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info@scarsandlasers.co.nz
15 Green Lane East, Remuera, Auckland, New Zealand
Monday - Friday: 7:45 am - 5:00 pm
Hypopigmentation refers to lighter patches of skin that arise when pigment cells (melanocytes) produce less melanin than normal or are absent altogether. It can occur in any skin type and may affect small areas (such as a scar) or more extensive regions depending on the underlying trigger.
Common causes include:
Hypopigmentation is generally harmless but can be cosmetically distressing, especially in visible areas such as the face, neck, arms, or legs. The key to effective treatment is identifying whether pigment cells are stunned, depleted, or absent.
At Scars & Lasers, our dermatologists and laser specialists use a combination of clinical examination, dermoscopy, and advanced imaging to determine how deep and extensive the pigment loss is. Treatment may include:
Our goal is always to improve skin colour balance while protecting the surrounding skin and avoiding further injury.
Hypopigmentation occurs when melanocytes—the pigment-producing cells in the skin—slow down, become damaged, or disappear. Melanocytes create melanin within melanosomes and transfer this pigment to surrounding skin cells. When this process is disrupted, the affected areas appear lighter.
Treatments aim to stimulate remaining melanocytes, encourage pigment cell migration from nearby skin or hair follicles, improve skin turnover, and repair inflammation or scarring barriers. This allows melanin production to restart and colour to gradually return.
(Available on Excel V and Excel V Plus)
Best for
Mild cases or isolated vessels.
How It Works
The long-pulse Nd:YAG laser emits energy at a wavelength absorbed by haemoglobin in blood vessels. This heat causes the targeted vessels to collapse, effectively treating both surface red veins and deeper blue veins.
Results
Treated vessels may disappear immediately or gradually fade over several weeks.
(Candela VBeam Perfecta, Excel V, Excel V Plus, Sciton BBL)
Best for
Stimulating collagen and vascular remodelling to reduce persistent skin redness.
How It Works
Often recommended in combination with vascular laser or BBL treatments to enhance skin healing, texture, and redness reduction.
(Candela VBeam Perfecta, Excel V, Excel V Plus, Sciton BBL)
Best for
More severe cases or large areas of visible facial veins and redness, particularly in rosacea.
How It Works
This approach layers multiple vascular-targeting technologies in one session, including:
Results
Effectively reduces visible veins, diffuse redness, and facial flushing commonly seen in rosacea.
At Scars & Lasers, we treat hypopigmentation by using fractional lasers that gently resurface the skin, stimulate pigment recovery, and open micro-channels for laser-assisted drug delivery. This combined approach helps encourage melanocytes to reactivate and improves overall colour blending in pale or scarred areas.
A cold fractional laser that precisely targets the upper skin layers. It helps soften pale scars, stimulate pigment return, and is ideal for assisted drug delivery to improve repigmentation.
Combines ablative CO₂ and non-ablative 1570 nm technology in the same treatment. This dual approach helps remodel scar tissue and create optimal conditions for repigmentation and topical penetration.
A non-ablative fractional laser (1550 & 1927 nm) used to improve skin texture and support gradual melanin redistribution. It can be paired with drug delivery to enhance pigment recovery.
Using ultra-short picosecond pulses, this device creates microscopic laser-induced optical breakdown (LIOB) in the epidermis and dermis. These micro-cavities stimulate cellular repair, promote melanocyte activation, and enhance delivery of topical agents. Ideal for texture improvement and repigmentation support in selected cases of hypopigmentation.
Laser-Assisted Drug Delivery (LADD)
All three devices can be used with LADD, where specialised topicals are applied immediately after fractional treatment. The micro-channels created by the laser improve absorption and help support melanocyte function, particularly in post-inflammatory hypopigmentation.
Yes—but unlike hyperpigmentation, the goal is not to “remove” pigment but to stimulate the skin to naturally repigment. Fractional lasers such as UltraClear, Alma Hybrid, Fraxel Restore Dual and picosecond lasers gently remodel the skin, encourage pigment cell recovery, and prepare the area for enhanced topical absorption.
LADD uses the micro-channels created by fractional laser treatment to deliver specialised topical solutions deeper into the skin. These solutions support melanocyte activity, reduce inflammation, and assist the repigmentation process. This combination of laser + targeted topicals is often more effective than either treatment alone.
Repigmentation is gradual. Most patients require a series of treatments, typically spaced 4–8 weeks apart. The exact number depends on the cause of hypopigmentation, whether melanocytes are stunned or absent, and the presence of scar tissue. Your clinician will outline a personalised plan during your consultation.
Some patients achieve excellent improvement, while others see partial but meaningful repigmentation. Outcomes depend on how deeply the pigment cells were affected and whether scarring is present. Our focus is to blend colour differences, improve texture, and create the best possible cosmetic outcome using a combination of laser therapy and LADD.
Not always. Many cases caused by inflammation or minor injury can repigment over time. Hypopigmentation related to deeper scarring, burns, or melanocyte loss can be more resistant, and treatment aims to blend colour differences rather than guarantee full restoration.
A dermatologist can assess this using clinical examination and tools like dermoscopy or imaging.
Yes, when performed by specialist dermatologists using conservative, pigment-safe settings. Hypopigmentation behaves differently in darker skin, so device selection and laser energy must be carefully tailored to avoid further pigment disruption.
No. Sun exposure can worsen surrounding contrast and increase the risk of hyperpigmentation around the lighter patch. Strict sun protection is essential throughout treatment.
ACC funding eligibility is determined by the Accident Compensation Corporation on a case-by-case basis. Approval is dependent on injury acceptance, clinical indication, and ACC policy at the time of application. Not all treatments offered at Scars & Lasers are ACC-funded. Private fees may apply for unfunded components of care.
