Melasma Treatments in Winnipeg

Our I.P.L. treatment, also known as Photofacial, is an advanced laser treatment that helps clear undesirable pigmentation and vessels from your skin quickly, easily, and with minimal downtime.

LEARN ABOUT PHOTOFACIALS

Our wrinkles and pigmentation treatment, also known as  ThreeForMe, laser treatment is the proven way to get rid of fine lines, wrinkles, age spots, sun damage and unsightly veins, all at the same time.

LEARN ABOUT THREE FOR ME

A microneedling treatment boosts collagen production and strengthens the skin’s elastin.

Needles displace the skin during the process, creating a micro-wound that seals within minutes of treatment. The surface of the skin is renewed and the texture, tone, and pigment of the skin are significantly improved.

LEARN ABOUT MICRONEEDLING

Before: First, you will receive a thorough skin consultation with an experienced laser and skin technician to determine the perfect laser type and level of energy to use. Next, you will lie back comfortably while your skin is cleansed. During the treatment, you will wear protective eye goggles to shield your eyes from the laser light. 

During: The laser will be applied to the affected areas of the skin, targeting the melanin in the skin cells that cause melasma. Laser therapy is safe and well-tolerated. The treatment may feel like a warm or hot sensation, or may be virtually painless. It is quick and only lasts for a few, short minutes.

After: Once the treatment is complete, you may experience redness, swelling, or mild discomfort, but this usually resolves within 2-48 hours. 

It is important to use sunscreen every day to maintain your improving results, regardless of the season. Our clients experience significant improvement in the appearance of their skin with each passing laser treatment (we recommend starting with 3). 

You can continue enjoying your clear skin by protecting it from the sun, using skincare products recommended by your laser technician, and keeping your skin healthy with facials. Some of our clients come in for an occasional touch-up laser session to maintain their results after a particularly sunny summer. 

Once your laser or microneedling treatment plan is completed, you can also help maintain your results with the following facials:

• Oxygeno super facial or BB Glow needle-free mesotherapy for regular facials for skin predisposed to hyperpigmentation or melasma.
• Chemical peels
• Microneedling

Laser remains your best option for targeting any new melasma or pronounced hyperpigmentation.

What skincare products should I use?

Key melanin suppressant ingredients to look for in skincare:

• Kojic Acid (from a type of mushroom)
• Vitamin C
• Retinoids 
• Glycolic Acid (contained in Vivier’s Exfoliant Forte cream)
• Azelaic Acid
• Ferulic Acid (contained in Image MD Restoring Power-C Serum)
• Alpha Arbutin (contained in Vivier’s Radiance Serum)

Depending on the severity of your hyperpigmentation, you may need 3-5 treatments to fully remove or fade it significantly. Each treatment is spaced about 4-6 weeks apart to allow a full skin cycle to produce fresh, less marked skin cells. 

The gradual improvement in acne scar reduction is closely tied to the natural cycle of your skin and how your treatments interact with it.

Your skin naturally goes through a constant cycle of renewal. Old skin cells are shed, and new ones come to the surface. This cycle takes around 4 to 6 weeks.

When you receive treatments such as laser therapy or microneedling, they stimulate a new cycle as well as your skin’s natural healing processes. This includes the production of collagen, which is a protein that helps your skin become smoother.

A complete, monthly skin rejuvenation: A bonus effect of receiving hyperpigmentation treatments for a few months is that they do more than just reduce your scars. Laser and microneedling have the added benefit of smoothing out the appearance of large pores, making your overall skin tone more even, and fighting premature signs of aging such as fine lines and sun damage.

Sun Exposure: Ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun can stimulate melanocyte cells to produce more melanin. Over time, this can lead to freckles, age spots, and other forms of hyperpigmentation.

Skin Inflammation: Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) occurs as a response to skin injury or inflammation. Common triggers include:

• Acne lesions
• Wounds

Aging: As the skin ages, it can develop age spots, also known as liver spots or solar lentigines. These are often a result of accumulated sun exposure over the years.

Genetics: Some people are genetically predisposed to develop certain types of hyperpigmentation, such as freckles.

Chemical Exposure, medications, skin irritations, and medical conditions can also cause hyperpigmentation.

Hormonal Changes: Melasma or chloasma spots are similar in appearance to age spots but are larger areas of darkened skin that often occur as a result of hormonal changes, such as pregnancy or the use of oral contraceptives. 

Chemical peels for hyperpigmentation can be remarkably effective, especially for lighter-coloured pigmented spots or more superficial discolorations.

However, they demonstrate their utmost efficacy when combined with laser or microneedling treatments for more pronounced discolorations.

Chemical peels act as a potent enhancer, amplifying the results of these advanced treatments by further boosting collagen production and skin renewal.

Their benefits aren’t confined to just treating discoloration! If your skin is prone to acne, chemical peels are an optimal choice for your routine professional facials.

Owing to their capability to exfoliate and refine the skin texture, they help manage uneven skin tone and sustain a clear, luminous complexion.

Whether used independently or in synergy with more rigorous hyperpigmentation treatments, chemical peels are integral in your path to achieving even-toned, radiant skin.

Microneedling, also known as collagen induction therapy, is a minimally invasive procedure that involves the use of a device equipped with fine needles. These needles create controlled micro-injuries in the skin, which prompts the body’s natural wound healing process. Here’s how microneedling can help with hyperpigmentation:

1. Collagen and Elastin Production: The skin’s healing response from the micro-injuries stimulates the production of collagen and elastin, the essential proteins responsible for skin’s elasticity and firmness. This leads to a more even skin tone and reduces the appearance of hyperpigmentation.

2. Cell Turnover: The controlled injury encourages the skin to regenerate, promoting faster cell turnover. This helps in pushing the melanin-infused skin cells to the surface faster, which can then be exfoliated away, reducing the appearance of pigmented spots.

3. Improved Product Absorption: Post-microneedling, the skin can absorb skincare products more efficiently. This means that brightening serums or creams designed to combat hyperpigmentation can penetrate deeper into the skin, amplifying their effects.

4. Breaking Down Pigment: The process can also help break up pigment particles, dispersing hyperpigmentation and promoting a more even distribution of melanin.

Proper aftercare, including protection from the sun, ensures the best results and helps minimize further hyperpigmentation.

Results of At-Home Extractions

If you are not a trained skin technician, at-home extractions can intensify or cause dark-spot acne scars , also known as post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH). Popping without proper prepping triggers skin inflammation, a major factor in PIH development, particularly in darker skin tones.

Extracting without the right preparation and aftercare can push bacteria deeper or spread it, elevating PIH risk through increased inflammation. Pimples popped at home can also heal more slowly, prolonging inflammation and intensifying PIH. The inflammation can prompt melanocytes to produce extra melanin, resulting in darkened skin spots and a higher risk of lasting scars.

How Professional Extractions Minimize Risks

When extractions are performed by trained skin technicians during a facial, several measures are taken to mitigate the risks associated with popping pimples and to ensure the process is as safe and beneficial as possible:

• Preparation: The skin is usually prepped using a gentle steam treatment or warm towels. This softens the skin and opens up the pores, making extractions easier and reducing the potential for skin trauma.
• Sterilization: skin technicians use sterilized tools and ensure their hands are clean and often gloved. This reduces the risk of introducing new bacteria into the skin.
• Technique: Professionals use specialized extraction techniques that minimize trauma to the surrounding skin. They’re trained to recognize which blemishes can be safely extracted and which should be left alone.
• Aftercare: Post-extraction, soothing and antibacterial products are applied to calm the skin and minimize the risk of infection. This step also aids in reducing inflammation, which can lead to PIH.
• Guidance: If a blemish is deemed too risky to extract (because it’s too deep, for example), the skin technician  will typically advise against extracting it and might provide advice on alternative treatments.
• Experience: Skin technicians have seen a variety of skin types and conditions. Their experience enables them to gauge the level of pressure to apply and to determine the best extraction methods for each individual.
• Tailored Treatments: Often, facials are tailored to the client’s specific skin type and concerns. A skin technician  can choose products and treatments that not only aid in the extraction process but also help in the healing and prevention of future breakouts.

You can begin treating your acne scars with laser treatments or microneedling once your open blemishes or active lesions have healed. Having an occasional pimple or a couple of outlying pimples that can be avoided during the scar treatment will not necessarily prevent you from beginning the scar treatment process. 

Our expert skin technicians will thoroughly study your skin during the pre-treatment consultation and give you information based on your unique skin. They will also recommend appropriate active acne facial treatments and acne skincare products to help manage your current acne. By addressing active acne effectively, we also minimize future scar removal.