A Seoul laser skin clinic chooses a laser in two steps: first by what the concern is made of, such as brown pigment, small blood vessels, scarring or hair, and then by your skin type on the Fitzpatrick scale, which changes how much energy the skin can take. Each laser family is absorbed by a different target, so one device rarely fits every problem on one face. Deeper skin tones hold more melanin that competes with that target, which raises the chance of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, the brown marks that can follow irritation. That is why settings, test areas and spacing between sessions shift with skin type. Results vary from person to person.
Guide
Which laser family answers which concern
Lasers are sorted by wavelength and pulse length, and each wavelength is soaked up by a particular target in the skin. The table pairs common concerns with the families clinics in Seoul tend to reach for.
| Concern | Laser family often used | What the light targets | Recovery to expect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun spots and freckles | Q-switched Nd:YAG at 532 nm, or a 755 nm picosecond laser such as PicoSure | Melanin packed in a defined spot | Small dark crusts that shed over several days |
| Melasma | Low-fluence 1064 nm Nd:YAG toning, used gently and repeatedly | Diffuse melanin spread through the patch | Mild pinkness; the course runs over weeks |
| Redness and fine vessels | 532 nm and 1064 nm vascular lasers such as Excel V | Hemoglobin in small vessels | Redness or brief swelling, sometimes small bruises |
| Acne scars and rough texture | Fractional CO2 at 10,600 nm, or picosecond with a focusing lens array | Water in tissue, creating tiny columns of controlled injury | From a few days of redness to about a week of peeling for CO2 |
| Unwanted hair | Long-pulse alexandrite or Nd:YAG hair lasers | Melanin in the hair follicle | Redness around follicles for a day or two |
Guide
How your Fitzpatrick type changes the settings
The Fitzpatrick scale groups skin from type I, which always burns and never tans, to type VI, deeply pigmented skin that rarely burns. It describes how skin reacts to sun, not ethnicity, so two people from one country can sit two types apart.
The higher the type, the more melanin in the top layer competes with the intended target. A pigment laser aimed at a freckle also heats the brown skin around it, so clinics usually lower the energy, widen the gap between sessions and favor the longer 1064 nm wavelength, which passes the surface melanin more easily. Fractional CO2 is planned more cautiously in types IV to VI.
Guide
Why the risk of dark marks sets the pace
Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation is the skin's habit of laying down extra pigment after any irritation, a laser included. It can appear in the weeks after a session as a brown shadow over the treated area and may take months to fade. It is more frequent in deeper skin types, which is why a careful plan starts low and moves slowly.
Lai and colleagues, in a 2022 systematic review in Lasers in Medical Science, noted that most laser side effects in melasma trials settled quickly but that people with darker skin carried risks of both hyperpigmentation and hypopigmentation, the lighter patches that can follow aggressive or frequent treatment. A test area near the ear, judged after a few weeks, shows how your skin answers before the full face is treated.
Guide
What a melasma meta-analysis showed for each laser
Melasma is where matching matters most, because the wrong energy can darken it. The 2022 review by Lai and colleagues pooled 22 studies with 694 patients and compared changes in the Melasma Area and Severity Index, a score of patch size and darkness, by laser type.
Low-fluence Q-switched 1064 nm Nd:YAG, fractional ablative CO2 and fractional 2940 nm Er:YAG lasers were each linked with lower scores. Neither the non-ablative 1550 nm fractional laser nor the picosecond laser showed a significant drop in that score, and melanin index readings after low-fluence Nd:YAG toning did not change significantly either. These are pooled averages from small trials, not a promise for any one face.
Guide
Consent and the operator, from laser injury lawsuits
Jalian and colleagues, writing in JAMA Dermatology in 2013, reviewed 174 legal cases linked to injury from skin laser procedures in a United States database from 1985 to 2012. Laser hair removal was the procedure litigated most often, nonphysician operators made up a substantial share of cases, and the most common preventable cause of action was failure to obtain informed consent.
In Seoul, ask who sets the energy and who holds the handpiece, and expect the consent talk to name the risk of dark or light marks for your skin type.
Evidence
Research behind this page
- Laser therapy in the treatment of melasma: a systematic review and meta-analysisLasers in Medical Science · 2022 · doi:10.1007/s10103-022-03514-2
Pooled 22 studies with 694 patients and found that most lasers lowered melasma severity scores, while warning of pigment changes in darker skin.
- Common Causes of Injury and Legal Action in Laser SurgeryJAMA Dermatology · 2013 · doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2013.1384
Reviewed 174 United States legal cases after skin laser injury and found laser hair removal most often litigated and missing informed consent the most common preventable cause.
FAQ
Questions about aesthetic clinics in Hongdae
How do I work out my Fitzpatrick type before a laser consultation?
Think about your skin after an unprotected hour in strong summer sun: whether it burns, tans, or does both. Types I and II burn readily and tan little, type III burns at first and then tans, type IV seldom burns and tans easily, and types V and VI rarely burn. The doctor confirms the type in person by looking at your skin, not only at the answers you give.
Can I get a pigment laser in Seoul while I still have a holiday tan?
Most clinics postpone pigment and hair lasers until a fresh tan fades, because tanned skin behaves like a higher Fitzpatrick type. Extra melanin at the surface absorbs energy meant for the spot, raising the chance of blistering and later darkening. A wait of several weeks with strict sun cover is a common request.
Which skin care products should I stop before laser treatment?
Retinoids and exfoliating acids are usually paused for several days to a week before a laser, because they thin the surface and make irritation more likely. Oral isotretinoin for acne needs a direct conversation with the doctor, as many clinics delay resurfacing after it. Write down everything you apply so nothing is missed in the consultation.
Is laser hair removal possible on deeper skin tones?
Yes, with the right wavelength: the long-pulse 1064 nm Nd:YAG is widely used on types IV to VI because it passes surface melanin more easily. Shorter wavelengths aimed at hair melanin also heat brown skin, so they need lower settings on deeper tones. Expect a patch test and several sessions spaced weeks apart.
What should a laser consent form mention for my skin type?
It should name the specific risks for your skin, including darker patches, lighter patches, blistering and scarring, not just temporary redness. A good form also lists the device, the treated areas, the number of planned sessions and what aftercare you must follow. Keep a copy so a doctor at home can see what was done.