Pigmentation is a common skin complaint and one that really comes to the fore after the sunnier months. Hyperpigmentation treatments to fade dark spots well, but note pigmentation can reoccur again when exposed to UV rays, so wear a good SPF every day all year round.
Pigmentation is a common skin complaint and one that really comes to the fore after the sunnier months.
It can take lots of different forms, including sunspots, melasma and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, and most of us will find that we experience it in some guise and to some degree during our lives. As we age, unwanted changes in skin pigmentation are common in all skin tones. Particularly in areas of high sun exposure, such as the face and hands. Prevention is always better than cure, so our first piece of advice is to follow a skincare routine that focuses on warding off these darker patches of skin before they form. A key part of this is making sure you’re wearing the best facial sunscreen every single day, even during the summer months.
What is hyperpigmentation?
Hyperpigmentation is a common skin condition in which some parts of the skin become darker than others. It happens when melanocytes, the cells in our skin responsible for making melanin (the pigment that gives our skin its colour) malfunction and make more than is needed. “Melanin deposited in the top layers of the skin creates a light to dark brown tone, but if the melanin is deposited deeper in the skin, it can produce a grey discolouration.
Why does it happen?
Hyperpigmentation can result from various factors, including sun exposure, hormonal changes, inflammation, acne and injuries. The most common type of hyperpigmentation is sunspots (also known as age and liver spots). They are caused by sun damage and can crop up either immediately after sun exposure or appear years later. They’re most common in sun-exposed areas, which is why so many people want to know how to treat age spots on hands.
Another type of hyperpigmentation is melasma, which is deeper set than other forms of hyperpigmentation and usually presents itself in patches on the face. This is mostly seen on the cheeks, upper lip, and forehead in a symmetrical pattern and often also referred to as butterfly pigmentation. Pregnancy and menopause are key times when melasma may appear, and unfortunately because it is caused by internal factors like hormone changes, it only affects women and is harder to treat.
Hormones and sunshine aside, another key trigger of hyperpigmentation is inflammation and trauma to the skin, which is why it can be left behind by spots, cuts and conditions like eczema and psoriasis. This kind is known as post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Remember, the more you pick at blemishes, the more likely they are to leave post-inflammatory pigmentation behind.
Treat and prevent sunspots with these expert-approved hyperpigmentation treatments.
Depending on your skin type, we will always assess first to determine treatment suitability.
With pigmentation, homecare is essential. What you do every day twice a day has a big impact on your skin. A good starting point would include the following skincare.
- Simply Clean by Skinceuticals which is brightening and clarifying.
- Retexturising Serum by Skinceuticals – gentle exfoliation.
- Phloretin CF by Skinceuticals – your daily clarifying and brightening vitamin C serum link to product on website
- Discolouration Defence by Skinceuticals – an excellent home care product that can be used twice a day to brighten and diminish discolouration.
- Retinol might be a good option.
- Use a good moisturiser at night, Triple Lipid Restore and a quality broad spectrum SPF daily – Advanced Brightening SPF 50
Peels, IPL, LED along with a variety of other in clinic skin treatments provide excellent options for addressing pigmentation.
It is important to address any underlying health, hormonal or gut conditions that may also be a root cause of discolouration and pigmentation.
A consultation with our resident Nutritional therapist / Functional Medicine Practitioner, Edelle O’Doherty-Nickels, will help give you a lot of guidance in how to address these conditions.
