Skin pigmentation disorders affect the color of your skin. Melanin is a substance in your skin that gives skin its color. If your body makes too much melanin, the skin becomes darker (hyperpigmention). If your body makes too little melanin, the skin becomes lighter (hypopigmentation). There are many types of pigmentation disorders.

Age spots or liver spots are called solar lentigines. They are typically flat tan, brown or black spots on the face, hands, shoulders and arms (sun-exposed areas).

Melasma presents as brown patches on the face of adults, common on the cheeks, forehead, nose, and upper lip. Precise cause of melasma is unknown, however hormonal status may be a trigger. Sun exposure is a known trigger. Also a positive family history increases the risk of melasma.

Darkening of the skin in an area of prior injury caused by an increase in melanin during the healing process. This is commonly seen with acne but can occur with other skin injures as well.

Lightening of the skin in an area of prior injury or infection. The melanocytes (cells responsible for producing pigment) are destroyed in the area during the healing process. For example certain scars heal with hypopigmentation and certain skin infections result in loss of skin pigment.

There are a number of treatment options for hyperpigmention while hypopigmentation is difficult to treat. Certain types of hyperpigmention such as melasma are more resistant and may require a number of treatment modalities.

• Sun avoidance
• Sunscreen
• Discontinuing hormone therapy
• Chemical peels
• Skin Medica topical treatments containing hydroquinone, as well as Retinoids
• Intense pulse light (IPL) such as Fotofacial

Laser brown spot removal is performed using non-ablative IPL devices that specifically target the abnormal skin pigment that causes age spots, liver spots, and brown spots while attempting to minimize damage to the skin.