Severe hyperpigmentation and burns on my legs after pixel resurfacing

Question

I got pixel resurfacing on my legs to remove some scarring and hyperpigmentation. Insteading of fading all the areas that were touched by the laser, my legs came severely darker and blotchy in colour. My legs felt like they were burning for 5 weeks after the treatment. I’m current using vit c in the day and cystaemine nightly but don’t see much fading. Would chemical peels help or is this permanent discolouration?

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

Our office has many different treatments for scars depending on the depth of atrophy or hypertrophy. Scars require a combination approach using our HI DEF protocol which uses a combination of lasers, topical scar modulation, and RF treatments to pixelate scars, improve contour, reduce hyperpigmentation, and improve the visibility of the scars so that they are no longer visible in ambient light. Everyone has a unique pattern of scarring and we employ our HIDEF technique to improve texture, color, contour, and topography. We often use a combination of treatments that begin with a careful examination to examine the micro texturing of the acne scars. Atrophic scars and indented  scars can benefit from injectable fillers such as Radiesse, Sculptra, and Restylane with or without subcision to remove tethered scars and atrophic depression. Hyper-redness in scars can be improved with V beam laser, Excel V, BBL, IPL, and Venus RF to improve  the redness and reduce the visibility of deep scars. Fractional Thulium laser and clear & brilliant can also reduce the inflammation and redness of the scar when combined with topical therapy. Fractional lasers such as Fraxel, erbium, and CO2 laser can be combined with radio frequency and also fractional RF to improve textual issues and microtopography. Subcision and TCA cross are also used for deep ice pick scars and narrow valley scars in order to improve the micro texture.  Above all, our combination approach with our clinical nurses and board-certified plastic surgeons can improve the quality of your skin by using at home Melarase creams combined with PRP treatments in our office to improve your skin quality and tone. I recommend getting a formal evaluation with an experienced team of experts in order to reduce your scarring.
 
Finally, hyperpigmentation of scars can be improved with at-home Melarase AM, Melarase PM, and Melapads to help reduce active PIH and melanin deposition.

Best, 
Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon

Albert Yang, MD · Answer

Hyperpigmentation can be temporary. You can try some 4-8% hydroquinone gel. Also, blotchiness is common after areas like arm/leg is treated because the surface is curved, so the laser isn't exactly at the same depth at every location. Stay away from the sun as well. may help

Severe hyperpigmentation and burns on my legs after pixel resurfacing

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Severe hyperpigmentation and burns on my legs after pixel resurfacing

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