| Laser resurfacing as a treatment for | | | | presence of any pre-existing skin conditions, such as |
| hyperpigmentation is providing successful results for | | | | scleroderma, which is a thickened skin condition. If a |
| many people. The laser treatment can be | | | | person develops a ketoid formation from wounds, this |
| uncomfortable for people with a two-week recovery | | | | person would not be a good candidate for laser |
| period after the treatment. Despite the pain of | | | | treatments. |
| recovery, laser therapy is gaining popularity for treating | | | | There are other diseases, which can cause problems |
| hyperpigmentation. | | | | for recovery from laser treatment. Patients with |
| Not all skin types are suitable for laser resurfacing for | | | | collagen vascular diseases and immunological |
| the treatment of hyperpigmentation. There are six skin | | | | conditions are not eligible for laser treatment since |
| types, according to the Fitzpatrick skin classification | | | | these types of conditions affect the healing process |
| system. These skin types range from very fair skin to | | | | for the skin. The presence of diabetes mellitus, |
| very dark skin. | | | | impetigo or herpes will negatively affect a person's |
| It is not just coloring that determines a person's skin | | | | eligibility for laser treatment. |
| type. The different skin types are categorized | | | | Acne medication can influence the outcome of laser |
| according to the person's coloring and their reaction to | | | | treatment. The use of isotretinoin, contained in the |
| sun exposure. The degree to which a person burns is | | | | popular acne medication with the brand name |
| an important consideration to determining skin type. | | | | Accutane, can interfere with regeneration of skin cells |
| Of the six skin type categories, only the first four skin | | | | after laser treatment. Doctors will prefer that laser |
| types are suitable for laser treatment for | | | | treatment candidates stop using isotretinoin from |
| hyperpigmentation. The person with very fair skin who | | | | anywhere from six months to one year before |
| never tans and always burns has the first skin type. | | | | receiving a laser treatment for hyperpigmentation. If a |
| The second skin type is fair skin that will sometimes | | | | person is pregnant, the doctor will recommend waiting |
| tan but mostly burns. The third skin type is medium in | | | | until the pregnancy is over before starting laser |
| color and always tans with occasional sunburn | | | | treatment. |
| episodes. The fourth category is olive skin, which tans | | | | Laser treatment for hyperpigmentation has been |
| and rarely burns. | | | | successful for many patients, who have the eligible |
| The two skin types that do not have such successful | | | | skin types. There is a certain amount of risk for the |
| results from laser treatment are the fifth and sixth skin | | | | first four skin types including small cysts at the |
| type. The fifth skin type has brown skin, which always | | | | treatment site, reduced skin coloring, more |
| tans and does not burn. The sixth skin type has black | | | | hyperpigmentation and scarring. Like any other medical |
| skin that always tans and does not burn. Unwanted | | | | treatment, careful consideration must be made before |
| changes to skin color can occur if these two skin | | | | undergoing the treatment and all risks should be |
| types receive laser treatment. | | | | weighed carefully. If a person is prepared for the risks, |
| Other factors that may pre-determine the suitability of | | | | including permanent scarring, then that person should |
| a person to be treated successfully by laser treatment | | | | find a doctor with much success and experience with |
| include how a person heals from a wound or the | | | | laser treatment for hyperpigmentation. |