At what point do I stop needling if I have no results with re-pigmentation?

[jbh]

Hi
When would be a good time to stop needling if my hypopigmentation is not repigmenting? This is a result of laser tattoo removal. I have had some spots return to normal after single needling and dermastamping, but mostly, the skin becomes red, may flake off and I still have white skin. I have done this numerous times and not sure if I should continue.
Is is a year, 2 years, 6 months? Thanks.

[SarahVaughter]

I am sorry it does not work for you. Have you needled the white patch and also a little over the edges of the white patch to facilitate the migration of melanocytes from the surrounding normal skin into the white patch?

Have you done this:

"When the skin is healed from microneedling, expose your hypopigmentation to the sun because melanin is produced as a reaction to UV (provided there are melanocyte cells in the area to produce it)"

[jbh]

Yes, I have exposed it to the sun, multiple times after each needling session, and have needled around the white areas and then into the white areas. I have done this over 10 times  over a period of 20 months.

Should I now stop doing this since I am not getting the results?

[SarahVaughter]

It is very difficult to remove a tattoo because real tattoos reside deep in the dermis.

In the process of laser tattoo removal, the tattoo pigment absorbs the light from the laser. The absorption of light heats the pigment up very much and this breaks the pigment down. Unfortunately, the heat can damage the skin and leave a permanent scar.

After two years, it is more or less time to give up but before you do, try different approaches. For example, needle the scar three times a week or even every second day for several months. Expose it to the sun immediately after needling (if you can).

You can try some of the substances for repigmentation that are discussed here but I cannot attest their efficacy:

https://http://forums.owndoc.com/dermarolling-microneedling/melanocytes-transfer-for-white-scars-and-hypopigmentation/

Consider buying a NB-UVB lamp.
More about it in my reply #13 in this forum thread:
https://http://forums.owndoc.com/dermarolling-microneedling/hypopigmentation-on-chest-before-and-after-needling/