Brown spots are among the most common signs of cumulative sun exposure and skin ageing. While laser treatment has been used for removal of pigmented spots for many years, some pigmentation, in particular solar lentigines (sun or age spots) can be surprisingly resistant to topical treatments and repeated “brightening” procedures.

REEPOT is a 532 nm Q-switched Nd: YAG laser system used for selected superficial pigmented lesions, including solar lentigines. It incorporates the VSLS approach and contact-cooling features intended to improve targeting and protect surrounding skin.

Examples of solar lentigines: flat, well-defined brown patches commonly occurring on sun-exposed areas such as the face, hands and forearms.

What is the REEPOT laser used for?

REEPOT is primarily used for selected superficial or epidermal pigmentation. It may be considered for well-defined solar lentigines after a doctor has assessed the lesion and confirmed that laser treatment is appropriate.

Solar lentigo is a benign pigmented condition associated with long-term sun exposure. Lentigines are usually flat, brown patches with relatively well-defined borders and occur predominantly on chronically sun-exposed skin.

Importantly, not every brown spot is a lentigo. Melasma, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, seborrhoeic keratoses and melanocytic lesions can look similar but require different management. 

Why use REEPOT rather than a conventional pigmentation laser?

REEPOT uses a 532 nm wavelength, which is strongly absorbed by melanin and therefore particularly suitable for superficial epidermal pigment. 

What differentiates REEPOT from a conventional 532 nm Q-switched laser is its VSLS (Vasculature Salvage Laser Surgery) technology, which incorporates contact cooling and selective targeting of pigmented areas. The system also incorporates AutoDerm, which uses a camera-based recognition system to identify and track pigmented areas so that laser energy can be directed specifically at the target. 

The rationale is straightforward: deliver sufficient energy to the pigment while minimising unnecessary injury to the surrounding skin.

This is particularly useful when treating patients with a greater tendency toward post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH).

REEPOT vs other commonly used pigmentation treatments

It is important to emphasise that there is no single laser that is universally superior for every type of pigmentation. Treatment choice depends on the depth and type of pigment, skin phototype, lesion characteristics and previous treatments.

What happens during a REEPOT treatment?

1.Assessment and diagnosis

The first step is determining exactly what type of pigmentation is being treated. The doctor assesses the colour, borders, distribution and depth of the pigmentation and considers factors such as skin type and previous laser treatments.

2.Skin preparation

The skin is cleansed, and clinical photographs may be taken for comparison. The doctor may mark the treatment area before applying the clinic’s cooling or protective preparation.

Whether topical numbing is needed depends on the treatment area, lesion and individual sensitivity. Contact cooling may improve comfort, but it does not guarantee that numbing will be unnecessary for every patient.

3.Laser treatment

After skin preparation and contact cooling, the REEPOT’s AutoDerm system will identify and map out the pigmented lesion based on the marking done earlier. 

A series of shots will then be fired, which will fragment the melanin in the lesion.

Patients may feel a series of brief snapping or warm sensations during treatment.

4.Protective dressing

Depending on the treatment protocol and location, a hydrocolloid or healing dressing is usually applied over the treated spots.

What is the recovery like?

Immediately after treatment, the spots will appear darker, with mild redness or swelling. Over the following days, a fine crust or scab may develop as the treated pigment is eliminated. This typically separates naturally over approximately 10-14 days, although healing varies between individuals and treatment areas. 

Aftercare

Protect the treated area

Though the protective dressing is waterproof, direct contact with water should be avoided to prevent premature peeling/dropping of the dressing. 

If this happens, the patient should return to the clinic for reapplication of the dressing.

Removal of the dressing

Our clinic will schedule an appointment for the dressing to be removed by the doctor 2 weeks after the procedure. 

The treated area may appear slightly pale, or contain small blood vessels as it is still healing. After healing, the treated area will then return to the colour of surrounding skin.

Be strict with sun protection

Sun protection is arguably the most important part of the treatment. Use a broad-spectrum SPF 50+ sunscreen and minimise direct sun exposure during healing. UV exposure can contribute to recurrence and increases the risk of post-inflammatory pigmentation.

Patients are also encouraged to moisturise the treated area regularly.

The bottom line

REEPOT represents an interesting evolution of the traditional 532 nm Q-switched Nd: YAG approach to epidermal pigmentation. Its combination of a melanin-targeting wavelength with cooling and automated pigment targeting is designed to improve precision while reducing unnecessary thermal injury.

For patients with solar lentigines, this makes REEPOT an attractive treatment option, particularly when time is an important factor and patients cannot come for repeated treatments.

However, it should not be regarded as a universal replacement for conventional Q-switched or picosecond lasers. Especially when considering treatment of other pigmented conditions like melasma, PIH or other lesions that may exist in deeper layers of the skin.

The most important factor remains accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment selection. When the pigment is correctly identified as an epidermal lesion such as a solar lentigo, the targeted Reepot treatment can provide substantial improvement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Discuss Pricing and Your Treatment Plan with Cambridge Medical (Somerset)

Reepot Laser is available at Cambridge Medical (Somerset). Book a consultation with our doctors today for a treatment plan and pricing based on your skin.

Author: Dr Goh Yao Yu, Cambridge Medical (Somerset), Somerset, Singapore