What’s the best treatment for skin pigmentation? Intense Pulsed Light aka IPL is often perceived as the ‘go-to’ best treatment for pigmentation and rosacea. It can be an incredibly effective treatment, but there are other considerations to treat these conditions effectively and with longevity. Here, I break down all the options to get the best results 

1. Intense Pulsed Light & Laser 

Using heat modalities such as IPL and laser can target specific tissue such as melanin and capillaries and destroys them. These therapies can be extremely effective after just one or two treatments (a course of three is recommended.) Of course, this is a highly desirable result, but it does not answer the cause of the problem.  

IPL treatment yielded impressive results for this happy client.

2. Sunscreen & Antioxidants  

Often these conditions are a combination of genetics and your predisposition to sun damage. The first step is to stop the predominant cause: UV. This is achieved by using effective sunscreens and antioxidants: Vitamin C, E and B are essential for thorough protection.  

3. Active Skincare with Vitamin A 

The next step is to influence existing damage with the use of Vitamin A or Retinoids. This is one of the most profoundly effective tools we have to do this. It will help change the way pigment is distributed into the skin; it will induce collagen and thicken the skin; it will create harmony in the skin by stimulated Glycosaminoglycans, and increase the hydration of your skin. Basically retinoids encourage an all-round healthy composition to the skin. 

This client used skincare only to improve pigmentation on her décolletage.

4. & 5. Peels and/or Dermal Needling 

With some types of pigment, such as dermal (deep) or melasma, the pigment has been encapsulated in the dermis and cannot be targeted with IPL or laser. In fact, the heat from the treatment can exacerbate it. The best results for this type of pigment are the use of Vitamin A peels and/or Dermal Needling. Most people will have a combination of both superficial and dermal pigment, so it may be necessary to do a combination of treatment modalities. This also applies to rosacea: using modalities such as Vitamin A peels and Dermal Needling can address the condition by improving skin health, and IPL can enhance the result by dealing with more stubborn vessels.  

In essence, there’s more than one way to skin a cat (pardon the expression – I love my new kitty!) but none of it should be approached without the profound benefits of topical nutrition or home care.  

At the Face Place, my team and I pride ourselves on taking a holistic approach, thorough approach that gives you a lifetime of skin benefits.

Your Skin Team Leader Lauren

If pigmentation or rosacea are a concern for you, come and see one of our Skin Team for an Initial Skin Consultation today! Click here to book.