SKIN PIGMENTATION & FRECKLE REMOVAL

Effective Pigmentation and Freckle Removal Treatments

 

Our Freckle Removal Treatments tackles the inevitable result of living in the harsh Australian climate: skin pigmentation. Pigmentation such as freckles and age spots are a problem for so many people who have previously had to try to continuously hide their dark spots with make-up.

Thanks to About Face Brisbane’s advanced laser technology, the struggle is over! We can safely and effectively treat any size or shape of pigmentation blemishes such as freckles by combining a variety of treatments which are specifically tailored to your goals and skin type.

 

PURPOSE

REMOVAL OF SKIN PIGMENTATION & FRECKLES

SUITABILITY

FEMALE & MALE

PAIN

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TIME

20 – 30 MINUTES (Preparation required)

PREPARATION

  • Avoid direct sun exposure 2 weeks before & after
  • Avoid vitamin A & prescription skincare for 1 week
  • No products on skin for appointment (i.e. makeup, artificial tan, moisturiser)
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What Are Freckles?

Freckle Removal is most easily explained by first spelling out what exactly freckles are. Freckles are dark to light brown small spots or patches of pigmentation that appear on the surface of the skin from an early age. Mostly commonly freckles occur on the face but they can develop anywhere on the body. People with light hair, eye, and skin colour are more prone to develop freckles. Ephilides is the medical term for freckles.

Freckles are quite different from melasma although many people have both freckles and melasma. For more information on melasma, visit our Melasma Removal page.

What Are The Steps To Remove Freckles & Pigmentation?

About Face Brisbane’s two-step, advanced laser treatment effectively removes freckles, age spots and sun spots without affecting the surrounding skin. Dr Colin Campey, About Face Brisbane’s head doctor, is an expert in diagnosing skin conditions and administering laser treatments and Karen Campey, our lead skin technician, has tertiary qualifications in skin aesthetic and is a certified laser technician. With a combined experience of more than 20 years treating freckles, lentigines, and melasma, they can treat any skin pigmentation type to achieve excellent results.

The initial step of freckle removal treatment is performed by Dr Campey or Karen using our Medilite C6 laser on a low setting. The light energy from the laser is absorbed by the pigment in the freckles and converted to heat energy. This shatters the pigment. This heat energy has the added bonus of stimulating collagen and elastin production within the dermis (the deeper layer) of the skin, so not only will your freckles go away, you’ll experience some improvement in skin texture and fewer fine lines as well.

After this step is complete, Dr Campey or Karen then uses the KTP 532nm Laser. This reduces superficial pigmentation from the epidermis (top layer of the skin) and also removes any small, visible blood vessels. The results are dramatically reduced pigmentation, a more even skin tone and improved skin texture – all with no damage to the surrounding skin.

How Much Does It Cost?

An initial consultation is $65 (including GST).

One session of laser treatment to get rid of freckles or age spots starts at $150 (including GST) and increases with larger areas requiring treatment.

Payment plans are also available using both ZipPay and ZipMoney. Click here for more information.

How Many Treatments Will I Need?

The total number of freckle removal treatments required for each person is influenced by the darkness of the freckles present and the amount. Commonly people need between two to six treatments (depends on the depth of pigment and why it is there) to completely clear their freckles and other discoloured patches of skin.

Some forms of pigment don’t always go as it is very hard to keep some areas of skin out of the sun completely and everyone is different so individual responses can vary. In saying this, all treated pigmentation will fade to a degree, and over time with the right protection and care it will improve.

Do Freckles Fade?

Freckles can (and often do) fade if the skin is well protected from the sun, but they don’t go away completely without treatment. In Brisbane and South-East Queensland, it’s common for people with freckles to notice them darken in summer and fade slightly in winter. Some people also notice that as they become adults, their freckles lighten to varying degrees.

What Happens Before, During And After Treatment?

Before treatment:

To ensure that your freckles can be safely treated by laser, we need to make sure they are benign (not cancerous), so you’ll need to see Dr Campey as the first step in removing your freckles. Dr Campey will examine your freckles and provide advice on whether laser treatment is the right option for you. If it’s not, there are other treatment options we can use, such as skin peels, to reduce pigmentation.

After your consultation with Dr Campey, if you want to proceed with treatment right away, you’ll need to have protected your skin from the sun for the two to three weeks prior to treatment.

During treatment:

You will sit comfortably on a treatment table in your own treatment room. You will be given safety glasses to wear during the treatment as a precaution for your eyes. Dr Campey or Karen will perform the two steps of the treatment by guiding the laser beam over the treatment area. The treatment will take between 10 and 20 minutes, depending on the size of the area being treated.

After treatment:

Immediately after treatment, your skin will feel slightly warm. It will look a little red and some pigmentation may appear darker (or lighter) and this will last anywhere from an hour to a few days, depending on your individual skin response. Some people don’t show any of these signs but the pigmentation-fighting work is still happening within the skin and the results will show over time.

After laser freckle removal treatment there is no downtime, but you will need to:

  • Keep your skin out of the sun. Any sun on the treated area (or not treated skin) can increase the pigmentation and reverse the effects of the treatment
  • Wear a sunblock and hat at all times when outside
  • This will be explained in detail during your pre-treatment consultation with Dr Campey. We’ll also give you some take-home information as well

You will need to wait four weeks before your next laser freckle removal treatment. This is because the skin repairs and turns over new cells every four weeks.

Is Freckle Removal Treatment Painful?

Some patients say they feel a slight sting during the laser treatment to remove freckles, but it is easy to tolerate and fades quickly. Topical anesthetic (numbing) cream is not needed for this treatment.

How Can Freckles Be Prevented?

Avoiding sun exposure, especially in babies and children, is the best way to prevent freckles from forming. Not only does sunlight cause pigmentation, it attacks the support structure of the skin, causing lines and wrinkles and a loss of facial volume. To help prevent pigmentation from developing and to keep your skin looking as young as possible, as well as avoiding UV-B, UV-A and visible light exposure you should wear a sunscreen every day that has a sun protection factor of 50 or higher.

Is There A Cream That Can Remove Freckles?

Unfortunately, no miracle cream exists to completely get rid of freckles, age spots, and sun spots. However, good quality skin care products such as those in the Synergie Skin Care range can help to fade freckles. VaNish is an excellent serum that can significantly reduce the production of melanin (pigment) within the skin.