen loss, scars, sebaceous hyperplasia, active acne, and for brightening dark pigmentation. Although there are very strong fractional lasers such as CO2 laser, we use lighter treatments for corrective skincare and maintenance of results. Our Thulium fractional laser, clear and brilliant laser, and Ultra Thulium laser are excellent options in our clinic. We also perform CO2 fractional and erbium depending on skin tone and tolerance for downtime. Patients do have to use a Melarase cream before and after treatment to help further reduce pigmentation after laser. Melarase AM, Melarase PM, and Melapads can seriously improve surface sun damage and UV related pigmentation. Dark spots can improve with these treatments. I recommend fractional laser for incisional scars as well, especially after plastic surgery.
Best,
Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon

​Hyperpigmentation of any kind needs a combination approach of peels like cosmelan, enlighten and aerify along with dermarolling (EmerageSkin roller with anteage AERIFY MD ampules weekly,; lasers like Clear + Brilliant, Aerolase or Laser Genesis; radiofrequency like Venus Viva; and constant skin care and sun protection. Bimonthly facials with SilkPeel DermalInfusion are essential to hydrate, exfoliate and infuse vitamins and antioxidants into the skin. If you have acne you can do additional treatments and peels to get more improvement. Hypopigmentation will need more of an evaluation and possibly additional lasers to get improvement. I suggest a formal consultation with an expert in lasers and peels. Best, Dr. Emer.​

Lasers can make melasma worse. Your physician can prescribe hydroquinone to help decrease the chance of this happening. Please contact your treating physician about your concerns

Lasers can make this worse. Hydroquinone should be prescribed to decrease the chances of this. Chemical peels and Retin A are also helpful for melasma. Refractory melasma can be lasered but it can make things worse as well.

Depending on the type of laser used for your hair removal treatment, you may see an eventual lightening of the facial pigment.  Laser hair removal devices target pigment in the hair follicle.  If there are cells at the same level as the hair follicle which contain dark pigment, the laser will affect them as well.  In some cases, the cells may be stimulated and make more pigment, in others, the cells may be destroyed along with the hair follicle, and over time (2-5 days), the pigment released from the damaged cells will rise to the surface of the skin and flake off.  It may look darker initially as the pigment is no longer contained inside a viable cell.

Pigment can be treated with other modalities between hair removal treatments as long as the pigment treatment is held for at least a week before the next scheduled hair removal to minimize the risk of skin damage by the laser.