I’ve been dealing with Melasma on my face for several years. It is an annoying, mud mud that requires that it is covered with makeup for most days. While I was able to reduce its appearance over time with specific skin care products, it is not yet where I would like it to be. So I decided to try a new, innovative laser treatment in an attempt to further reduce it.
But before I dive into it, let’s first talk about what melasma is – a common misunderstood skin condition. In essence, it is a type of over -coloring and is characterized as a dye disorder. It usually occurs on the skin as a brown or gray-brown patches (which resembles almost spilled brown stain). In general, the patches that appear reflect each other. In my case, I have the corresponding patches on both sides of my jaw. Fun.
It is often treated as normal damage from the sun when, in fact, it requires a slow, careful approach that does not make it worse. Melasma can occur for a variety of reasons, including genetics, certain drugs, sun damage and hyperthyroidism, but is often caused by hormonal changes, such as pregnancy or menopause. It is more widespread in women than in men.
It gets worse in the sun and is quite difficult to address, as it can respond negatively to light and heat treatments. Its elimination requires a stable hand, expert advice and a coveted approach that involves recognizing lifestyle activators, lifelong commitment, daily use of sunscreen and using a well -formed vitamin C and retinoid in your skin routine.
In terms of therapies, very specific laser treatments that use extremely small energy pulses without excessive heat can help reduce the appearance of the melasma. One such treatment is Lasemd Ultra, developed in Korea, which I recently invited to try at Le Formulaire in Dublin.
One of the fastest laser treatments I ever had and was given by Dr. Emma Fanning, I was in bed for no more than 15 minutes. My skin was cleaned, the glasses were placed over my eyes, and then Fanning used a manual device with a kind of cylinder at the end-beyond the skin, with various passages in each area of the face. No cream is used and while it is quite tolerated, the feeling is a strong heat and scratching.
Although I had the Lasemd Ultra for Melasma, it is also recommended for general skin rejuvenation – reducing wrinkles, minimizing pores and cessation of the skin. A particular vitamin A was applied at the end of treatment and I was given the rest to be used at home.
“It is a unique cure for making channels on the skin without breaking the upper layer, such as microneedling, for example, these channels allow us to promote targeted ingredients, such as vitamin A, vitamin C or Tranexamic Acid, deep in the skin to enhance the effects,” Fanning says. “We adjust the settings and ingredients for each customer, so they are very adapted to specific concerns-and unlike many other lasers. It is a treatment that can be given all year long.”
Immediately afterwards, my skin felt very warm and it looked very red, but this began to recede in an hour. Until that night, my skin had everything visually, but it returned to normal. I say visually because although my skin looked good, it had begun to feel like sandpaper. Rough, texture and abnormal – and so stayed for several days after. It also looked more “tanned” as the pigment began to rise to the surface, ready to remove.
Now, almost a month after treatment, there is an undeniable decrease in small points that had been damaged by the sun in my skin. It also looks smoother and more radiant. I am no illusion of how long it will take to see a decrease in the melasma balls in my jaw, however. I was told that I would need three to four sessions – and each session costs € 450 or € 1,200 for a package of three.
“Some customers see an improvement after a single treatment, but we always recommend at least three sessions, depending on what it aims for, so that the best results can be achieved,” says fanning. “Treating a pigmentary situation like Melasma is a long game that requires patience and consistency, both with treatments and with proper skin care – but it can be done.”
This week I love … Victoria Beckham by Augustinus Bader the Revitalizing Hell
It is described as “the last step in skin care, the first step in make-up”, rejuvenating cell lighting (€ 94 by Brown Thomas) is essentially a primer, though undoubtedly with one of the most advanced compositions available in its class.
[ Blend it like Beckham with Victoria’s new range of make-up brushesOpens in new window ]
The latest release from Victoria Beckham’s ongoing collaboration with Augustinus Bader, this Glow-Giving Product Product Product Product Skincare Science with hydration and radiation for smooth, plump, bright and blurred the skin. Available in three shades – Pearlescent, Rose and Golden – it is luxurious, lightweight and leaves the skin that looks dreamy.
