Pigment

Pigment is, basically, the agent which defines the colour of an individual’s skin or hair.  It is largely determined by the presence of Melanin, and a combination of the individual’s genetics. 

There are a range of skin pigment disorders, including:

• Albinism.  A rare genetic disorder in which an individual has partial or complete lack of melanin in the skin, resulting in white hair, skin and pink eyes: sometimes there are associated vision problems.  There is no cure for albinism.
• Melasma.  Brown patches of pigment in the facial skin.  Avoiding UV light can prevent a worsening of the symptoms, and some creams may help lighten the skin.
• Post-traumatic pigment loss.  Sometimes after skin damage, the affected area doesn’t completely replace the lost pigment.  There is no specific treatment.
• Vitiligo.  The appearance of pale patches in the skin as melanocytes are lost, resulting in potentially very harmful sensitivity to sunlight.  There is no cure, although various treatments exist to alleviate the symptoms and improve the aesthetic damage caused by the condition, including the use of dyes, light therapy and topical creams and cosmetics. 

If you suffer from any of the above conditions, you need to consult a medical practitioner for practical advice and referral to a suitable specialist.  It is most likely, that laser hair removal will not be an option for you.

Laser hair removal machines are attracted to the pigment in your hair and use this to destroy the hair follicles.