Pico laser at 2-week intervals,

If you get it sooner

why the effect is cut in half

I'll start with the conclusion.

A 2-week interval for pico laser

is not "skin recovery time,"

it's waiting for "melanin elimination time."

I'll explain why in this article.

Here's what's actually different

Pico laser works in picoseconds (trillionths of a second)

it fires laser to break pigment into tiny pieces.

Unlike conventional Q-switched lasers, pico laser,

breaks down melanin with "shock waves" instead of heat damage.

So even the same pigment is shattered much more finely,

and damage to surrounding tissue is much lower.

Why do some people see less effect?

Key point of this article

The reason the pico laser treatment interval is 2 weeks,

what happens to the skin after a strong laser treatment

is explained by the doctor.

One important thing here.

After melanin is broken down by a strong laser,

it doesn't disappear right away.

The broken melanin fragments are engulfed by macrophages,

then slowly eliminated through the lymphatic system.

This process usually takes 10 to 14 days.

That's where the 2-week number comes from.

A client who came in last month

had four treatments at one-week intervals,

and the pigment had actually become darker.

Melanin that hadn't yet been eliminated from the skin

had kept accumulating.

In cases like this, it's better to take 2 to 3 weeks off

and then start again.

If you hit it again before the broken pigment is eliminated,

inflammation accumulates and the risk of PIH (post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation) increases.

Dr. Wi Young-jin's key summary

A 2-week interval for pico laser

is not the time for the skin to "heal,"

but the time for broken pigment to leave the body.

Ignore this cycle and the effect decreases,

while the risk of pigmentation increases.

Recommended treatment intervals by pigment type

Longer intervals make the overall treatment period longer,

but compared with getting them too close together and struggling with pigmentation,

it's much better to take the longer route.

Three questions we hear most often in the clinic

Q1. I want to get another one after just a week

Is that not possible?

We don't recommend it.

Especially if you have melasma or redness.

Low-intensity toning can be done at one-week intervals,

but that too should be decided based on the skin condition.

Q2. If it's a 5-session melasma course, how long does it take in total?

Since melasma is treated every 3–4 weeks,

it usually takes about 4–5 months.

For maintenance, once or twice

over 6 months to a year is recommended.

Q3. Can I

forcibly peel off the scab after treatment?

If you pick it off forcefully, pigmentation can remain

and it may become darker than before.

If you're unsure about the treatment interval,

please send a skin photo on KakaoTalk.

This has been Wi Young-jin.

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