ABSTRACT
Hyperpigmentation of the skin is caused by a variety of endogenous and exogenous skin conditions and injuries. The leading causes of hyperpigmentation of the skin include melasma, photoaging, nevus of ota, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH), and other inflammatory conditions of the skin. The degree of pigment deposition varies in each of these conditions. It is important to divide pigmented lesions into epidermal and dermal lesions, as different treatment strategies are employed based on the depth of the pigmentation. The treatment of hyperpigmentation of the skin includes hydroquinone, chemical peels, cryotherapy, and laser therapy. This chapter focuses on treatment of hyperpigmentation with laser therapy. The target chromophore of these lasers in the treatment of melasma is melanin. Q-switched alexandrite lasers (QSAL) and Q-switched ruby lasers (QSRL) have been used in the treatment of melasma with variable success rates. Laser therapy is an effective treatment modality for solar lentigines with improvement typically noted after one treatment.
