Pigmentation Laser & Light Treatments
Pigmentation is not one diagnosis. Freckles, sun spots, melasma and post-inflammatory marks look similar in a mirror but sit at different depths.
Pigmentation laser and light treatments in Nanjing
Pigmentation is not one diagnosis. Freckles, sun spots, melasma and post-inflammatory marks look similar in a mirror but sit at different depths, have different triggers, and respond to different energy. The device matters less than the diagnosis that selects it.
Two different technology families are used for pigment. Lasers deliver a single wavelength — picosecond and Q-switched systems are lasers. Light-based devices deliver a broad band of wavelengths filtered to a range — IPL and BBL are light, not lasers. Both can clear pigment; they are not interchangeable.
At Luowei Medical Aesthetics Clinic every pigment assessment is done by our physician before any device is selected, and some pigmented lesions are referred for medical assessment rather than treated.
Key points
- What is treated Epidermal and, in selected cases, dermal pigment
- Technology families Picosecond laser · Q-switched laser · IPL · BBL
- Assessment first Diagnosis, pigment depth, Fitzpatrick type, trigger and recurrence pattern
- Sessions Varies by diagnosis — melasma is managed, not cleared in a fixed number
- Downtime Ranges from none to several days of crusting, depending on device and setting
Why “strongest” is the wrong question
The most powerful setting is not the safest or the most appropriate one. In melasma and in higher Fitzpatrick types, aggressive energy can worsen pigment rather than clear it. Conservative parameters, test spots, and a plan that includes what happens between sessions usually outperform a single strong treatment.
The types of pigmentation, and why they are not treated alike
These behave differently. Treating them as one problem is the most common reason pigment treatment disappoints.
| Type | How it behaves | Treatment consideration |
|---|---|---|
| Freckles (ephelides) | Appear early, darken with sun, fade in winter | Usually responsive; sun behaviour decides how long the result holds |
| Sun spots / solar lentigines | Appear with cumulative sun exposure, do not fade seasonally | Often the most predictable pigment to treat |
| Melasma | Patchy, often symmetric; driven by sun, visible light, heat and hormones; recurs | Managed, not cured. Aggressive energy can worsen it. Usually multimodal with maintenance |
| Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation | Follows acne, eczema, injury or a previous treatment | Control the inflammation first; cautious energy, or none until the trigger settles |
| Dermal pigment (incl. Hori’s macules) | Sits deeper; grey-blue rather than brown | Different wavelength and depth; more sessions; different expectations |
| Uncertain or changing lesions | New, irregular, symptomatic or evolving | Medical assessment before any cosmetic treatment |
Read more on hyperpigmentation and dark spots, melasma, freckles, age spots and sun spots, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and uneven skin tone.
Four technology families, and what separates them
Marketing tends to call everything a laser. The distinction is clinical, not semantic — it changes which pigment a device can reach and how much heat the surrounding skin absorbs.
Picosecond
Very short pulses that break pigment largely by photomechanical effect, with comparatively less heat delivered to surrounding tissue than longer pulses.
Epidermal and selected dermal pigment
Q-switched (nanosecond)
Longer pulses than picosecond, with a longer clinical track record. Still a first-line choice for several pigment and tattoo indications — not available at this clinic.
Pigment and tattoo
IPL
Broadband light filtered to a wavelength range. Treats surface pigment and vascular targets in the same pass, which is why it suits diffuse sun damage.
Epidermal pigment · diffuse tone
BBL
A broadband light platform with filter and cooling control. Also a light-based technology, not a laser.
Photorejuvenation · diffuse pigment
The platforms we treat pigment with
We hold more than thirty devices across the clinic. These are the ones used for pigment, and what each is generally selected for.
PicoSure Pro®
755nm picosecond. Commonly the first choice for epidermal pigment, and used with caution in melasma.
See the PicoSure Pro page
PicoWay®
1064 and 532nm picosecond. The 1064nm wavelength reaches deeper pigment; also used for multi-colour tattoo.
See the PicoWay page
Q-Switched Laser
Nanosecond pigment lasers. We do not have one — this page explains how they differ from the picosecond platforms above, and when a nanosecond pulse is the better tool.
Read the explainer
Dual Pico Protocol
PicoSure Pro and PicoWay combined in one plan when pigment sits at more than one depth. Not needed for most cases.
See the Dual Pico page
M22® IPL
Filtered broadband light for diffuse sun damage, where pigment and redness coexist.
See the M22 page
AI BBL HEROic™
Broadband light with filter and cooling control, used for photorejuvenation across larger areas.
See the BBL HEROic page
For a general introduction to light-based photofacial treatment, see IPL Photofacial. For tattoo, which is a separate treatment pathway using the same pico platforms, see laser tattoo removal.
What our physician assesses before selecting a platform
The same brown patch on two people can call for two different devices, two different settings, or in one of the two, no device at all.
| Factor | Why it changes the decision |
|---|---|
| Diagnosis | Melasma and a solar lentigo are treated differently even when they sit side by side |
| Pigment depth | Epidermal pigment and dermal pigment need different wavelengths and expectations |
| Fitzpatrick type | Higher types carry a higher risk of post-inflammatory pigment, which changes both device and energy |
| Recent sun or tanning | Recently tanned skin is a reason to postpone, not to reduce the setting |
| Heat and hormonal triggers | Relevant in melasma; treating without addressing the trigger produces short-lived results |
| Previous PIH | A history of darkening after treatment is the strongest argument for a test spot |
| Active acne or dermatitis | Inflammation is settled first; treating over it tends to create new pigment |
| Response to prior laser | What did and did not work previously is often the most useful single data point |
Managing post-inflammatory pigment risk
Most of our pigment patients are Asian. That changes how we set parameters — it does not mean the risk can be promised away.
Skin that pigments readily in response to inflammation can respond to an over-aggressive treatment by darkening rather than clearing. The measures that reduce that risk are unglamorous: a test spot where there is any doubt, conservative energy on the first pass, adequate intervals between sessions, and skin conditioning before and after.
We do not claim a treatment carries no risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Individual case records on our device pages state what was observed in that patient; they are not a general promise.
What we ask of you
- Before No recent tanning; tell us about every previous laser and its outcome
- Between sessions Daily broad-spectrum SPF, and protection from visible light where melasma is involved
- If pigment darkens Contact us early — PIH is usually manageable when addressed promptly
From consultation to maintenance
| Stage | What happens |
|---|---|
| Consultation | History, trigger pattern, previous treatments, and examination of the pigment itself |
| Diagnosis | What type of pigment this is — and whether it needs medical assessment first |
| Device selection | Chosen from the diagnosis and your skin, not from a package |
| Test spot | Where the diagnosis is uncertain, PIH history exists, or expectations need calibrating |
| Treatment | Downtime ranges from none to several days of fine crusting depending on device and setting |
| Review | Assessed at the interval appropriate to the diagnosis before deciding on further sessions |
| Maintenance | Sun and visible-light protection, and for melasma, ongoing management rather than a finish line |
What else is part of pigment treatment — and when to wait
Often used alongside, or instead of, energy
- Topical and prescription Frequently first-line in melasma, and part of maintenance in most pigment plans
- Sun and visible-light protection The single measure that most determines whether a result holds
- Inflammation control Treating acne or dermatitis first, where it is generating the pigment
- Chemical peels Useful in selected cases, sometimes in place of energy
Reasons we postpone or decline
- Recent sun exposure Treating tanned skin raises the risk of an unwanted result
- Active inflammation Acne, eczema or dermatitis in the treatment area
- Uncertain lesion Anything requiring medical assessment first
- Expectation mismatch Where what is wanted is not what the diagnosis allows
Pigmentation Treatment Pricing & Payment
Cost depends on the device selected, the size of the area, and how many sessions the diagnosis calls for — which is why we quote after assessment rather than before it.
| What drives the cost | Why |
|---|---|
| Diagnosis | A single solar lentigo and a full-face melasma plan are not comparable treatments |
| Device | Picosecond and light-based platforms are priced differently |
| Treatment area | Spot treatment, full face, or face plus neck and hands |
| Session count | Set by the diagnosis and reviewed as we go, not sold as a fixed package up front |
A written quotation is given by our physician after your consultation, and nothing is opened, injected or switched on until you have it in hand. Payment is made at the clinic before treatment begins. Cosmetic treatment is a self-pay item and is not covered by public medical insurance in China.
Why trust Luowei Medical Aesthetics Clinic with pigment
Pigment is the area of aesthetic medicine where the wrong decision is most visible and hardest to undo. These are the specifics behind how we handle it.
Experience
- Physician-performed Every pigment assessment and treatment is carried out by our physician personally
- Asian and mixed skin tones The majority of our pigment patients; protocols are set for skin that pigments readily
- Documented cases Before-and-after records kept for each patient, with all concurrent treatments stated
Expertise
- Diagnosis first Device selection follows the diagnosis; some lesions are referred rather than treated
- Platform range Over thirty devices in the clinic, so the choice is not limited to one machine
- Test spots Used where PIH history, uncertain diagnosis, or higher Fitzpatrick type warrant it
Authoritativeness
- Credentials— Chinese medical degree and family medicine certification
Trustworthiness
- What we do not claim No promise of zero post-inflammatory pigment, no guaranteed session count, no claim that one platform suits every skin
- When we decline Recent tanning, active inflammation, uncertain lesions, or a mismatch between expectation and diagnosis
- Melasma honesty Presented as a condition to manage, not one we claim to cure
Common reactions · Serious risks · Contraindications
Disclosed in full before your consultation, not at the point of signing.
Expected after treatment
- Redness and mild swelling Hours to 1–2 days in the treated area
- Pigment darkening first Treated spots usually darken before flaking away over several days — this is expected, not a reaction
- Fine crusting Depends on device and setting; do not pick, as picking is a common route to a mark
- Dryness or sensitivity Short-lived; barrier care is part of the plan
Serious risks — uncommon, and disclosed
- Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation The principal risk in skin that pigments readily; more likely after recent sun exposure or over-aggressive settings
- Hypopigmentation Lightening of treated skin; less common but can be prolonged
- Blistering or burn Associated with excessive energy or treating recently tanned skin
- Worsening of melasma A recognised outcome of over-treatment, which is why melasma is approached conservatively
- Scarring Rare
- Recurrence Pigment can return with sun, heat or hormonal triggers — expected in melasma rather than a treatment failure
When treatment is postponed or declined
| Situation | Reason |
|---|---|
| Recent sun exposure or tanning | Raises the risk of burn and post-inflammatory pigment |
| Active infection, acne or dermatitis in the area | Treating over inflammation tends to generate new pigment |
| Photosensitising medication | Reviewed individually; some require an interval before treatment |
| Recent isotretinoin | Device-dependent; discussed at consultation |
| Pregnancy or breastfeeding | Elective pigment treatment is deferred |
| Uncertain or changing pigmented lesion | Medical assessment comes before any cosmetic treatment |
| History of keloid scarring | Assessed individually before selecting device and setting |
Where the medical claims on this page come from
Everything above about Pigmentation Laser & Light Treatments rests on published evidence rather than on our own word. The sources below are the ones behind those statements: peer-reviewed papers indexed in PubMed, and guidance written for patients by dermatology academies and national health services. Read them before you decide — and bring any of them to your consultation.
- Peer-reviewedA Systematic Review of Picosecond Laser in Dermatology: Evidence and Recommendations
- Peer-reviewedTreatment of Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation in Skin of Colour: A Systematic Review
What these references can and cannot tell you. They describe what is known about the treatment itself — how well it tends to work, how long results last, and what can go wrong. They are not an assessment of this clinic, and no published study can tell you whether it suits your skin type, anatomy, or medical history. That judgement comes from the physician who examines you in person, and it may well be “not this one”.