Solar or actinic lentigo
Solar lentigo, actinic or senile, is a benign lesion that develops on skin exposed to solar radiation. It is a pigmented macule, more or less dark brown with a flat surface, surrounded by normal skin. It can be single or multiple and its appearance is related to natural or artificial sources of ultraviolet light.
Laser offers an effective and safe alternative for the treatment of solar lentigines. In our center we perform a controlled protocol with a laser called Q-switched Alexandrite or Neodymium-YAG that through thermolytic effect allows a more selective treatment than those classically used (cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen or chemical peeling).
The treatment consists of sweeping the skin with a handpiece that activates the laser and directs its energy to the affected area. The procedure is simple, does not require anesthesia and lasts between 15 and 30 minutes, depending on the extent to be treated.
Most lesions clear up after one session, although some require a second session to disappear.
Seborrheic keratosis
Seborrheic keratosis is a fairly common benign adult tumor, often multiple and pigmented (light brown to dark black), consisting of mature keratinocytes. The cause of seborrheic keratosis is unknown, but it is thought to be an abnormal response to epidermal growth factors, probably of genetic origin (there is a familial predisposition).
As mentioned above, seborrheic keratoses are absolutely benign lesions. However, its destruction is performed for cosmetic reasons. For this type of lesions, we use the Erbium-YAG laser or the CO2 laser, which will exfoliate the stained surface to remove this tumor in a simple, fast and safe way. The procedure may require topical anesthesia and lasts between 10 and 30 minutes, depending on the number of lesions to be treated. Most lesions require a single session to remove.
Melasma
Melasma, chloasma or mask of pregnancy, is a skin pathology that consists of the appearance of irregular, grayish-brown spots on the skin. They appear bilaterally and symmetrically and affect the face (forehead, cheeks and supralabial area), neck and rarely the forearms.
The cause of their appearance is unknown, but certain factors can trigger melasma:
- Genetic predisposition
- Exposure to natural or artificial sources of ultraviolet light.
- Hormonal factors (pregnancy, contraceptives, fertility treatments).
The duration of melasma is variable, although it usually lasts for years. There is an increase in its coloration during the summer season (due to sun exposure) and an improvement during treatments.
The treatment of melasma is not simple and usually takes time. It consists of bleaching the lesions and then maintaining the skin to avoid frequent recurrences.
Treatment with Q-Switched Alexandrite or Nd-YAG lasers usually has a variable efficacy and the risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation is very high. Therefore, in our center we prefer to use depigmenting masks with a combination of products that inhibit melanin formation by various mechanisms. They can be combined with keratolytic peels and allow progressive and safer bleaching of melasma.