Targeted Skin Whitening Treatment

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• Targeted Skin Whitening

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Skin whitening 

• Most of the patients coming for skin whitening
  prefer targeted skin whitening on the patchy
  hyperpigmented areas commonly face, neck, hands,
  feet and knuckles. Targeted skin whitening is
  done through a combination of treatments that
  encompass Lasers, Peels, Mesotherapy and
  inhibition of tyrosinase.

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LASER SKIN LIGHTENING

• A laser can also be used to lighten blemishes or
  dark patches of skin especially on face, neck,
  hands, feet and knuckles. This works by either
  removing the outer layer of skin or damaging the
  cells that produce melanin.
• Laser skin whitening may work for some people,
  while for others it may not have any effect, or
  the skin lightening may only be temporary.

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TRANSFER OF MELANOSOMES

• Within the skin, melanocytes are existing in the
  basal layer of the epidermis from these
  melanocytes originate dendrites that reach
  keratinocytes. 
• Melanosomes along with the melanin they hold, are
  transferred from melanocytes to keratinocytes
  when keratinocytes are low in the epidermis.
  Keratinocytes carry the melanosomes with them as
  they move towards the surface. Keratinocytes
  contribute to skin pigmentation by holding the
  melanin originated in melanocytes and inducing
  melanogenesis through chemical signals directed
  at melanocytes. The transfer of melanosomes to
  keratinocytes is a necessary condition for the
  visible pigmentation of the skin. Blocking this
  transfer is a mechanism of action of some skin
  whitening agents. 
• The protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR2) is a
  transmembrane and G-protein coupled receptor
  expressed in keratinocytes and involved in
  melanocyte transfer Antagonists of PAR2 inhibit
  the transfer of melanosomes and have skin
  whitening affects, while agonists of PAR2 have
  the opposite effect.

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INHIBITION OF TYROSINASE 

• Up regulation of tyrosinase caused by tyrosinase
  inhibitors. Numerous skin whitening agents,
  including tyrosinase inhibitors, have been found
  to cause an increase in the expression of
  tyrosinase, which by itself would increase
  melanin synthesis. 
• Microphthalmia-associated transcription factor
  (MITF) is the master transcription factor that
  controls the expression of TYR, TRP1 and TRP2,
  MART1, PMEL17, and many other important proteins
  involved in the function of melanocytes. Down
  regulation of MITF declines melanogenesis and is
  a mechanism of action of some skin whitening
  agents. Numerous signaling pathways and genetic
  mutations impact the expression of MITF. 

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DESTROYING MELANOCYTES

• Some compounds are known to destroy melanocytes
  this mechanism of action is often used to remove
  the remaining pigmentation in cases of Vitiligo.

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WHAT TO DO IF YOU HAVE PROBLEMS

• Cosmetic procedures can sometimes go wrong and
  the results may not be what you expected.
• If you have laser skin lightening and are not
  happy with the results, or think the procedure
  was not done properly, you should take up the
  matter with the hospital or clinic where you were
  treated. It is best that you go back to the
  practitioner who treated you if you have any
  complications.