Laser toning for pigmentation: what should you do if it gets darker or red afterward?

Color looking darker or red for a few days after laser toning for pigmentation commonly happens as the skin reacts to laser heat, and it usually subsides within a few days. However, if the darkened color remains for several weeks, or conversely white patches appear, the energy and interval need to be readjusted, so please get examined.

Why do reactions occur after laser toning for pigmentation?

Laser toning is a treatment that sends low energy evenly over the whole skin to break melanin into fine particles. The broken pigment doesn't disappear right away and takes time to be cleared from the skin, so for a few days after treatment, the pigment may look darker, as if rising to the surface.

Laser heat also leaves a mild inflammatory reaction in the skin. Slight redness and a burning sensation are visible while this reaction subsides, and they may be visible longer in people with thin, sensitive skin or facial flushing.

When does pigmentation actually get darker after toning?

If the interval between treatments is too short or the energy is high for your skin condition, laser stimulation can stimulate pigment cells and new post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation may form. The same is likely to happen if you get a lot of sun during the treatment period or also use exfoliating products or irritating cosmetics such as retinol.

Pigmentation that reacts sensitively to stimulation, such as melasma, can come back the more strongly it is removed, so we plan by lowering the energy and increasing the number of sessions. In rare cases, hypopigmented white spots may appear in areas treated repeatedly at short intervals over a long time, so we check the reaction between sessions.

Care and when to contact us after laser toning for pigmentation

At our Suwon clinic, we advise avoiding scrubs and peels for about a week after PicoSure toning, and not using wrinkle-improving cosmetics containing retinol or whitening cosmetics.

When going out, apply sunscreen thoroughly, and since skin tends to get dry, apply moisturizer often. If scabs form, don't pick them off. If redness worsens for more than a few days, if blisters form, or if darkened color remains unchanged for close to a month, please contact the clinic. If you are using medication that makes you sensitive to light or prescription topical medication, please let us know before treatment.

Underarm Hyperpigmentation in Suwon: How Can Laser Toning Help It Fade?

See PicoSure toning treatment details

FAQ

Q. When does redness subside after laser toning for pigmentation?

A. Slight redness and a burning sensation usually subside within a few hours to a day or two. If you have facial flushing or thin skin, they may be visible a bit longer, and if redness worsens or stings even after several days, it is best to get examined.

Q. My melasma got darker after toning. Can I keep getting it?

A. Looking darker for a few days right after treatment is a common reaction, but if it is still dark after several weeks, the laser stimulation may have been too strong. Before the next session, we check your condition and decide whether to lower the energy, extend the interval, or take a break for a while.

Q. Should I take a break from laser toning for pigmentation when summer comes?

A. You can continue toning in summer, but heavy sun exposure makes it easy for pigment to come back. During periods with a lot of outdoor activity, be more thorough with sun protection, and we adjust the interval around plans with long sun exposure, such as vacations.