Fleming Clinic

Pigmentation on hands
Before 1st treatment	1 month after 1st treatment

The skin must be checked by a doctor first to make sure there are no signs of any skin cancers and that it is suitable for intense pulsed light treatment. There must be no sun tan on the surrounding skin either and no exposure to sun for 6 weeks pre or post treatment. A consultation and test patches will be performed to check suitability for treatment.

The applicator is placed on the skin, and a pulse of light is emitted. If it is a whole area to be treated, the applicator is worked across the skin. Sometimes it is only a single sun spot or lesion. The light is strongly absorbed into the pigmented area, which goes darker after a few minutes, or sometimes takes up to 24 hours to fully darken. It will take on a “dirty” or toasty look, going very dark brown sometimes nearly black. The area must be kept out of the sun and a soothing, healing product used on the skin to protect it. In about 1 to 2 weeks the “dirty” tissue will have faded or sloughed off, leaving fresh healthy skin without the pigmentation. Sometimes 2-3 treatments are needed, although quite often one treatment produces significant results, and no more is needed.

Life style issues must be considered when having pigmentation removed. The sun has caused the problem in the first place, so continued sun exposure may produce more damage later. If you are going to get rid of the sun damaged pigmentation, then you need to avoid direct sun in future. Sit under an umbrella, or pergola, wear sunscreen, hat and clothing. Use gloves when driving, playing golf or gardening. Just think first!