Is laser treatment effective for prolonged redness and PIH due to surgical scars?

Doctor's Answers 2

Hello Always

Thank you for your question. Laser is a good method of treating prolonged redness and post inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) from surgical scars.

The redness and erythema can treated with a pulsed dye laser while the PIH can be treated with gentle laser toning.

Laser treatment can be combined with topical agents such as triluma/ hydroquinone/ retinoid for the best result.

Speak to a dermatologist/ aesthetic physician/ plastic surgeon to find out more. Hope this helps!

Regards,

Dr Jiwei Wu

Prolonged redness/erythema and Post-inflammatory Hyperpigmentation (PIH) will require different types of Lasers to precisely treat these conditions.

PIH will require Picosecond Nd:YAG/Alexandrite lasers or Q-switched Nd:YAG lasers. Picosecond Lasers are proven to be more effective for stubborn PIH that cannot be removed with Q-switched lasers.

Prolonged erythema can be removed with Pulse Dye Lasers or Copper bromide lasers.

The first step to finding a doctor who is proficient in treating the above conditions is to find a clinic that offers the above Lasers.

Next, ask the doctor for before/after photos of the cases that he has treated using these lasers.

Lastly, look for a doctor who can give you a comprehensive treatment plan as these laser treatments usually require several sessions with good post-laser aftercare to ensure optimal results.

Hope that this helps!

Best regards,

Dr Justin Boey

Similar Questions

Is the laser treatment for PIH the same as for mole removal?

Hello Maine Thank you for your question. Post inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) or post inflammatory erythema (PIE) from acne is usually treated with q-switched laser or long-pulsed laser. You can expect gradual lightening of the marks with repeated treatments. You can also combine laser treatment with topical retinoids and chemical peels for better results. There shouldn't be any scabbing from treating PIH or PIE. Moles are usually removed with an ablative laser such as the CO2 or erbium laser. Hope this helps!

Photo of Dr Jiwei Wu

Answered By

Dr Jiwei Wu

Aesthetic

Is laser hair removal safe for sensitive skin?

Good that the discoid eczema of your daughter is under control. In any case, Laser treatment may trigger or aggravate eczema,including discoid eczema. This could be due to the irritation from the laser itself or the scratching of the itch after the treatment. Darker skin may be more prone to irritation as well. Sun exposure or other activities (before or after the laser treatment) that cause dryness or darkening of the skin would certainly increase the risk.

Photo of Dr Elias Tam

Answered By

Dr Elias Tam

Aesthetic

Ask any health question for free

I’m not so sure about a procedure...

Ask Icon Ask a Question

Join Human

Sign up now for a free Human account to get answers from specialists in Singapore.

Sign Up

Get The Pill

Be healthier with our Bite-sized health news straight in your inbox