Melasma and Hyperpigmentation

Hyperpigmentation and melasma, often used interchangeably, are associated with uneven skin tone. In reality, melasma is a type of hyperpigmentation, while hyperpigmentation covers a wide range of skin pigmentation types and causes. For the most part, melasma and other forms of hyperpigmentation can be treated in the same way, with a combination of good sun protection habits along with professional treatments and products to even out skin tone and brighten skin.

What Causes Hyperpigmentation and Melasma?

Hyperpigmentation has many causes, including hormones, sun damage, scarring, and aging. Melasma is most often associated with hormonal changes, particularly during pregnancy. This is why melasma is often referred to as “pregnancy mask.”

Do You Have Hyperpigmentation or Melasma?

If you have patches of darkened skin, brown spots, or uneven skin tone, then you have one of many types of hyperpigmentation. If your skin condition began during pregnancy, a diagnosis of melasma is likely.

Skin Evaluation

During your first appointment at the Laser and Skin Surgery Center of Indiana (LASSI), we will begin by doing a full head to toe evaluation. As many patients with hyperpigmentation also have sun damage, we want to check for skin cancer warning signs in addition to your cosmetic pigmentation concerns. Once we’ve conducted a full evaluation, we will determine what treatments are right for you based on your skin type, medical and health history, and other factors.

Why Choose the Laser and Skin Surgery Center of Indiana for Skin Pigmentation Correction?

Unlike many skin care clinics that offer treatments for hyperpigmentation and melasma in Indianapolis, the LASSI is led by board-certified dermatologic surgeon Dr. C. William Hanke. This provides you with full medical, cosmetic, and aesthetic evaluation and care for your skin. We will evaluate and treat medical and cosmetic pigmentation issues, including skin cancer and precancerous lesions.

Solutions for Hyperpigmentation and Melasma in Indianapolis at the LASSI

At the Laser and Skin Surgery Center of Indiana, we offer several cosmetic and aesthetic remedies to improve skin tone and brighten your complexion, including:

• Facials, peels, and microdermabrasion
• Laser skin resurfacing and light treatments
• Microneedling
• Skin care products for home use

Facials, Peels, and Microdermabrasion

Our Indianapolis dermatology practice is home to LASSI Skin, a spa-like aesthetics clinic offering a wide range of professional-grade skin care treatments performed by licensed aestheticians. Under the watchful eye of board-certified dermatologist Dr. C. William Hanke, our aestheticians administer proven facial cleansing and rejuvenation treatments to brighten skin, reducing visible hyperpigmentation and melasma.

Effective, yet gentle, our Hyperpigmentation Peel reduces skin darkening and brown spots caused by sun damage, hormones, and even scarring. It’s one of many chemical peels offered by our licensed aestheticians at LASSI Skin.

Regular facials are important for anyone who wants clear, healthy, younger-looking skin. At LASSI Skin, we offer the revolutionary HydraFacial, which can be customized to reduce hyperpigmentation and melasma using hydradermabrasion, a water-powered form of microdermabrasion. HydraFacial combines facial cleansing, exfoliation, peels, and extraction in a powerful, yet gentle all-in-one procedure and is suitable for all skin types.

Speaking of, microdermabrasion is also an effective solution for hyperpigmentation and melasma. By gently buffing away darkened skin cells, we are able to gradually reveal brighter, younger-looking skin with more even tone and texture.

Laser and Light Treatments

In addition to a Hydrafacial, peel, or microdermabrasion, we may also recommend laser skin resurfacing or intense pulsed light (IPL) photorejuvenation treatments.

CO2 laser skin resurfacing procedures, performed by board-certified dermatologist Dr. Hanke, will be customized to your needs, treating an area as small or as large as necessary. We can spot treat small areas of pigmentation or perform a full-face ablative laser skin resurfacing. Discuss your options during your personalized consultation with Dr. Hanke.

If a more gentle approach will provide you with results, we may recommend a Clear+Brilliant laser treatment instead of a more aggressive laser skin resurfacing procedure. Clear+Brilliant is wonderful for prevention and maintenance, even if your skin tone concerns are very minor.

With the Forever Young BBL (broadband light), a series of therapeutic light treatments target darkened skin to brighten your complexion and even out your skin tone. There is no downtime with photofacial treatments, and these are often combined with HydraFacial and other skin care procedures performed in our LASSI skin aesthetics clinic.

Microneedling

Made famous by celebrities and social media influencers, microneedling creates micro-injuries to the skin, speeding up cellular regeneration and turnover while stimulating collagen and elastin production. Over time, darkened skin cells fade, revealing a more youthful-looking, brighter complexion.

Skin Care Products

Following every treatment to reduce hyperpigmentation and melasma in our dermatology practice, we will instruct you to apply sunscreen and protect yourself from direct sun exposure. This is because your skin is more susceptible to sun damage following professional skin care treatments in our clinic. Additionally, our providers will recommend home skin care products that will complement your in-office treatments, revealing brighter, younger-looking skin.

We will also offer you high-quality sunscreens for daily wear to prevent future skin darkening while protecting you from cancer-causing UV-damage. Wear sunscreen daily to prevent premature aging and skin cancer.

Melasma Treatment During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

If you’re currently pregnant or nursing, options for treating melasma are limited. This is because many of our treatments and products use ingredients that could harm an unborn fetus or pass through your breastmilk to your baby.

That being said, we urge patients like you to come to the Laser and Skin Surgery Center of Indiana instead of choosing a local day spa or medical spa. This ensures that you’re under the care of a physician or an aesthetician who reports directly to a physician. We may be able to provide custom treatment solutions and recommend products that are safe for you and your baby. If not, we will happily welcome you back once you have given birth and finished nursing.

Schedule Your Consultation for Hyperpigmentation and Melasma in Indianapolis at the LASSI

Are you ready to reduce the appearance of hyperpigmentation and melasma? Schedule a consultation at the Laser and Skin Surgery Center of Indiana today. Dr. Hanke and our team of expert dermatology providers and aestheticians in Indianapolis look forward to helping you achieve a brighter complexion with more even skin tone. Look good and feel great at the LASSI!