Hypopigmentation is lightening of the skin that can occur after various injuries, such as burns, laser injuries, and surgical and traumatic scars; in stretch marks (striae); after various rashes (e.g. eczema), acne, or tinea versicolor; or for know know reason (e.g. idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis). Hypopigmentation can be difficult to treat.
Possible treatments include non-ablative fracitonal laser, fracitonal ablative laser (e.g. DEKA SmartXide Dot); ablative fracitonal laser with Bimatoprost; microneedling; microneelding with Bimatoprost; and epidermal or spit-thickness skin grafting, or punch grafting.
Bimatoprost is a glaucoma medication that has also been shown to cause hyperpigmentation around the eyes as a side-effect. For this reason it may be helpful to treat hypopigmentation. Bimatoprost is also sold as Latisse to grow longer eyelashes.
Although several modalities have been employed to try to improve hypopigmentation, a recent study suggests that ablative fracitonal laser therapy plus Bimatoprost may be most effective.
Regardless of your source of hypopigmentation or light spots, talk to your SOMA Skin & Laser dermatologist today.
