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

Doctor's Answers 4

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

Thank you for your question. Lasers used for PIH and mole removal are usually different, but because there is an assortment of lasers in the market, they can sometimes have similar properties. Even so, these similar lasers are applied differently in treating PIH and mole removal.

Post-inflammatory pigmentation (PIH) appear as brown spots or patches on your skin, and is due to an overproduction of brown pigment (melanin) in your skin in response to irritation or skin injury. While the majority of PIH are temporary, they can take several months up to a few years to resolve.

Treatment options for PIH

Treatment options for lightening PIH include prescribing medical-grade lightening creams, chemical peels, and laser therapy. Gentle lasers ranging from picosecond to long-pulsed options can be used for PIH. Some lightening can be seen from the first treatment session, and more sessions will be needed for optimal clearance, depending on your skin type, when your PIH developed, as well as the severity of it. Such non-ablative lasers typically have minimal downtime, and they work by selectively targeting and breaking down melanin-related structures in the skin. Temporary side effects such as redness and discomfort might be present for a few days before resolving.

Moles are typically present at birth, but many also develop later in life. They vary in colour, depth, and can appear flat or raised. Before removal, please check with your doctor as some moles may contain irregular features, requiring a biopsy to rule out serious conditions like skin cancer. Moles can be removed by a laser, surgical excision or punch excision. Flat or slightly raised small moles that do not extend deep into the skin are suitable for laser removal, while surgical or punch excision is normally recommended for larger, very raised, and deep moles.

When moles are removed via laser, there is a possibility it might grow back within the next several months to several years, whereas recurrence is rare in surgical or punch excision mole removal. The standard laser removal treatment for moles uses ablative lasers like CO2 or Erbium YAG to remove and flatten moles, and this can be completed in a session. It is a comfortable procedure after skin numbing has taken effect. However, like any treatment that breaches the skin layer, you might experience a short downtime together with a small risk of scarring, infection, as well as skin darkening or lightening.

A new method of removing moles

There is another exciting new method of mole removal using lasers that seldom results in scars. Here, certain lasers of varying pulse durations are able to target and break down flat or raised pigmented moles in as few as 1 session, with minimal risk of any scarring or downtime. This results in improved cosmetic appearance without the use of strong lasers. Using this scarless method, a scab will form and fall off in a week, and additional sessions over the next few months can be performed if there are residual pigments.

All things considered, it will be good to consult and be assessed by your physician. What may appear as PIH or moles can also include other pigmentary conditions that may benefit from a combination of treatment modalities prescribed by your doctor. I hope this explanation helps!

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!

Regards,

Dr Jiwei Wu

Personally, I use the Q-Switch laser to treat PIH and as Dr Wu has mentioned, there is no scabbing/downtime involved as compared to other lasers that are used for mole removal.

The Q-switch laser breaks down the pigment into smaller fragments so that your body can remove them. Multiple sessions will be required to speed up the lightening process and results can be seen typically within a month.

Hope that helps.

All the best.

Dr Ho Rui Ming

There are many different lasers for different indications. The laser used for pigmentation such as PIH is different from that of mole removal.

After an initial consultation and assessment, the depth of your pigmentation can be assessed.

Depending on the severity, depth and cause of your pigmentation, a treatment program that may include certain wavelengths of lasers can be safely tailored for you.

A visual assessment leads to the most optimal treatment plan for you.

Similar Questions

Is mole removal at NSC cheaper than at a private clinic in Singapore?

I think the charges for mole removal in Singapore at private clinics or NSC are pretty comparable. The cost at NSC depends primarily on factors like: Size and location of mole Method of removal (excision vs lasers) The cost for excision removal at NSC starts from $300 – $400 and up, and only requires 1 session. The cost for laser removal at NSC starts from $300 and up, and typically requires a few sessions. Not all moles can be lasered off. As NSC rates are standardised, you may be able to find some private clinics that do it for cheaper.

Where is the best place for mole removal in Singapore?

There are many clinics in Singapore that do mole removal. Private clinics are usually a little more pricey than government hospitals such as National Skin Center. However, National Skin Center’s waiting list is usually very long, can be up to 3-6 months. The more important factor to consider is to get your mole assessed properly before getting it removed. Laser removal over many sessions may not be a good way to remove a mole because the risk of mole recurrence can be high, and the mole cannot be assessed in the lab for any signs of skin cancer.

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