Asian Skin Rejuvenation at a glance
- Best Results1-10+ Treatments
- Treatment Recovery4 - 8 days
- Procedure Time5 to 30 mins
- Skin SpecialistDavin Lim, Dermatologist
- Duration of ResultsVariable - years
- AnaestheticNumbing to sedation
- Back to WorkVariable
- Cost$-$$$$
Asian Skin Rejuvenation
Brisbane has a mixture of ethnic skin types including Asian, Middle Eastern, as well as Caucasian skin types. Providing safe and effective skin rejuvenation for each skin type differs. Ethic and darker skin will need more specific and gentle laser treatments. My laser of choice include Fraxel, LaseMD & Pico.
FactsTreating ethnic and Asian skin types
- Skin rejuvenation in Asian and darker skin types is a Specialist field
- My favoured lasers are Fraxel, LaseMD, & Pico lasers for treating dark skin types
- Treatments such as IPL can cause skin darkening
- Ethnic profiles require different method of dermal filling
- Skin rejuvenation, sun spots, age spots, freckles, acne scarring and rosacea can all be treated with specific lasers
What conditions are more common in Asian and ethnic skin?
Ethnic skin is not immune to conditions such as freckles, age spots, wrinkles, poor skin texture & pigmentation. There are however several skin conditions that are more common in Asian skin types. These include-
- Skin pigmentation / Melasma
this skin condition is much more common in Indians, Fijians, Pacific Islanders, Sri Lankans as well as Caucasian. Melasma presents are patchy areas of skin darkening around the eyes, forehead and upper lip. Bleaching creams, and Q Switch laser can help reduce pigmentation by 80%. - Age spots and sun spots
these can also occur on Asian skin. The use of erbium laser, Q Switch laser, LaseMD, Pico or Fraxel can reduce pigmentation, rejuvenate skin and improve wrinkles. The 1927 wavelength is my preferred laser as the chances of skin darkening is very low with this machine. I also combine Pico lasers (not the older Picosure laser, but the Picoway) - Vitligo
Vitligo is characterized by white patches most commonly around the eyes, mouth, limbs and trunk. Vitiligo is more noticeable in darker skin types due to the contrast in skin colour. This condition can be treated with anti-inflammatory creams and narrowband phototherapy. - Syringomas
are tiny lumps and bumps that lie on the lower eyelids. Lumps may also occur on the upper eyelids. They do not cause symptoms but often increase in numbers over the years. Treatment using Erbium laser is the best method to remove these lesions.
In ethnic patients pigmentation has many forms. Pico lasers are useful to reduce pigment. I use the updated Picosure Pro & Picoway.
What is the difference in treating Ethnic skin types?
Skin rejuvenation in Asian and ethnic skin types are much harder than treating Caucasian and light skin patients. This is because if energy levels are too high, the result can be worse than the treatment. Ethnic skin has a much higher tendency towards skin darkening- known as PIH or post inflammatory hyperpigmentation. This means that laser parameters have to be gentle and precise. Gentler treatment reduces the chances of PIH. Conversely Ethnic patients will need more treatments to achieve the same result.
Having a Specialist who treats Ethnic skin on a daily basis is advisable, as we can reduce the incidence of side effects, but provide the best outcomes.
What skin lightening and tightening program is best for Asian and ethnic patients?
Dr Davin Lim has developed a program to effectively address collagen & colour. This addresses wrinkles, & dull skin-pigmentation.
We employ Pico lasers & fractional lasers to treat pigment, improve skin texture, and decrease wrinkles. Unlike IPL or other lasers, this program is a gentle but effective as it targets both superficial pigment & deeper collagen.
Why do skin tightening treatments work better with Ethnic Skin types?
The flip side? Ethnic skin is more prone to hyperpigmentation, hence lasers treatments are much more conservative.
View our Treatment Gallery
What lasers are recommended for treating skin of colour?
My two favoured lasers for treating ethnic skin are the fractional lasers & Pico Lasers. These two lasers are gentle on the skin and heat transfer is controllable making treatments safe with minimal side effects.
Fraxel or LaseMD Ultra provides general skin rejuvenation- namely a decrease in skin pigmentation, improvement in fine wrinkles, tighter skin tone as well as increased radiance. This translates to younger, fresher and rejuvenated skin. I also use small spot CO2 lasers to improve skin texture & quality.
Pico lasers including the latest Picoway can treat specific spots, such as freckles, sunspots and age spots. I do not use the Picosure laser any more as this is an old first generation laser.
Tixel is another device that can treat pigmentation & wrinkles. Unlike lasers, this device uses controlled heating to stimulate collagen. Best around the eyes.
I also use an erbium laser to treat conditions that are raised on the skin’s surface, such as age warts. Most Asian patients will benefit from a combination of lasers as well as bleaching creams for optimal results.
How long does it take to recover from laser treatments?
Pico laser treatments have NO recovery time, meaning that you recover immediately. This treatment is ideal for skin pigmentation disorders such as melasma or laser skin toning.
Fraxel & LaseMD laser takes 3 days to recover from. Best conducted on a Friday, you will recover by Tuesday at the latest.
Spectra Laser Toning has no downtime. This laser is best for treating sensitive skin conditions such as Melasma.
Will be covering pigment management in the upcoming ASCD @ascd.org.au meeting- from nano to pico lasers & everything in between
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👉This patient: has periocular pigmentation, melasma plus probable PIH from contact dermatitis
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🔫👉Treated: Picoway 1064 Zoom, tyrosinase inhibitors
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👍🏻Tips: many causes of periocular hyperpigmentation from genetics including PDLs, constitutional causes through to acquired conditions including irritant & allergic contact dermatitis. Most cases have 2 or more causes. Don’t laser unless the diagnosis is certain, if in doubt, test patch. Whatever you do, don’t microneedle-converting epidermal pigment to dermal makes our job harder!🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
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😎Davin Lim
Dermatologist
Brisbane🇦🇺
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#picoway #picolaser #pico #darkcircles #melasma #pigmentation #dermatologist #drdavinlim #davinlim #brisbanedermatologist #skindoctor #picolasers
Melasma management by Lara @cutis.dermatology
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👍🏻Medical mx: Tyrosinase inhibitors & t.acid
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🔫Laser: Nano QSL @lutronicaustralia Spectra
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👌🏻Next rotation: L-ascorbic topically, QSL maintenance
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👍🏻Next round of depigmentation: in 3 months time when UV index is lower
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😎Davin Lim
Dermatologist
Brisbane🇦🇺
#dermatology #dermatologist #melasma #pigment #skinbrightening #skinlightening
#skincare #glowingskin
This photo was with the first generation Picosure, I wonder what the second generation can do?
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📸What the photo shows: The possibility of dermal remodeling with this laser, sure pigment is improved, but check out the #collagen stimulation with much less wrinkling (and probable elastosis)
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🔫How was it done? I really pushed this laser to the max using the Focus setting. I think it was over 3,000 shots with a lot of dwell time with the second treatment. I covered her with tyrosinase inhibitors and short cse CS ointments post treatment
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😀What is Picosure good for? It is an awesome laser for-
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👍🏾Ethnic skin rejuvenation with mixed pigmentation, both epidermal and dermal
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👉🏾Enlarged pores in darker skin types
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👉🏾Fine wrinkles in darker skin types
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👊🏽Early macular (flat) PIH / grade 1 #acnescars
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🎨Green tattoos
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😎Dr Davin Lim
Dermatologist
Brisbane🇦🇺
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#cynosure #picosure #picoway #picoplus #picolaser #skinlightening #skinbrightening #melasma #laserskintreatment #ethnicskin #hyperpigmentation
Asian skin type. B&A photos courtesy of Alison @cliniccutis .Settings below
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🧐Pigment type: mixed lentigo & ephelides (freckles)
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👉Treatment: Pico laser, 1064, 532. 2 sessions.
532nm 1.1J 6x6 3-4 passes. Frost ++
Selected ephelides cheeks and nose ++ 730nm 3mm 1.7J
Medial cheeks and nose 532nm 0.7J 3 pass
Full face 1064nm 1.7J 3 pass
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😎Davin Lim
Dermatologist
Brisbane🇦🇺
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#picoway #picotoning #freckles #freckletreatment #freckling #skintoning #skinlightening
#skinbrightening #drdavinlim
Can IPL be used on darker skin types?
Yes. IPL can be used on Asian skin however the settings and parameters must be exact or skin darkening can occur after IPL. IPL treatments in ethnic skin types must be approached with extreme caution, with a reliable machine that produces adequate skin cooling and replicable power settings. We use the Sciton BBL system.
We see more complications from other clinics such as burns and skin darkening from IPL than with any other device.
How are injectables different in Asian patients?
There are many unique features in Asian facial structure compared to Caucasian faces. Injectables in Asian’s are adapted accordingly. A few fundamental differences include-
- Less expressive facial movement in ethnics usually means less Botox.
- Broader lower face means more Botox to specific muscles, AKA facial slimming.
- Maxillary hypoplasia (less projected cheekbone) means more medial dermal fillers.
- Broader upper cheekbones means less dermal fillers.
- Broad base of nose means nose shaping with dermal fillers.
- Lip ratio different in Asian & ethnics, means different volume of upper vs lower lip (1 to 1 ratio)
See the section on injectables for a more detailed explanation.
What chemical peels are best for darker & ethnic skin?
Chemical peels are still relevant in darker skin patients, however at Cutis I have limited them to superficial peels only. As a guide-
- Salicylic acid peels: great for acne, blackheads, oily skin, congestion.
- AHA peels: Lactic, glycolic, mandelic acid for overall skin rejuvenation, wrinkles & pores.
- Retinoid Peels: Vita peels are useful for acne prone skin & pigmentation.
For an understanding of what is your ideal peel, book a consult with my clinical team @cliniccutis.
How do I approach acne scarring in darker skin types?
Acne scarring can be treated just as effectively in darker skin types compared to Caucasian patients. There are however key differences, but the end goal is the same.
- Firstly PIH or skin pigmentation changes are universally seen in darker skin patients. This is 100% certain, however will fade with prescription creams and sunscreen.
- Secondly treatments with lasers can be just as powerful, but the ‘overlaps’ are less. Laser treatments must be conservative.
- To reduce the chances of skin lightening, I usually perform an extra one or two TCA CROSS treatments prior to full laser resurfacing.
- For laser resurfacing, I use both erbium or the CO2 laser, albeit gentler settings
For an understanding of what is your ideal peel, book a consult with my clinical team @cliniccutis.
Acne scars in Asian and ethnic skin types can be treated with Fraxel or Fractional lasers. 3-4 fractional laser treatments are needed for best results. The same applies to Pico lasers.
What is the cost of skin rejuvenation with lasers?
Skin tightening packages are available. Please enquire.
Davin’s viewpoint on treating Asian and ethnic skin types
Brisbane is increasingly becoming more ethnic in population with a mixture of Asians, South Americans, Latinos, Middle Eastern and Pacific Islanders. Treating cosmetic concerns such as age-spots, wrinkles, skin pigmentation & sun damage can be challenging. If conventional techniques are employed, skin darkening can occur. Laser treatments have to be conservative, and the parameters precise. The use of hats, sunscreen and sun avoidance post laser is absolutely essential or skin darkening will occur.
My favoured laser is the 1927 wavelength. We have 3 of these lasers, namely LaseMD, Fraxel as well as the Clear & Brilliant. These lasers provide gentle treatments over several sessions. I often combine this treatment with vitamin A, B and C creams as well as pigment inhibitors.
Skin rejuvenation including a reduction in pore size, wrinkles, & improved skin texture and tone can all be achieved, however an extra few laser treatments are needed. Newer generation Pico lasers including the Picoway are much better compare to the older Picosure (first generation lasers).
Pico lasers, unlike the Fraxel has NO downtime. Treatments are gentle and gradual, and performed over a few weeks. This is ideal for skin pigmentation and can be used to improve skin texture and skin tone.
