"Does one round of blemish laser make them all go away?"
"I've heard they come back even after removal — why is that?"
These are the questions people bothered by blemishes that seem to have increased every time they look in the mirror often ask.
Hello.I'm Kwon Si-jin, the director preparing to open in Myeongdong ^^
We're getting ready to open our doors in Myeongdong soon, and since so many people have been worried about blemishes ahead of our opening, we wanted to put together this overview for your information first.
The blemishes that seem to increase a little each year — we completely understand that frustration.
But removing them blindly without knowing the type can leave even more pigment behind.'Blemishes' aren't one thing; several kinds are mixed together. Let me lay out what you should know going in.
'Blemishes' Are Actually Not a Single Thing
We commonly lump them together as blemishes, but inside that, pigments with different causes and depths — like freckles, solar lentigines, small moles, and pigmentation — are often mixed in.
Let me clear up the biggest misconception first.
Blemishes are basically a state where melanin pigment has settled deeply in patches.
Depending on the kind, the pigment can sit in the shallow epidermis, or extend into deeper layers.
So rather than lumping it under the single word "blemish laser," distinguishing first what pigments are mixed in turns out to come first.
The Reason It Doesn't Clear in One Go Is That the Depth Differs
Many people come in expecting "one round of laser and it's done."
But while shallow-lying blemishes lighten relatively quickly, pigment extending into deeper layers doesn't all break down in one go.
Laser is a method that finely shatters the pigment so the body naturally expels it, so the deeper the pigment, the more it goes in a flow of lightening gradually over several sessions.
So it's not that there's no effect if the change is small after one round — it's more accurate to see it as the speed differing by depth. (how much you feel it differs from person to person)
The Real Reason It Comes Back Even After Removal
Many people also feel that they tidied things up well, but over time it seems to have come back.
The biggest cause is UV light.
Melanin is a pigment made to protect the skin from UV light, so with frequent UV exposure it easily darkens again or new blemishes form.
So even after lightening them with laser, if you don't keep up UV protection consistently, the effect you worked for can fade quickly.
In the end, blemishes are closer to an area of 'lighten them and then maintain' rather than 'remove once and done.'
Recklessly High Power Isn't the Answer
Out of a wish to remove them fast, people sometimes ask whether they can just do it strongly in one go.
But giving excessive energy relative to the pigment can actually cause a reaction where the pigment darkens further from the stimulation (post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation).
Korean skin tones in particular tend to develop this reaction relatively easily, so 'at an appropriate intensity, divided up' is often safer than 'strong.'
So rather than a reckless single strong hit, a design that matches the intensity and interval while watching the pigment type and the skin's response matters.
Pigment devices divide into families
Pigment lasers aren't one thing either. They divide in character by how short a time the energy goes in over and at what wavelength, and the pigment they suit changes with it.
- Picosecond familydelivers over an extremely short time to break pigment into fine particles. Because heat has less time to spread, it's spoken of as lowering the risk of pigment rebounding after treatment
- Q-switched familylong used for toning, building up across multiple low-output passes
- Combined-wavelength familycomes up where pigment and vessels are considered together
Wavelength differs in character too.Shorter wavelengths are described as reaching surface pigment, longer ones as reaching deeper.
At our Myeongdong clinic we have PicoSure Pro and PicoPlus on the pico side, Hollywood Spectra for toning, and Clarity II and V-Laser where pigment and vessels are considered together.
It isn't about showing off a device count. You can only say "this method doesn't suit this pigment" if there are alternatives. With one device, whatever pigment walks in converges on that one device.
People Who Should Take an Extra Moment to Consider
Blemish laser isn't lightly recommended for every situation.
For skin freshly tanned by the sun, if you're taking photosensitizing medication, or if there's inflammation at the treatment site, it's safer to postpone the timing and consult first.
Also, pigment that looks like a blemish but changes in shape, color, or size, or has an irregular border, needs a diagnosis to tell what kind of lesion it is before removal.
Because even blemishes that look the same on the surface need a different approach if the cause differs.
How the days after the treatment run
- The day itselftemporary redness or warmth is possible, generally settling within the day
- 2 to 3 daysfine flaking may appear. Described as the skin sorting itself out
- 1 to 2 weeksthe pigment looks briefly darker, then fades
The most common mistake here is picking at the flaking.Forcing it off makes a mark likely.
And missing sun protection in this period can bring pigment back to a site you worked hard to lighten.These few weeks sometimes shape the result more than the treatment did.
That said, if redness runs severe beyond three days, if blisters form, or if pain steadily worsens, don't wait — contact where you had the treatment.
- The number of sessions varies with depth
- We tell apart the type and the depth
- It is kept up with sun protection
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. About how many sessions does it take for blemishes to lighten?
A. The number of sessions needed varies with the type of blemish and the pigment depth.Pigment sitting in the shallow epidermis tends to lighten with relatively few sessions, but pigment extending into deeper dermal layers has to be approached in stages over several sessions.Rather than trying to finish it strongly in one go, matching the intensity and interval while watching the pigment's response is the path to reducing side effects like hyperpigmentation. So rather than nailing down the number of sessions at the start, we often adjust it together while watching the progress. It's good to keep in mind that the degree and speed of lightening have individual variation.
Q. If I remove them with laser, will they never come back?
A. It's hard to say that once you've tidied up blemishes they won't form again. Because melanin keeps being affected by UV light, hormones, and aging, with frequent UV exposure or lax care it can darken again or new blemishes can come up. So after lightening them with laser, maintenance that keeps up consistent UV protection matters. It'll put your mind at ease to see it as closer to an approach of 'managing the lightened state' rather than 'remove once and done.' The degree of maintenance has individual variation depending on lifestyle habits and constitution.
Q. Is there anything in particular to mind after the treatment?
A. After blemish laser, UV protection is the most important thing.If skin stimulated by the treatment gets frequent UV exposure, it can lead to hyperpigmentation, so it's best to apply sunscreen thoroughly and add physical blocking like a hat or parasol together. Also, a scab or fine redness can form at the treatment site, but rather than forcing it off, letting it fall away naturally reduces the scarring burden. Refrain for a few days from heat-raising activities right after the treatment like saunas and intense exercise, and paying attention to moisturizing helps recovery.
Q. Can I tell what type of pigment I have?
A. It's hard to separate by eye alone. Whether the border is sharp or diffuse, and whether it shifts with sun, are hints — but whether it sits in the epidermis or runs into the dermis needs assessment. We start by dividing it by depth with Eve-V's pigment mode.
Q. Can several types be treated together?
A. Where the depth and nature differ, the intensity and method have to be set separately.Running them all on one setting puts strain on one of them.
Q. How many days is it noticeable afterwards?
A. It depends on the method.Where a thin scab forms, one to two weeks is the usual guidance; approaches like toning that build across sessions barely show.Choosing the method around your schedule is also an option.
Start by sorting type and depth
It's long, but the conclusion is simple.
Blemishes aren't 'all at once in one sweep'; they're an area where you distinguish the type and depth, lighten them in stages, and manage them against UV light.
That first curiosity of yours — I hope you've found its answer here.
If blemishes that seem to increase each year have frustrated you, it's good to start by looking at what pigments are mixed in. Please also keep in mind together that the speed of lightening and the maintenance have individual variation.
DA Clinic Myeongdong is set to open soon.We'll share news of our opening and treatment information first on our blog and Instagram ^^
Thank you for staying with me to the end.This was Director Kwon Si-jin at DA Clinic Myeongdong.
This column is an informational article meant to provide general medical information, and the effects and side effects of treatments may vary by individual. DA Clinic Myeongdong is set to open soon. (Medical Service Act Art. 56)