Chronic Melasma has a new nemesis with the PicoWay Melasma treatment
Dark spots, or benign pigmented lesions, such as freckles, liver spots, and hard to treat melasma, can appear in many different areas of the skin. Some spots are related to excessive sun exposure. Others can be caused by hormone changes. PicoWay is highly effective in skin pigment removal by using ultra-short, high power laser pulses that break pigmentation up in small particles, which are then easily absorbed and eliminated by your body.
PicoWay gets FDA clearance for the treatment of Melasma
Candela, a Canadian medical device company, announced that the picosecond laser system was approved both by the FDA and by Health Canada for the treatment of Melasma https://www.dermatologytimes.com/view/fda-clears-picoway-laser-for-melasma-lentigines-and-more. Previously, the laser system had been approved for several indications, including acne scarring, benign pigmented lesions, tattoo removal, and wrinkles.
Chronic Melasma can be tamed
As anyone with melasma knows it is a chronic condition and can not be cured. That does not mean you have to live with it though! A series of 6-8 treatments to get your melasma tamed followed by regular maintenance can keep the appearance of melasma from showing through.
What to expect from a PicoWay melasma treatment
REDUCED ADVERSE AFFECTS
Thermal laser resurfacing runs the risk of various adverse reactions such as redness, swelling, and itching that can be intense and may last for several months. In addition, previous generations of resurfacing technology has led to bacterial, fungal, or viral infections, changes in skin color, and scarring. The PicoWay system’s photoacoustic effect, rather than photothermal effect, minimizes risk of skin heating and damage to surrounding tissue making for an easier treatment with less downtime. Picosecond pulses leaves your skin looking radiant without the adverse reactions of thermal lasers.
LESS DOWNTIME
With the PicoWays picosecond pulses and photoacoustic effect we get minimal downtime in a quick treatment that takes less than a half hour.
How do I prepare for my laser treatment?
With any laser treatment you want to avoid sun exposure for a minimum of 2 weeks prior to treatment. Discontinue any retinols/tretinoin for one week prior to treatment and let your provider know if you are taking any antibiotics or sun sensitive medications as these may cause reaction.
Pre-treating your skin before any laser treatment is an important and necessary step. Pre-treating will help protect your skin’s overall health and promote speedy recovery after your treatment. Pre-treating can look different for every skin type so it is best to come in for a complimentary consultation to determine the what the best steps are for your skin health.
PicoWay and the Obagi Nu Derm System make a winning combination
At Well Medical Arts the Obagi Nu Derm system is our favorite first line of defense to treat Hyperpigmentation and Melasma in those with skin of color. We use the Nu Derm system in combination with BBL (Broad Band Light) for Hyperpigmentation and with the PicoWay for our clients suffering with Melasma. Learn more about OBAGI at https://www.obagi.com or come visit us for a complimentary skin analysis and we can teach you in person.
Please schedule a complimentary laser consultation prior to scheduling your treatment.
To ensure you are ready for your treatments and to achieve the best results we request that all laser patients schedule a complimentary laser consultation prior to scheduling treatments. At this appointment, we will assess your skin, answer all of your questions, and make sure you are best prepared to start your treatment.
You may also call one of our patient care coordinators at 206-935-5689 and we will be happy to assist you in scheduling.