Best Laser for PIH (Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation): PicoSure & Beyond

Key Takeaways:

• PIH: occurs after skin inflammation or injury, causing stubborn dark patches.
• Topical treatments: often fail to reach deeper pigment layers.
• Laser treatments: precisely target excess melanin for faster, clearer results.
• PicoSure: is the gold standard for deep, stubborn PIH, especially for Asian skin.
• Pico Genesis: suits mild, diffuse pigmentation and improves overall glow.
• Fractional lasers: help when PIH is combined with textural scars.
• Personalised dermatologist-led plans: are crucial for safe, effective results.

Introduction

Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) is an acquired skin disorder that arises after cutaneous inflammation or injury. In practice, the chronic disorder results from an overproduction and irregular distribution of melanin after inflammation.

Generally, this dermatological condition manifests as darkened patches or spots on one’s skin. These patches may range from light brown to deep brown, grey, or even black.

Scientifically, PIH disproportionately affects individuals with darker skin tones (Fitzpatrick skin types IV through VI). For example, it occurs with greater frequency and severity amongst Malaysians.

Despite its stubborn nature, there is a broad variety of safe and effective interventions for PIH. Particularly, this blog aims to explore laser treatment as a superior alternative to address PIH, where topical treatments may fall short.

What Causes PIH?

Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation is a prevalent consequence of inflammatory skin conditions or injury that tends to affect darker-skinned patients disproportionately.

Inflammation or traumatic events (like acne, eczema, and cosmetic procedures) typically trigger the body’s natural healing process. Part of this response natively involves the activation of melanocytes, the cells that produce melanin.

Read: 7 Common Triggers of PIH: From Acne to Eczema

After inflammation, these cells can become overactive and produce excess melanin. The surplus pigment often accumulates and results in visible dark patches or spots.

For the most part, this discolouration disorder is chronic and persistent. In fact, PIH intensity and duration largely depend on the severity of the initial inflammation and the individual’s skin type.

Its first-line therapy usually constitutes topical depigmenting agents in addition to photoprotection with sunscreen. However, PIH sometimes extends into one’s deeper dermal layers, especially after severe inflammation or injury.

In such instances, traditional creams may not penetrate deeply enough to break down the embedded pigment. As such, more advanced modalities like laser therapy are often recommended for persistent and deep-seated PIH.

Why Choose Laser for PIH?

Topical treatments cannot penetrate beyond superficial skin layers. However, laser treatments target excess melanin more precisely and deeper than topical creams.

In practice, they deliver focused energy that disintegrates melanin clusters within the deeper layers of the skin. Thereby, allowing one’s body to naturally clear the pigment without causing further inflammation.

This mechanism consequently results in a faster and more observable improvement in pigmentation, in contrast to traditional topical treatments. Furthermore, patients benefit from minimal downtime and a lower risk of side effects.

However, to ensure optimal outcomes, a professional assessment by a qualified dermatologist is essential to identify the appropriate laser type and settings.

This is because laser treatment parameters must be carefully tailored to individual skin types and pigmentation depth.

Best laser for post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation

Persistent PIH can be counteracted through three laser treatments, each with its own ideal use case, namely:

PicoSure: The Gold Standard for PIH

PicoSure is considered the gold standard laser for PIH. In contrast to conventional lasers, it exploits ultra-short picosecond pulses to shatter pigment particles into tiny pieces.

Subsequently, this mechanism enables the body to clear the pigment faster and efficiently.

Besides stimulating collagen production, PicoSure’s advantages can be summarised as:

• Effective for deeper and stubborn pigmentation.
• Minimal risk of scarring or further pigmentation when performed by experts.
• improving texture and reducing fine lines.

It’s particularly well-suited for Asian skin tones since it minimises the risk of rebound hyperpigmentation—a common concern in Fitzpatrick skin types IV through VI.

Pico Genesis

Pico Genesis is a laser intervention ideal for individuals with diffuse or mild pigmentation. In practice, it combines picosecond laser energy with a gentle administration method.

Overall, it’s a great way to manage minor pigmentation problems whilst also enhancing overall skin radiance.

Fractional Lasers (e.g., Fraxel CO₂ )

For PIH associated with textural scars, fractional lasers such as Fraxel CO₂ are especially helpful. These lasers boost the body’s natural healing mechanism by carefully inflicting tiny wounds (micro-injuries) on one’s skin. Thereby, stimulating healing and breaking up pigmentation.

This mechanism consequently enhances skin texture, encourages collagen remodelling, and aids in dissolving pigmentation. Fractional lasers are highly effective, but they typically require more downtime than picosecond lasers.

Which laser treatment for PIH should I consider?

To guarantee safety and efficacy, several important factors must be carefully considered while selecting the best laser for PIH. For instance:

• Type and level of pigmentation: whether superficial (epidermal) or deeper (dermal). Certain lasers are more suited to stubborn pigmentation because they penetrate deeper.
• Skin tone and sensitivity: particularly for Asian skin, which is more susceptible to post-laser hyperpigmentation.
• Treatment objectives: i.e., pigment removal or comprehensive skin rejuvenation.

Given these variables, it’s imperative to have a personalised treatment plan curated by an experienced dermatologist. The dermatologist can assess your skin type, pigmentation characteristics, and expectations to reduce the risk of adverse effects such as scarring.

Conclusion

Overall, laser treatments offer precision, speed, and appreciable results where topical treatments may fall short. These advanced procedures exploit specific wavelengths of light to break down excess melanin, without damaging surrounding tissue.

Particularly, PicoSure lasers remain a leading choice for many to combat PIH. This is because they can be tailored to disparate pigmentation depths and skin types. This versatility enables them to deliver noticeable improvement in fewer sessions with minimal downtime.

Nonetheless, the key to successful patient outcomes lies in personalised treatment plans. So, reach out to our experienced dermatologists at Clique Clinic for a tailored, safe plan for your skin.