Lasers and Darker Skin FAQ

Challenges, truths and misconceptions of using lasers on darker skin.

Do you have “darker” skin? Asian, Hispanic, Pacific Islander, Arabian, Middle Eastern, South Asian or brown/black African skin?

We use specific lasers, modulated in precise ways, to deliver energy that will change the molecular structure of the melanin but not vaporize or remove it.

Unique, holistic protocols that precisely target birthmarks with laser energy that changes the molecular structure of melanin. Consequently, the melanin is no longer recognized by the body’s physiology, so the immune system can break it down and dissolve it away within 3-4 weeks.

 If so, the information in this section should help alleviate some of your concerns about laser treatments.

Challenges, Truths and Misconceptions of Darker Skin

For years, scary stories about what lasers can do to darker skin have circulated in the media, creating a cloud of misinformation, doubt and unnecessary fear. The following facts and discussion of the special issues presented by darker skin types address what the truth really is, what the real challenges are and what we do at AMA Regenerative Medicine & Skincare to achieve exceptional results for our patients with darker skin.

Fact: Some of the Scary Stories You May Have Heard are True.

Darker skin is more sensitive to certain treatments and does present challenges that lighter skin does not. Simply put, treatments not properly customized for darker skin may not only be ineffective, they might damage the skin and cause hyperpigmentation.
 
However, for true experts in laser medicine who understand the scientific subtleties of skin, and who have mastered the intricate interactions between different laser energies and the physiology of different skin types, treating darker skin can be as successful as treating lighter skin.
Even the most challenging cases of melasma, occurring in darker skinned women, can be effectively treated with AMA Regenerative Medicine & Skincare’s advanced laser protocols.

Even the most challenging cases of melasma, occurring in darker skinned women, can be effectively treated with AMA Regenerative Medicine & Skincare’s advanced laser protocols.

Depending on the skin’s melanin activity, it will be classified from Type-0, which is Albino skin that cannot produce melanin at all, to Type-6, which is skin of a beautiful alabaster-black hue.
 
As the amount of melanin in the skin increases, it will absorb progressively more energy and is therefore more sensitive than lighter skin to lasers targeting melanin. When this sensitivity is not properly assessed, a laser treatment that would be successful on lighter skin can damage darker skin.

Fact: Many Types of Lasers are Not Attracted to Melanin.

Watch the video : My ingrown hair removal treatment

This means they can be used as safely on darker skin as lighter skin.

Fact: All Skin is Comprised of Many Distinct Components.

Different lasers are designed to target these distinct components, consisting of different cell types, tissue types, structures, layers, lesions and of course melanin.

Fact: Targets in the Skin Attract (Absorb) the Energy of Different Lasers in Distinctly Different Ways.

In order to treat skin and all its components with scientific precision, many different types of lasers must be used in order to produce the best possible results.
 

Why AMA is the Ideal Clinic to Treat Darker Skin Types

AMA Regenerative Medicine & Skincare has a full spectrum of 30+ state-of-the-art lasers and other treatment modalities, with which we carefully customize treatment protocols for your particular skin type.

Watch the video : Laser hair removal on dark skin

We pioneered the field of multiple-modality protocols, in which we synergistically combine many complementary modalities to achieve far more superior results than can be achieved by using just one or two technologies.

AMA Regenerative Medicine & Skincare pioneered the development of using lasers “physiologically” (PRM), wherein we work with the natural physiological mechanisms in the skin to stimulate a physiological transformation of skin to a younger, stronger, healthier and more beautiful state. Your skin will look years younger on the outside because it will actually be years younger, functionally and physiologically, on the inside.

Thus, our customized protocols integrating state-of-the-art technologies with our physiological approach to medicine are the most comprehensive and advanced forms of energy medicine developed specifically for your skin, no matter what color it is.

Example: Sun Spots, Age Spots or Melasma on Asian or Hispanic Skin (Type 4). To understand Skin Type 4’s unique challenges, let’s first review the physiology of all skin types:
  • Skin Types 1 & 2 have so little melanin activity, they don’t even tan, and rarely get any pigmented discoloration at all.
  • Skin Type 3 has sufficient melanin activity to tan and can develop pigmented spots, though much less often than darker skin types.
  • Skin Types 5 & 6 have the most melanin activity of all types, and are very prone to developing pigmented discolorations. However, because they have lots of underlying melanin, their beautiful brown or black background color hides most pigmented spots, which usually go unnoticed.
  • Skin Type 4 is right in the middle. It has plenty of melanin activity to easily produce pigmented spots, but overall this skin type is not dark enough to hide them, so every little discoloration is easy to see.

Why is Skin Type 4 so Difficult to Treat?

The melanin producing cells (melanocytes) in Skin Type 4 can be very sensitive to any kind of irritation. People with this skin type know that after even a small scratch, their Type 4 skin can develop pigmentation called “post inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH).” 

Watch the video : A deep dive into the cause and treatment of melasma

Therefore, treatments to remove pigmented spots that would work on lighter skin types are often too strong for Skin Type 4, irritating the melanocytes and causing the pigmentation to come right back, and in some cases become even worse. The video above goes into much more depth on the subject of skin types.

How AMA Regenerative Medicine Solves this Problem

Hundreds of our Skin Type 4 women patients with all sorts of pigmentation problems such as sun damage, age spots and melasma, report they have thrown away their make-up foundations because they simply don’t need them anymore. Now when they use makeup, it’s no longer to conceal embarrassing discoloration, but only to highlight their naturally beautiful skin.

Lasers are the best and safest option for treating severe cystic acne on darker skin and the results are truly fantastic.

Lasers are the best and safest option for treating severe cystic acne on darker skin and the results are truly fantastic.

This is a perfect example of the amazing effectiveness of our holistic/physiological approach to laser medicine and your skin. Simply stated, the natural physiological mechanisms already present in your body have the inherent wisdom and power to bring you back to optimal health.

All that’s needed are AMA Regenerative Medicine & Skincare’s expert, loving touch and the “physiological keys”™ to make it happen!

AMA Regenerative Medicine & Skincare | 1570 Brookhollow Dr., Santa Ana, CA 92705 | 6310 San Vicente Blvd STE 285, Los Angeles, CA, 90048
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