A stain can be a condition that only concerns the skin or it can be a symptom of many diseases. Therefore, the diagnosis and treatment of the stain must be performed by specialist physicians.
There are many reasons for the formation of spots on the skin, and treatment should be planned according to the cause determined through examination.
Pregnancy, sunlight, and hormonal medications are the most commonly accused causes of spot formation. In addition to these, spots can also occur in response to various medications and cosmetics, traumatic wounds, and various skin diseases. Laser procedures and chemical peeling treatments performed by non-specialists can also cause spots.
Sometimes skin spots can be a sign of skin cancer. Therefore, spots that change color over time, have irregular edges, bleed, itch, peel, or form open sores on them must be evaluated by a dermatologist for skin cancer.
Melasma
Melasma is a condition that negatively affects quality of life from a cosmetic perspective. Despite having numerous treatment options, it is resistant to treatment and has a high likelihood of recurrence. Typically, multiple treatment methods are used together in treatment, and a long treatment period is required.
Although it mostly occurs as a result of hormone use such as pregnancy, breastfeeding, and birth control pills, sun exposure, solarium use, various medications, and cosmetic products can also cause melasma.
Melasma is more common in women (90%) but can rarely occur in men as well. It is more common in individuals with dark skin tones, and those with dark skin tones are more resistant to treatment compared to those with light skin tones.
How is Melasma Treated?
The intensity of the stain, its location (deep, superficial, or both), and skin tone are very important in the treatment of melasma.
Resistance to treatment is higher in those with deep-seated stains and dark skin tones.
Combination treatments are generally preferred in treatment because better results are obtained when different treatments are used together.
In the treatment of melasma, carbon peeling, chemical peeling, enzyme treatments, spot mesotherapy, PRP, depigmenting cosmeceutical products, and laser treatments are successful when applied in multiple sessions.
In the treatment of melasma, sun protection is as important as the treatment method itself. Depigmenting sunscreen should be used in the morning, noon, and afternoon, regardless of the season.
Depigmenting Creams and Serums
First-stage treatments that patients can easily apply at home. These products can be purchased ready-made or prepared in magistral form by a doctor's prescription. They often contain active ingredients such as vitamin A, vitamin C, hydroquinone, kojic acid, arbutin, or tranexamic acid. These products are generally recommended for night use to avoid exposure to light. However, since there is a possibility of skin irritation in individuals with sensitive skin and with improper use, they must be applied under the supervision of a dermatologist.
PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma)
The PRP procedure involves taking blood from the individual, subjecting it to a centrifuge process to obtain platelet-rich plasma, and then injecting it back into the same individual. PRP, applied in 3-4 sessions with a 2-week interval, gives vitality and brightness to the skin while also benefiting the reduction of existing spots.
Spot Mesotherapy: Spot mesotherapy in the treatment of stains is a highly effective and safe method. It can be applied comfortably in any season of the year.
In spot mesotherapy, solutions containing spot-lightening active ingredients are injected into the skin using small needles to treat the stained area. The main active ingredients used for spot mesotherapy: Vitamin C, Tranexamic acid, Glutathione, antioxidants, Retinoic acid, Arbutin, and Multi-vitamin cocktails.
Mesotherapy application can be applied once a week or once every two weeks depending on the condition of the stain. An average of 4-8 sessions is applied, but the number of sessions can be more according to need. Spot mesotherapy, when combined with other methods such as PRP, topical spot creams, peeling applications, and laser treatment, achieves better results.
How is Mesotherapy Applied, and How Many Sessions on Average?
The application area is anesthetized with a local anesthetic cream before the application. Then the application area is sterilized, and the injection process begins. The application takes about 15 minutes on average. After the session, there may be slight redness and swelling on the face, but this is an expected and temporary condition. Mesotherapy, depending on the person's needs, is generally performed between 1 or 2 weeks or every 15 days, with 3-8 sessions.
How Long Does the Effect of Mesotherapy Last?
The effect of mesotherapy varies from person to person, depending on the purpose of the application, the area of application, and the selected product. The effect of anti-aging mesotherapy lasts between 3 and 6 months. Therefore, it is recommended to repeat the application at intervals. Regular application is a significant investment for the skin's future.
Who Should Not Undergo Mesotherapy?
Mesotherapy is not applied to pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, cancer patients, individuals with uncontrolled diabetes, individuals with coagulation disorders, urticaria patients, and those known to have allergies to the ingredients.
Chemical Peeling
The peeling process affects the superficial layer of the skin. It is applied to renew the damaged layer of the skin caused by external factors such as age and sun and to make room for the new cells coming from below. In peeling procedures, active ingredients such as fruit acids, glycolic acid, and TCA (trichloroacetic acid) can be used both as a device procedure using carbon dioxide laser cool peel application or topically. Which peeling to use may vary according to the individual's stain and skin structure. Peeling procedures are generally applied in winter.
This procedure, applied once every 3 weeks on average, lasts about 10-15 minutes. Local anesthesia is not used before the procedure. There may be a slight burning sensation during the procedure, but this is a temporary finding.
All peeling procedures renew the skin, give it a shine, create a smoother and softer skin structure. It also eliminates skin tone inequalities and strengthens the collagen structure of the skin. An average of 4-6 sessions is recommended for stain treatment.
Enzyme Peeling (Cosmelan, Dermamelan)
Enzyme peels are very successful applications in stain treatment and contain enzymes that suppress stain formation and have mild exfoliating properties.
Cosmelan is used for superficial stains, while Dermamelan is used for deeper stains. Enzyme peeling treatment is a powerful procedure and must be applied by physicians specialized in the field.
The pigments that give color to the skin are called melanin pigments. Melanin pigments are produced in melanocytes, cells found in our skin. If melanocytes produce excessive amounts of pigment, unwanted stains occur on the skin. Enzyme peels suppress the enzyme called Tyrosinase in stain treatment and reduce the production of melanin pigment from melanocyte cells, causing superficial peeling in stained areas. As a result, melanin formation in the skin decreases, the color of darkened parts of the skin lightens, a renewed skin emerges from below, and effective treatment of stains is achieved.
Which Stains is Cosmelan - Dermamelan Procedure
Effective For?
Enzyme peeling applications are effective in the treatment of advanced age-related stains, melasma stains, dark stains due to skin diseases and traumas, acne stains, and sun stains.
How is Cosmelan - Dermamelan Applied?
First, the practitioner physician decides which product to use according to the depth of the stain and the skin type of the patient. The Cosmelan - Dermamelan stain treatment is a single session application and each kit is personalized.
The treatment area is cleaned with a special solution found in the treatment set.
The entire mask is applied. Depending on the skin type, the mask is left on for an average of 8-12 hours. The duration of the mask depends on the skin type and the intensity of the stain, and the doctor decides.
After the specified time, the skin should be washed with warm water.
After washing the mask, the second stage, which is the care program, begins. Soothing creams are used for redness and mild peeling that occur after the mask for about 5 days. Then, products that suppress the stain are applied.
For effective stain treatment, it is necessary to use regular follow-up cream application and sunscreen use.
When Does the Effect of Cosmelan - Dermamelan Procedure Begin to Be Noticed?
As a result of this application, dark-colored stains lighten, skin tone inequalities are eliminated, and the skin is renewed in-depth.
The time it takes for the procedure to take effect varies from person to person and depends on the depth of the stain. However, changes are usually noticed a week after treatment, and the skin becomes brighter and healthier between 2 and 3 weeks. The noticeable decrease in dark spots is between 4 and 6 weeks.
What Should Be Considered Before and After the Application?
Before the Cosmelan-Dermamelan application, some points must be considered for the effective application of the mask and after the application. One week before the application, the use of products that may cause irritation should be stopped.
Male patients should shave no more than 2 days before the application. After cleaning the mask, the skin should be soothed with reconstituent and sunscreen, and doctor's recommendations should be followed carefully.
For the next 5 days after the application, redness, mild swelling, and burning sensation are normal.
These complaints usually improve within a week. After the application, solarium, other peeling treatments or lasers, and procedures such as epilation in the application area should be avoided for a certain period.
The use of sunscreen creams is very important for stain treatment; these creams should be applied as a thick layer, and if going out in the sun, they should be reapplied every 3-4 hours.
Who Should Not Undergo Cosmelan - Dermamelan Procedure?
It is not applied to individuals with active infection and open wounds in the application area.
Those with chronic skin diseases
Those in the pregnancy and breastfeeding period
Those allergic to the substance in the drug's content
Laser Treatments
Q-switched lasers that target pigment cells in the treatment of stains, in addition to stain, if there are capillary vessels, capillary laser, more peeling Carbon dioxide laser, Er-Yag or Ktp, both for reducing stains and for anti-aging purposes, many laser systems such as IPL can be used. The choice of laser varies entirely according to the person's skin type and the reason for the stain's occurrence.
Laser treatments are successfully used today in the treatment of many stains such as freckles, birthmarks, age and sun stains. Better results are obtained in light-skinned individuals with superficial stains. More sessions are required for deep stains. Session intervals are approximately 3-4 weeks, and the number of sessions varies from patient to patient.
Each skin is unique to the individual. Therefore, it is essential to provide personalized treatment solutions and medical support tailored to the individual's needs. Dr. Pınar Koç deals with dermatological conditions but also specializes in aesthetic and cosmetic dermatology, dermatological laser applications, and hair diseases. For detailed information and consultancy, you can contact us.
