Hyperpigmentation is a term that describes areas of uneven pigmentation on the skin. It appears in the form of dark spots that make the skin look uneven. There are many types of hyperpigmentation, such as congenital pigmentation, sunspots, age spots, melasma, and other dermal pigmented lesions.

Although a cure for hyperpigmentation has not been found yet, we can say that, based on incredible results, PiQo4 is an exciting new option for effective and safe treatment of hyperpigmentation for patients of all skin types.

People with melasma frequently consult dermatologists. Most commonly, these are women in their twenties to forties with skin that has a lower ability to tan. Sometimes, it involves women using contraception or those who have recently given birth. Darker brown pigmentation appears symmetrically on the cheekbones, upper lip, the bridge of the nose, in the middle of the forehead, and over the temples, and less commonly on the top of the nose or under the jaw.

Melasma has not been fully researched yet, and there are still many uncertainties, but it is known that sun exposure (UVA rays as well as visible light), pregnancy, contraception, and even hormonal changes associated with menopause can stimulate melanocytes to produce excessive pigment in melasma-affected areas. The condition also has a genetic component, and while it cannot be completely cured, it can be mitigated with proper treatment combined with protective measures.

Unfortunately, too many patients have subjected their faces to aggressive chemical peels in cosmetic salons, which have exacerbated inflammation, redness, or skin irritation, actually making melasma even darker.

Melasma can disappear after a woman gives birth or stops taking birth control pills, but many women struggle with it for decades or a lifetime. Topical treatments do not work for every patient with melasma, and it is certainly frustrating for any doctor to have a patient who keeps returning to the practice without seeing significant results.

"Topical medications help, but not as much as lasers," said Dr. David J. Goldberg, a prominent dermatologist with practices in New York and New Jersey, known for his exceptional techniques with aesthetic light and laser equipment. "By the time the patient comes to me, she has tried topical creams, but they haven't worked. Most melasma patients who haven't benefited from topical medications will respond to lasers," said Dr. Goldberg. "I would say lasers are the cake, and creams are the icing."

PiQo4 can treat the entire face for deep pigmentation such as melasma in less than 15 minutes.

In the first study addressing the treatment of melasma pigment and vascular issues, 17 subjects of Dr. Goldberg, ranging from 30 to 55 years old, underwent three PiQo4 treatments. On one side of the face, only pigment was treated, while on the other side, both pigment and vascular components were treated. Although Dr. Goldberg also recommends sunscreen and bleaching creams alongside laser treatments for melasma, he did not use topical treatments in his study because he wanted to see what the laser alone would achieve.

"So, even though the pigment side was improved, it was not as improved as the other side, where we were simultaneously addressing both pigment and vascular issues," happily reported Dr. Goldberg. "Melasma has always been a very challenging pigmentation problem to treat, and it's on the rise. For this growing issue, we have found a solution. Two wavelengths with PiQo4 work better than anything we've done before," emphasized Dr. David Goldberg.