Pigmentation is a popular skin concern of a lot of women over the age of 35. This type of skin flaw is easily identifiable as areas in your skin that are discoloured and appear in different shapes and sizes. Although they may look similar, pigmentation problems have various types and are treated differently. It may be tempting to resort to a DIY treatment at home by buying over-the-counter bleaching creams—do not do it! Leave your skin to the expert care of a pigmentation clinic in Singapore!
What is a pigmentation clinic?
A pigmentation clinic specialises in the diagnosis, management, and treatment of skin pigmentation problems. Pigmentation is a harmless condition that makes the colour of the skin uneven due to light to dark spots or patches that form as a result of the overproduction of melanin in the skin when it is exposed to the sun.
Doctors practising in a pigmentation clinic must be board certified and trained to perform procedures with expert knowledge, especially when using high power tools and equipment for treatments.
What are the pigmentation problems treated in pigmentation clinics?
There are various pigmentation problems that can be treated at pigmentation clinics, such as:
- Freckles
- Hori’s naevus
- Melasma
- Post Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation (PIH)
- Seborrheic keratosis
- Solar lentigo
Freckles. Freckles are tiny flat spots of discoloration on the skin. They may be dark or light brown, red, or tan in colour and form on the areas of the body that are exposed to the sun. People who have a lighter skin colour and have blonde or red hair have higher chances of developing freckles.
Hori’s naevus. Hori’s naevus, otherwise known as Naevus of Ota, are patches and spots of bluish-grey or greyish-brown skin discoloration. They are usually seen on the cheeks and are common among adult Asian women. This is often confused with melasma as both have similarities in appearance and cause (genes and hormones).
Melasma. Melasma is another type of pigmentation flaw that appears as patches of light to dark brown discoloration primarily on sun-exposed parts of the face like the forehead, cheeks, nose bridge, upper lip, and chin. It can also affect other areas of the body such as the neck, forearms, and shoulders. Melasma is more common in women than in men. While sun exposure is one cause of this skin blemish, women who suffer from melasma normally develop it from hormonal problems or during pregnancy.
Post Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation (PIH). Post inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) is a discoloration that occurs in the skin following injury or irritation. This skin imperfection usually affects individuals with darker skin tone and can appear as spots or patches that are bluish-grey, light to dark brown, or tan. Post inflammatory hyperpigmentation can be caused by allergic reactions, burns, infections, insect bites, eczema, psoriasis, or rashes. In some cases, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation may be a side effect of aesthetic procedures that use light or lasers.
Seborrheic keratosis. Seborrheic keratosis is a skin flaw that can be identified by small growths on the skin. They are also called epidermal tumours, but these tiny clumps of skin are benign and harmless. While seborrheic keratosis is not cancerous, it can look like other growths in the skin that can lead to cancer. People with light skin, a family history of seborrheic keratosis, and older adults are more at risk of developing this skin flaw.
Solar lentigo. A solar lentigo is a lesion that is flat, wide, and may be black, brown, or yellow in colour with clear outlined edges. This type of pigmentation is usually found on areas of the body that are often exposed to the sun like the face, hands, and lower legs.
What are the treatments available for pigmentation problems?
Treatments for pigmentation problems vary depending on their type and cause. Some pigmentation may respond best to a single treatment, while others may need a combination of treatments or procedures to effectively be erased.
Based on a pigmentation’s cause and accurate diagnosis, a dermatologist may recommend one or a combination of the following for a patient’s treatment plan:
- Chemical peels
- Cryotherapy
- Light therapy
- Laser Therapy
- Oral medications
- Topical skincare products
Unfortunately, there is no single specific product or procedure that can address all types of pigmentation problems in one go.
How can you find the best pigmentation clinic in Singapore?
Here are some tips on how you can find the best pigmentation clinic in Singapore:
1 Do research. Information about skin clinics are easy to find on the internet. You can also ask recommendations from your family and friends for a clinic that they have tried or are a regular at.
2 Check doctor credentials. It is important that the clinic that you choose has doctors that are board certified and are trained to operate all the equipment or administer products that the clinic offers for their services. Also, mere knowledge and skills are not enough, but the doctor that you choose handles your skin should also be producing excellent results. Try to visit a clinic that you are considering and ask for before and after photos of pigmentation treatments that they have done successfully.
3 Updated treatments and technology. Aesthetic treatments and technology continue to develop over the years. You would want to go for a clinic that keeps up with the latest innovations in the aesthetic field. Aside from this, the clinic that you choose must use gold standard equipment that is cleared by the MOH.
4 Affordability. As mentioned earlier, pigmentation problems can be addressed by various forms of treatment. However, there may be a number of medical practitioners that immediately offer laser treatments whenever they are presented with a pigmentation concern by a patient. This should not be the case. There are cheaper treatment plans using topical or oral medications that provide optimum results just as well as expensive laser therapy. A doctor that is an expert in dealing with pigmentation issues knows that there are alternative treatments that would suit the needs of their patients.
5 Teleconsult. Thanks to technology, some, if not most, of the doctors nowadays are easier to reach through teleconsult. This means that a patient may contact their doctor at the comfort of their homes for consultations. This innovation can save time, money, and effort especially when the concerns of a patient do not require travelling to the clinic for in-person consultation. Teleconsult also makes it easier for patients who have mobility issues to reach a doctor and get consultations.
—
One Face Clinic — Dr David Ng Cheow Hua
1 Tras Link #02-01 Orchid Hotel, Singapore 078867
Phone: +65 6222 2262
WhatsApp/WeChat: +65 9822 2989