After my third pregnancy, I have been plagued with melasma on my cheeks. Luckily, I have had lots of experience helping people deal with pesky dark blotches that stubbornly refuse to go away. From experience, I can tell you how annoying these areas can be when they are prominent on your face.
I decided that the micro-needling in combination with a good sunscreen and 4% hydroquinone, a prescription bleaching cream, would help me get great results in just a few months. Using products is often as much about penetration, as it is active ingredients. It is very difficult for products to get through to the dermis, but microchannels made with micro-needling devices like our MicroPen™, or any type of fractional resurfacing (we have many!) means that the applied product can and will go deeper than if it was just applied to the top of the skin.
Let me explain how micro-needling works. Our device called MicroPen makes use of a process known as automated micro-needling, or collagen induction therapy (CIT). As we move the “pen” across the treatment area it creates micro-injuries that are surrounded by healthy skin. These micro-injuries send a message to your skin cells to jump into repair mode, kicking collagen and elastin production into high gear. This not only helps increase healing, but also helps the trapped melanin surface. Now that you have avenues into the deeper portions of the skin, applying a great topical product like 4% hydroquinone will help spur lightening of the blotchy parts (melasma).
Three visits should be spaced about 4 – 6 weeks apart. In about 8 – 12 weeks you will see a positive result. However, it is important to keep in mind that melasma is very difficult and stubborn to treat, and depending on the severity of your case, a different treatment plan may be in order.
If you would like to schedule a consultation, please call us at (713) 850-0240 or contact us here.