The Procedure - ReLume
There are limited alternatives to ReLume therapy for mature scars and stretch marks. Such areas have reduced pigment (hypopigmentation) and can be caused by a prior plastic surgery procedure, infection, hormonal changes, trauma and stretch marks. To camouflage the hypopigmentation, people have used make-up or even attempted full-body tanning. These procedures do not always solve the problem. Make-up is impractical for non-facial hypopigmentation and tanning often makes scars moreprominent. Other available treatments such as tattooing, surgical excisions and skin grafting can be highly invasive.
ReLume combines the benefits of safe and effective UV phototherapy with the latest advances in targeted light technology to achieve repigmentation of hypopigmented skin. ReLume delivers the proper doses of the therapeutic light to the areas selected, minimizing the effect on the surrounding skin. ReLume light is absorbed by the skin’s epidermis (top layer) and the melanocytes (pigment producing cells) are activated at the treatment area. The activated melanocytes transfer melanin pigment to neighboring epidermal cells thus leading to repigmentation in the treated area.
Click here to contact Dr. Kulick's office for a ReLume consultation.
The ReLume Treatment
Depending upon the number and size of the areas being treated, the treatments are generally fast and a typical ReLume treatment requires between 15 and 30 minutes. A mild pinkness usually forms at the treatment area within several hours after treatment and disappears within a few days. The patient should experience no “down-time” and can resume normal activities immediately after the treatment. The treatments are appropriate for all areas of the body and all skin types and the number of treatments is determined by the difference in color in the scar or stretchmark and the adjacent normal skin. Thus, it is better to not have a tan when undergoing such therapy. In general, repigmentation is achieved after a series of treatment sessions. Prolonged improvement is maintained through occasional touch up treatments.
Click here to contact Dr. Kulick's San Francisco office for a ReLume consultation.
