CosBeauty Magazine #81

Event
Spotlight on
pigmentation
Pigmentation was the focus of more than 138
attendees at the recent australian society
of dermal clinicians’ (ASDC) conference in
melbourne. words by Chrys Antoniou.
The 7th ASDC Annual
conference at the Rydges,
Melbourne ran over two
days - Sunday’s full day Plenary
programme and Monday’s workshops
- with a range of speakers including
dermatologists, dermal clinicians,
cosmetic physicians, a pharmacist
and an international speaker with
a background in phototherapy.
Dermatologist Dr Michelle Rodrigues
kicked off with a presentation of
pigmentation in darker skin tones.
She gave a timely reminder that due
to Australia’s multicultural society,
patients need to be treated based on
their phototypes.
Melasma is a common skin disorder
and, while lighter skin types tend to
line as they age, darker skins often
present with pigmentation - but with
smoother, less lined skin.
Melasma is the most difficult
pigment to treat. Considerations
include where the pigment lies, its
uniformity (unilateral is uncommon
for melasma), and if the pigment is
on the face or elsewhere (melasma is
face only). Other factors to consider
when treating pigmentation include
the patient’s occupation, where they
sit (is it close to a window?) and other
indicators - for example, how often
they reapply sunscreen.
Co-existing conditions like solar
elastosis, indicative of sun damage
beneath the skin, are also important
to consider, as there is an increase in
inflammatory mediators with basal
keratinocytes having an altered
nucleic form. There is also an increase
in vessel density and vessel size.
This point was articulated by many
speakers, so it is important to factor
angiogenesis and the increase in
VEGF when treating pigmentation.
Across the board, treating post
inflammatory hyperpigmentation
(PIH) was an underlying theme for
many presenters.
Dr Gavin Chan spoke about
treating melasma with lasers and
discussed selective photothermolysis
treatment. Professor Glen
Calderhead, the international
speaker, flew in from Korea to discuss
pigmented lesions and how to treat
them. Interesting observations
included: irrespective of skin colour
the melanocytes to keratinocytes
are in a ratio of 1:40; and subcellular
photothermolysis doesn’t kill
the dendrites, which means no
destruction of the cells. and thus no
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