Pigmentation of the skin is what gives it its natural hue and there are many causes that can lead to pigment disorders such as Melanin. Melanin is produced by your skin cells, which are ultimately responsible for the colour of your skin. Question is, how to get rid of hyperpigmentation?

Hyperpigmentation is a condition that causes your skin to darken. This can affect patches of your skin or your entire body, like age spots which are another type of hyperpigmentation.

Hyperpigmentation is usually harmless, but sometimes it can be caused by an underlying medical condition or a certain medication. It’s more of a cosmetic problem for most people.

What is Hyperpigmentation? 

The name for areas of your skin that are darker than your natural skin tone is called Hyperpigmentation. These patches of dark skin might be caused by the overproduction of the pigment, melanin, in your body. Too much melanin in your skin can lead to different types of hyperpigmentation, such as melasma or other post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Sun exposure or certain medical conditions can also lead to these conditions.

Melasma is a condition mostly found in women. The skin pigments that present on the face are typically brown patches on the cheeks, forehead and around the nose, upper lip and chin.

Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation is temporary and happens to some people without any specific trigger. It can be brought on by injury, acne or laser treatments for example. Hyperpigmentation spots, which are typically caused by a skin trauma, can take anywhere from a few months to more than two years and so they usually disappear on their own.

Sun damage is exactly what it sounds like. Brown spots or dark spots which occur from overexposure to the sun’s UV rays. Usually, sunspots that appear on the face, chest, and hands will be more intense as one ages due to more exposure through the years.

Addison’s disease is a medical condition that results in hyperpigmentation. It causes an overproduction of melanin, which leads to dark spots or darker skin tones.

What Causes Skin Pigmentation

Sun damage is the most common causes of hyperpigmentation. It usually affects the parts of the body that are used to stay outside most often, like hands and faces. Other causes include:

• certain medications, including chemotherapy drugs
• pregnancy hormones
• endocrine diseases, for instance Addison’s disease
• melasma
• insulin resistance
• skin irritation or trauma

Ways to Get Rid of Hyperpigmentation 

Hyperpigmentation is a common skin condition in which the pigment in the skin becomes too dense and dark. How to get rid of hyperpigmentation? Luckily, there are many effective ways to fully remedy hyperpigmentation and make it fade away. These include: chemical peels, microdermabrasion treatments and laser therapy to name a few).

1. Use Over the Counter Product 

If you want to lighten your skin, the first option to consider is a non-prescription product. Be sure to choose a product that moisturizes the skin as well so it doesn’t become dry, and remember that not every product is right for every person. Ingredients like hyaluronic acid or glycerin can boost skin cell growth and also restore the lipid barrier to protect your skin from sun rays.

Cosmeceuticals in Skin Care 

• Kojic Acid: Acne treatment – as the best treatment for hyperpigmentation – proves to be more effective when used with hydroquinone and glycolic acid. Kojic acid, on the other hand, works by interfering with the production and release of excessive melanin in your skin.
• Vitamin A products: These come in Retinol and Tretinoin that aid in skin rejuvenation and also promote cell turnover.
• Alpha Hydroxy Acids: Alpha hydroxy acids have multiple benefits when applied on the skin, including exfoliating dead skin cells to make it smooth and evenly toned, while promoting cell turnover.

2. Avoid Touching the Skin 

A good way to stop people from picking at their skin is to wear long sleeves, keep nails trimmed and avoid touching the discoloured area as much as possible. Touching it makes the spots move so they’re harder to get rid of.

Pick up a prescription-strength hydroquinone cream if over-the-counter creams are not doing much to remove hyperpigmentation. This can often take longer but is more effective. You should follow your doctor’s directions on how to use hydroquinone because going overboard can be problematic. It could lead to increased sun sensitivity or skin bleaching.

Some topical creams take up to a week or two to start working and in the meantime, hyperpigmentation might continue to worsen. Luckily there are several dermatological procedures that have better rates of success. Chemical peels, laser therapy, microdermabrasion and dermabrasion are all great procedures for getting rid of hyperpigmentation. They all work by gently removing the top layer of your skin where the dark spots lie. After healing from your acne, dark spots or pigment spots will be lightened and your skin will look more even.

3. Apply Sunscreen on your Skin 

In order to prevent future sun damage, it is important to wear sunscreen with SPF 30 every day. This will help stop any existing dark spots from getting worse or new sunspots appearing. When you’re putting together your skincare routine, it’s important to make sure that you have products that won’t irritate your skin. If you have an acne condition, use a medication that helps prevent breakouts and acne scars and causes.

To conclude, getting hyperpigmentation is not as upsetting to your skin as it may be to your self esteem. With science advancement we will be able to help you live a healthy and happy life without being affected by this problem. When you treat your skin’s brown spots, they’ll disappear and your complexion will return to an even, glowing one!

Read also: Best food for skin repair, How to get rid of dry skin

References

Home Remedies for Pigmentation: How to Remove Dark Spots. (2022). Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/health/home-remedies-for-pigmentation 

How to Get Rid of Hyperpigmentation Based on Your Skin Tone. (2021). Retrieved from https://www.apothecopharmacy.com/blog/how-to-get-rid-of-hyperpigmentation-based-on-your-skin-tone/