Freckles

Most hyperpigmentation are harmless to your health and are limited to cosmetic concerns. However, rarely, they could actually be forms of skin cancer that need to be removed. Seeking consultation and assessment by a trained physician is key to making the right diagnosis and guiding the right treatment plan. Amongst benign (non-cancerous) pigmentary disorders, certain types including freckles (tiny brown or black spots commonly found around the upper cheeks and nose associated with sun exposure), solar lentigines (larger brown spots or patches commonly around the face and hands associated with age and sun exposure), and Hori’s naevus (larger darker brown or grey spots usually found around the upper cheeks associated with age and Asian heritage) can usually be completely cleared or significantly lightened with laser treatments. This can be done as specifically designed pigment lasers are able to selectively target these pigmentary lesions while minimising collateral damage to the surrounding skin, breaking up the stubborn pigment and allowing the body to remove them more effectively and quickly. With the latest picosecond laser technology, this process has become even more effective, as the ultra-short pulses of energy causes the pigment to vibrate violently and fracture, instead of heat up and vaporise as would be the case with previous Q-switched lasers. This leads to more effective clearance of the pigment yet with lower downtime and associated risks such as burns and PIH as there is less heat generated in the process and consequently less potential damage to surrounding skin. After these lesions are cleared or lightened, they do not “come back” as they are permanently cleared. However, similar new lesions can form, especially if the patient is already prone to it due to lifestyle and sun exposure, age, skin type or ethnicity. It is therefore important to slow the process of new pigment forming, through diligent sun protection, targeted skincare, and regular laser treatments.