Are you embarrassed by areas of dark pigment on your face? Have you tried various cover-ups and other over-the-counter remedies that have failed to help? Then you may have a condition known as melasma or “the mask of pregnancy.”

Melasma is a dark skin discoloration that appears on sun-exposed areas of the face. Melasma doesn’t cause any other symptoms but can be a significant cosmetic concern. It is usually a symmetrical pattern on the forehead, cheeks and/or upper lip.

Melasma is often associated with female hormones and thus is especially common in pregnant women and women on oral birth control or taking hormone replacement medications. It is more common in women with darker skin tones, and sun exposure is also a strong component in the occurrence of melasma.

Experts believe that female hormones cause the melanocytes (pigment cells) to be more sensitive to sunlight and thus overreact when exposed to it. Women with darker skin tones have more abundant melanocytes resulting in increased susceptibility to developing melasma.

Bair Medical Spa’s melasma treatment can help. Although there is no cure for melasma, the melasma treatment at Bair Medical Spa addresses the condition at the cellular level and can reduce the intensity of the pigmentation and suppress its reoccurrence.

Bair Medical Spa’s melasma treatment consists of two components:

• The Obagi Nu-Derm^® System
• The FotoFacial RF Pro^® Treatment

Obagi Nu-Derm^® System

Formulated by Beverly Hills dermatologist Dr. Obagi, the Obagi Nu-Derm^® System is the physician-dispensed, prescription strength skincare system that can actually transform your skin at the cellular level.

How will the Obagi Nu-Derm^® System help treat my melasma?

Specifically, melanocytes produce pigment (melanin) through the action of the enzyme tryosinase in response to light exposure. The Obagi Nu-Derm^® System contains several components including hydroquinone and tretinoin that block the activity of tyrosinase, resulting in suppression in the production of melanin.

How do I use the Obagi Nu-Derm^® System?

The products in the Obagi Nu-Derm^® System are designed to be a daily skincare regimen with a specific dosage and frequency that will maximize your results. They are formulated to enhance the penetration of active ingredients and exfoliate to brighten the skin and protect it from further damage. As part of Bair Medical Spa’s melasma treatment, you will receive specific counseling from our clinical specialists who will instruct you on the proper use of the Obagi Nu-Derm^® System. This counseling will be customized for your skin type and condition.

Do I have to use the Obagi Nu-Derm^® System?

The Obagi Nu-Derm^® System is an integral part of Bair Medical Spa’s melasma treatment.

The use of the Obagi Nu-Derm^® System is an absolute necessity prior to the FotoFacial RF Pro^® treatments to prevent stimulation of the melanocytes and after the completion of the FotoFacial RF Pro^® treatments to suppress reoccurrence of the melasma hyperpigmentation.

FotoFacial RF Pro^® Treatment

FotoFacial RF Pro^® is a treatment that marries Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) with Radiofrequency (RF) energy into one treatment. FotoFacial RF Pro^® treatments offer the very latest and most high-tech, non-invasive form of skin enhancement and elimination of hyperpigmentation. Many other lasers and devices such as basic IPL systems claim to deliver state-of-the-art photorejuvenation. With these basic IPL photorejuvenation procedures, you may notice initial improvement in pigment, but often pigment quickly returns.

How does the FotoFacial RF Pro^® treatment work to improve the appearance of hyperpigmentation from melasma?

Each pulse of the FotoFacial RF device sends two types of energy into your skin – Intense Pulsed Light and RadioFrequency energy – that act synergistically to eliminate the targeted pigment. These combined energies are attracted to the hyperpigmentation at the cellular level to gently eradicate the melanin. Basic IPL photorejuvenation systems that rely solely on light energy might actually stimulate further melanin production.

How is the FotoFacial RF Pro^® treatment performed?

The FotoFacial RF Pro^® procedure is a simple, office-based treatment. The client’s skin is covered with a thin layer of cooling gel and the entire face is treated with gentle pulses of light and RadioFrequency energy. Each treatment takes less than one hour and involves pulses of bright visible light and RadioFrequency energy that are passed into the skin. Because each FotoFacial RF Pro^® treatment is gentle, most clients require five or six FotoFacial RF Pro^® sessions to see the desired results. Treatments are performed every three weeks and to ensure the client’s comfort, a topical numbing cream is usually applied before each treatment.

Prices:

Bair Medical Spa’s Melasma Treatment consists of two components – the Obagi Nu-Derm^® System and the FotoFacial RF Pro^® Treatment:

Obagi Nu-Derm^® System Travel Set: $220.00

FotoFacial RF Pro^® Treatment

• 1 Package (5 treatments): $1,700 ($340 per treatment)
• 1 Treatment: $425
• 1 Maintenance Treatment (after you’ve purchased 5 treatments): $340
• 1 Maintenance Treatment Package (6 treatments): $1,275 ($255 per treatment)

Additional Discounts

• Purchase 1 FotoFacial treatment with 1 FotoFacial treatment for another area or 1 Matrix, ReFirme^™, Permanent Laser Hair Reduction, LipoSmooth^™, VelaShape^™, or VelaFirme^™ treatment to receive 20% off the prices of all treatments.
• Purchase 5 FotoFacial treatments with 1 FotoFacial treatment for another area or 1 triniti^™, Matrix, ReFirme^™, Permanent Laser Hair Reduction, LipoSmooth^™, VelaShape^™, or VelaFirme^™ treatment to receive 40% off the prices of all treatments.

Additional Discounts for Maintenance Treatments (After You’ve Purchased 5 FotoFacial^® Treatments)

• Purchase 1 FotoFacial maintenance treatment with 1 FotoFacial treatment for another area or 1 Matrix, ReFirme^™, Permanent Laser Hair Reduction, LipoSmooth^™, VelaShape^™, or VelaFirme^™ treatment to receive 40% off the prices of all treatments.
• Purchase 5 FotoFacial maintenance treatments with 1 FotoFacial treatment for another area or 1 triniti^™, Matrix, ReFirme^™, Permanent Laser Hair Reduction, LipoSmooth^™, VelaShape^™, or VelaFirme^™ treatment to receive 60% off the prices of all treatments.

• FotoFacial RF Pro® Treatment
• Matrix RF™ Fractional Skin Resurfacing Treatment
• VelaShape™ Treatment
• Permanent Laser Vein Reduction Treatment
• Melasma Treatment
• triniti™ Skin Series Treatment
• ReFirme™ Skin Tightening Treatment
• SmartSkin™ CO2 LaserSkinRenewal™ Treatment
• SmartLipo™ Laser Facelift
• VelaFirme™ Treatment for Neck