Side Effect #1: Laser-Induced Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation (PIH) This is probably one of the more common side effects patients encounter after overly aggressive laser treatment. Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, or PIH, happens when the skin becomes excessively inflamed after treatment, causing the skin to produce even more pigment afterwards [2]. Clinically, this may appear as: This can feel […]

First Things First: Don’t Panic Honestly, one of the most common things I see is patients panicking and immediately going into “fix it mode.” They start searching online late at night.They watch dozens of TikTok videos.They order multiple brightening products after reading dramatic before-and-after reviews. And before long, they are layering whitening creams and strong […]

Are Topical Treatments All the Same? One of the biggest misconceptions about pigmentation treatment is the assumption that all creams fall into the same category. They don't. There’s an important difference between: Although both are applied to the skin, they’re designed for very different purposes. This distinction becomes especially important when we're talking about more […]

One thing I notice about melasma patients is this. Most of them have already spent months, sometimes years, trying to figure out what exactly is happening to their faces before they even step into the clinic. Some think it is sun damage.Others think it is ageing.Some are convinced they somehow “ruined” their skin with skincare […]

One of the most common concerns I hear from patients with melasma is this: “Doctor, I heard lasers can thin the skin… is that true?” Usually, this concern comes up after someone has: And honestly, I understand why this concern exists. The word “laser” gets used very broadly in aesthetics, even though different lasers work […]

What Do Freckles Look Like?  Let’s start with freckles. Most people are somewhat familiar with them. They usually show up as tiny brown dots scattered across the cheeks and nose. Some patients describe them as: “It looks like someone flicked little specks of pepper across my face.” That is actually a very good description. Freckles […]