The reason why you shouldn't stop managing melasma, especially during seasons with strong UV rays!!
"Aren't you not supposed to get laser treatments in the summer?"
This is a question I hear frequently as summer approaches while consulting on freckles or blemishes.
Many people worry that receiving laser treatment during seasons with strong UV rays might actually cause their pigmentation to darken.
To start with the conclusion, You do not necessarily have to avoid Pico Toning just because it is summer.
However, it is accurate to view summer as a season where pre- and post-procedure care becomes more important than the procedure itself, due to increased UV rays, heat, sweat, and outdoor activities.
In fact, for those prone to developing melasma, completely stopping treatment in the summer may cause pigmentation to appear darker, or the difficulty of management may increase when resuming in the fall. The important thing is not to "stop doing it in the summer," but to manage your skin consistently at an intensity and frequency suited to your skin condition.
1. What is the principle behind the Pico Toning laser?
PicoToning is a pigment laser that delivers energy to pigment particles deep within the skin using very short pulses, specifically in picosecond units.
While conventional lasers were closer to burning pigments with heat, pico lasers are closer to delivering energy in a short time to break down pigment particles into smaller pieces. This is commonly explained as the photomechanical effect.
To use a simple analogy, it is closer to breaking a large block of ice into small pieces by applying multiple very short, rapid shocks, rather than melting it slowly with hot water. The finely broken pigment particles are then gradually cleared away through the skin's metabolic processes and immune responses.
Pico Toning is primarily used by repeatedly applying low-energy waves. Rather than a treatment that aggressively exfoliates the skin all at once, it approaches the issue by gradually alleviating pigmentation while minimizing skin irritation.
Therefore, in cases where pigmentation is widely and sensitively distributed, such as melasma, blemishes, and hyperpigmentation, it is better to understand it as a treatment involving repeated maintenance rather than a "one-time removal treatment."
2. Why isn't melasma easily conquered?
The most important explanation when consulting about melasma is this.
Melasma is not simply a stain on the skin surface, but a problem of the skin environment that makes it easy to continuously produce pigment.
Many people think of melasma as just "stains." Therefore, they expect it to disappear after being removed once with a laser. However, melasma is actually much more complex.
Melasma involves not only melanin pigment but also ultraviolet rays, female hormones, genetic predisposition, skin barrier function, inflammatory responses, vascular factors, and thermal stimulation. In other words, the visible brown pigment is the result, and often, a skin environment that facilitates the regeneration of pigment remains beneath it.
To use an analogy, freckles are similar to mold stains on a wall. Wiping away only the visible stains may make the wall look clean for a while. However, if the underlying issues with humidity, ventilation, and temperature remain unchanged, the spots can reappear over time.
The same applies to melasma. While lasers can lighten the visible pigmentation, it can darken again with repeated exposure to UV rays, heat, hormonal changes, or skin inflammation.
Therefore, rather than being something to be "completely conquered," melasma is closer to a skin condition like diabetes or high blood pressure that requires consistent management. Just as taking medication to control blood pressure does not mean lifestyle management is complete for diabetes or high blood pressure, melasma can only be stably controlled by continuing a combination of laser treatments, sun protection, whitening care, and skin barrier restoration.
This does not mean that treatment is meaningless. On the contrary, it is the opposite. Since melasma can become darker and spread if left untreated, consistent care can help reduce the rate at which pigmentation worsens excessively.
3. Misconceptions about not getting laser treatments in the summer
There are common misconceptions regarding summer pigmentation treatment, such as the following.
Misconception 1. If you get a laser treatment in the summer, you will definitely get hyperpigmentation.
The likelihood of post-laser hyperpigmentation is not determined by the season alone. Skin type, laser intensity, treatment site, presence of pre-existing inflammation, UV exposure, and aftercare all have an impact.
It is true that skincare becomes more difficult in the summer due to increased UV exposure. However, if treated with appropriate energy and properly protected from UV rays and soothed aftercare, Pico Toning can be considered even in the summer.
The problem is often not "because the laser was done in the summer," but rather due to exposure to strong UV rays, excessive heat stimulation, or failure to manage skin barrier damage after the procedure.
Misunderstanding 2. It is best to use lasers only in the fall and winter.
It is true that autumn and winter are favorable seasons for pigmentation treatment. This is because ultraviolet rays are relatively weak and outdoor activities decrease, making management easier.
However, if you stop treatment completely while the melasma continues to be irritated during the summer, the pigmentation may have already darkened when you resume treatment in the fall.
In other words, autumn and winter are favorable seasons for intensive treatment, while summer is a season where maintenance to prevent deterioration is important.
Misunderstanding 3. "It’s no use treating it since it will just come back in the summer anyway."
Melasma treatment is not a "one-time treatment" but a cumulative care process. If you do nothing just because UV rays are strong in the summer, pigment irritation will continue to build up.
Pico Toning can help alleviate existing pigmentation and regulate the flow that makes pigmentation appear more prominent. Of course, the effectiveness of the treatment may be reduced if UV protection is not applied.
Therefore, the key to summer treatment is not laser alone, but a combination of laser + UV protection + skin barrier care + whitening care.
Misunderstanding 4. "Receiving a laser makes the skin thinner"
Pico toning is different from ablative lasers that remove skin. Standard pico toning proceeds by targeting pigments through the repeated application of low energy.
However, if you repeat the process excessively on sensitive skin or with a weak skin barrier, redness, stinging, dryness, or pigmentation changes may occur. Therefore, it is important to adjust the interval and intensity according to your skin condition.
4. Why You Should Manage Pico Toning 'Consistently and Delicately' Rather Than 'Intensely' Especially in Summer
Summer is the most favorable season for melasma. Ultraviolet rays are strong, skin temperature rises, sweat and sebum secretion increase, and outdoor activities become more frequent. All of these factors can stimulate pigmentation.
In other words, summer is not a "season for rest" for skin, but a "season for becoming active."
Since ultraviolet rays can stimulate melanocytes and increase pigment production, you must manage not only existing pigment but also newly formed pigment during the summer.
If you stop treatment during this period, the pigment factory deep within your skin may become busy again. Conversely, continuing Pico Toning at appropriate intervals even in the summer can help reduce the tendency for pigmentation to suddenly darken.
There is one thing to clarify here. "Paying more attention" does not mean receiving it more often or more intensely.
In fact, since the burden of UV rays is significant in the summer, the key is to consistently maintain an intensity that suits your skin condition.
It is easy to understand if you compare managing melasma to working out at the gym.
Even when building a physique, exercising just a few times does not guarantee it will last a lifetime. In particular, if you take a complete break from exercise during periods when you are prone to weight gain, it is easy to revert to your original state. Managing summer melasma is similar. Rather than stopping treatment during a time when strong UV stimuli are prevalent, consistently continuing at an intensity suited to your skin condition may be a more realistic strategy.
5. The pigmentation may look different for a short time immediately after the procedure.
You may notice that your pigmentation looks slightly different than usual for a few days after Pico Toning. While this can be a temporary reaction, you should also check for the possibility of hyperpigmentation due to skin irritation or inflammation.
The skin may temporarily appear sharper while finely reacted pigments settle, or color contrast may become more pronounced immediately after the procedure as the skin becomes slightly dry. However, if redness or stinging persists for more than a few days, or if you are concerned about changes in pigmentation, it is most accurate to visit the clinic and have medical staff directly examine your skin condition rather than trying to judge on your own.
The important thing is to monitor the progress while maintaining hydration, soothing, and UV protection, rather than applying excessive whitening products based on self-judgment. Even with the same laser treatment, the skin's response can vary depending on post-procedure care.
6. Must-follow after Summer Pico Toning
1) With sunscreen, "repeated application" is important, not "once in the morning."
For patients with melasma, sun protection is part of the treatment. Applying it only once before going out may not be sufficient.
Especially in summer, sunscreen can easily be washed off by sweat, sebum, masks, and contact with hands. On days with outdoor activities, it is recommended to reapply every 2 to 3 hours.
If possible, check the SPF and PA ratings, and those prone to pigmentation may also consider tone-up or tinted sunscreens that help block visible light.
2) Heat stimulation must be reduced.
Melasma can be affected not only by ultraviolet rays but also by heat. Caution is required when using saunas, steam rooms, in hot exercise environments, during prolonged outdoor activities, or immediately after procedures involving intense heat.
If your skin is red or stinging after Pico Toning, it is recommended to avoid washing your face with hot water, scrubs, and peeling products for a while.
3) Do not apply whitening products in excessive layers.
When melasma deepens in the summer, many people tend to apply multiple whitening products in layers. However, excessive use of Vitamin C, retinoids, high-concentration acid ingredients, or functional whitening products can actually cause irritant dermatitis and make pigmentation appear even darker.
Immediately after laser treatment, prioritize soothing and moisturizing, and it is recommended to use whitening products in stages while monitoring your skin condition.
4) The treatment interval is adjusted according to the skin's response.
While Pico Toning often requires repeated treatments, receiving them frequently is not necessarily beneficial. If the intensity or intervals are excessive while the skin is sensitive, redness, stinging, dryness, and pigmentation changes may occur.
Since the skin can be irritated more easily than usual in the summer, it is important to adjust the intensity and frequency while monitoring your skin condition.
7. In what cases should I be cautious with Pico Toning in the summer?
Consultation with a medical professional is required before the procedure in the following cases.
If you have recently been sunburned in strong sunlight
- If the skin remains red and stinging
- If you have recently received peeling, exfoliation, or strong laser treatment
- In cases of dermatitis, contact allergies, or severe acne inflammation
- If melasma suddenly widens or darkens
- If you have a schedule where it is realistically difficult to protect yourself from UV rays after the procedure
- When pigmentation changes related to pregnancy, breastfeeding, or hormonal changes are suspected
In such cases, rather than proceeding with laser treatment unnecessarily, it may be more appropriate to first stabilize the skin barrier and combine UV protection with topical treatments.
Furthermore, if you excessively increase the intensity and frequency without considering your skin condition, changes such as the pigmentation fading or becoming patchy may occur. Therefore, with Pico Toning, it is more important to find the appropriate intensity and intervals by monitoring your skin's reaction, rather than believing that "the more you receive, the better."
8. If you are considering Pico Toning near Dongdaemun
The areas near Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Station, as well as Dongdaemun, Euljiro, Jongno, Sindang, and Chungmuro, are busy with commuting, shopping, and outdoor movement. Particularly during the summer, exposure to ultraviolet rays tends to accumulate while moving around during the day.
If you are considering Pico Toning in Dongdaemun, it is advisable to assess not only "how many laser sessions to receive" but also whether your current melasma is epidermal or mixed with dermal pigmentation, whether it is accompanied by redness or skin barrier issues, and what your summer UV exposure patterns are.
Melasma treatment is not determined by a single laser device; a management plan tailored to your skin condition and lifestyle is crucial.
FAQ
Q1. Does getting Pico Toning in the summer make melasma worse?
That is not always the case. However, post-procedure care is more important in the summer due to the high levels of UV rays and heat. If the procedure is performed at an intensity and interval suited to your skin condition and strict UV protection is maintained, you can consider Pico Toning even in the summer.
Q2. How many Pico Toning sessions do I need to feel the effects?
It depends on the depth of pigmentation, the ratio of melasma to blemishes, skin type, and the degree of UV exposure. Generally, rather than being a one-time treatment, repeated care is often required. It is best to determine the exact number of sessions after a consultation and assessment of your skin condition.
Q3. Can I apply makeup immediately after Pico Toning?
If the skin reaction is not severe, light makeup is often possible. However, if there is redness or stinging, it is best to prioritize soothing and moisturizing. You must use sunscreen.
Q4. Can melasma disappear completely?
Melasma is akin to a chronic pigmentation disorder characterized by repeated recurrences and worsening. Rather than treatment aimed at complete eradication, it is important to manage the condition by reducing factors that cause pigmentation to intensify and maintaining consistent control.
Q5. What kind of sunscreen is best to use in the summer?
It is important to choose a product with sufficient SPF and PA ratings, and to reapply it as it can be wiped off by sweat or sebum. Those prone to hyperpigmentation may also consider tinted sunscreens that help block visible light.
finish
If you are concerned about melasma and blemishes darkening during the summer, it is important to first check the type of pigmentation and your skin condition.
Maypure Clinic Dongdaemun Branch At our clinic, we provide consultations on Pico Toning and pigmentation management strategies by taking into account your skin condition and lifestyle patterns. An accurate diagnosis and suitability for the procedure can be confirmed through an in-person consultation.
notification
Results and recovery time may vary depending on individual skin condition, treatment area, pre-existing conditions, and lifestyle habits.
Since there is a possibility of side effects such as swelling, redness, stinging, dryness, inflammation, and pigmentation changes after the procedure, it is important to confirm suitability after consulting with a medical professional.
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