Laser Treatments
Arctic Laser Peel™ • Portrait® Plasma Laser Skin Rejuvenation • Erbium Resurfacing • Fraxel® Laser Resurfacing • Fraxel Repair Laser Treatments • Facial and Leg Veins • Melasma • Shaving Bumps • Laser Hair Reduction

Melasma Treatments

Melasma is a skin condition presenting as brown patches on the face of adults. Skin aging caused by systematic sun exposure and facial blemishes due to excessive pigmentation are more and more common problems today. Dark blemishes, especially on the hands and face, are one of the greatest aesthetic concerns of modern men and women.

It is only possible to remove these skin blemishes, recover the smoothness of the skin, and bring back its luminosity, with a treatment that has a direct effect on the formation process of the melanin pigment.

What is Melanin?

The particular color of the skin of each human being depends on a dark pigment called melanin. The quantity of this pigment determines the shade of the skin color. Melanin is produced in some cells of the epidermis, known melanocytes. These cells possess a special structure on the inside of their cytoplasm, called melanosome, where the melanin is formed, following successive metabolic transformations.

The main function of melanin is to protect us against the radiation of the sun by filtering the harmful ultraviolet rays. Broadly speaking, we can state that it is in geographic areas where the sun irradiation is greater (the tropics) where we can find the ethnic groups with the darkest skins (Africans and Amerindians). The geographic pigmentation decreases as we approach the milder areas. Partially, more melanised individuals can be seen in the extreme Polar regions or areas with large extensions of snow (Eskimo or Tibetan groups).

When we expose ourselves to intense sun, our defense mechanisms start up against the aggression and they activate the formation of melanin. Our body "manufactures a protective canvas" to filter the harmful sunrays. We call the final result of this process "suntan."

Pigmentary Alterations

Apart from the density and global distribution of melanin, there are localized concentrations of the pigment in the skin that are given different names:
  1. Freckles: Hyperpigmentations that are generally pale, with a variable color, which do not grow and are innocuous. They are due to an increased local synthesis of melanin in the epidermis. There appears to be a genetic predisposition in their development. They predominate in exposed skin areas, in people with fair or red hair, and they are stimulated by exposure to the sun.
  2. Lentigines: This is the name given to larger and darker freckles. They are normally associated with age.
  3. Melasmas: These are multiple, smooth, brownish-gray or blackish pigmentary blemishes, which are badly delimitated and normally can be found on the face, cheek and forehead. They often appear at times of hormone changes, such as menopause, in endocrine illnesses, due to the use contraceptives, in old age and during pregnancies. The typical blemish shaped like a butterfly that appears on the face of pregnant women is given the special name of cloasma or gravida melasma.
Cosmelan

The Cosmelan depigmentation program is a versatile and adaptable treatment for the elimination of melasmic blemishes.

Action of Mechanism

The Cosmelan program's action is based on the inhibition of tyrosinase, a basic enzyme in the melanin formation process. Several of the substances present in Cosmelan act by blocking this enzyme, or by inverting the metabolic process of the transformation chain.

Properties

Cosmelan causes a rapid depigmenting action, without peeling, with a high safety margin. It can be started any time of the year, is very efficient in treating all types of melasma, and is compatible with any type of skin phototype.

What to expect with treatment

One week after starting the treatment a noticeable improvement of the skin will be seen. In addition, the skin has a rejuvenated appearance. In 99% of the cases of hyperpigmentation, the blemish disappearance process reaches 95%. The initial treatment is done in the office with subsequent applications at home. Follow-up visits are needed to ascertain progress and make adjustments as needed.

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Byrd Aesthetic & Anti-Aging Center • 11050 Crabapple Road • Building B • Roswell, Georgia 30075
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