Doctor Approved Ways to Get Rid of Hyperpigmentation – Hyperpigmentation is a skin condition in which patches of skin darken in color. It is usually not harmful and can affect people of various skin tones. There are several products available that can help remove dark skin patches while also providing additional skin advantages. Sunspots, acne scars, and large brown areas on the skin are all indicators of hyperpigmentation. Skin Hyperpigmentation refers to skin spots on your body that are darker than your natural skin tone.
The darkened skin patches are produced by your body’s overproduction of the brown pigment melanin. Melasma, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, UV damage, and medical problems are all caused by an increase in melanin production or an excess of melanin. Melasma is a disorder that is most common in women who use oral contraceptives or are pregnant.
Skin pigmentation on the face, or brown patches on the skin, is most commonly observed on the cheeks, forehead, nose, upper lip, and chin. Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation is the most transient form of the disorder and happens as a result of specific traumas to your skin. Acne, infection, waxing, laser treatments, and chemical peels are examples of traumas that cause hyperpigmentation.
These hyperpigmentation patches induced by skin damage usually fade on their own within a few months. The term sun damage means precisely what it sounds like. Dark patches caused by overexposure to the sun’s UV radiation. Sunspots that emerge as brown spots on the face, chest, and hands are increasingly common as one ages due to increased sun exposure over time.
The last type of hyperpigmentation can be caused by Addison’s disease, a medical illness. This is an adrenal gland ailment that produces an overproduction of melanin, resulting in black patches or darker skin tones. Hyperpigmentation occurs when the skin produces an excessive amount of melanin, a natural pigment found mostly in the skin. The affected areas may resemble freckles or aging marks.
People Also Read: A Study Suggests that Eating Late May Cause Weight Gain by Increasing Hunger and Slowing Metabolism
What Are the Most Effective Methods for Treating and Preventing Hyperpigmentation?
There are numerous dark-spot correctors available now, but preventing them is just as important. The scientifically proven steps listed below can assist:
1. Keep your skin moist to promote cell turnover
While the primary purpose of hyperpigmentation treatment is to lighten the dark spots, a good over-the-counter (OTC) moisturizer should also include chemicals that improve the skin in other ways. “In addition to addressing the pigment issues, a good product will have moisturizing agents like glycerin or hyaluronic acid, and maybe even a retinol to boost cell turnover,” says Doris J. Day, MD, a clinical assistant professor of dermatology at NYU Medical School in New York City and the author of Beyond Beautiful: Using the Power of Your Mind and Aesthetic Breakthroughs to Look Naturally Young and Radiant.
“These inactive ingredients allow the active brighteners to work more effectively.” According to the University of Tennessee Medical Center, a good moisturizer can also replenish the skin’s lipid, or fat, barrier, which helps new skin cells stay healthy as they rise to the surface in replacing old ones.
2. Keep your hands away from bug bites, blackheads, and other injuries
As tempting as it may be to itch a mosquito bite or crush a stubborn blackhead, remember the advice and don’t pick! “Scratching and picking at a spot will only increase the inflammation that’s responsible for skin discoloration,” says Jeanine Downie, MD, a dermatologist and the director of Image Dermatology in Montclair, New Jersey. “The more you mess with it now, the worse it’ll look later.”
3. Examine OTC whitening options
The earlier you treat hyperpigmentation, the easier it is to remove. “Over time, the pigment in brown spots can move deeper into the skin,” Dr. Downie explains. The American Academy of Dermatology Association recommends looking for azelaic and glycolic acids, vitamin C, and retinoids in over-the-counter treatments to eliminate spots.
“Treatments containing ingredients like vitamin C, licorice root, and kojic acid help reduce hyperpigmentation by inhibiting tyrosinase, an enzyme responsible for the formation of skin-darkening melanin,” says Ni’Kita Wilson, a cosmetic chemist in New York City. Wilson’s advice is supported by research published in the Journal of Enzyme Inhibition and Medicinal Chemistry in 2017, which notes that understanding of the link between tyrosinase and excess melanin development has led to the creation of numerous OTC products containing the aforementioned components.
While several of these over-the-counter products have “bleaching” effects on black spots, the American Academy of Dermatology strongly advises against applying liquid bleach to your skin. Because certain imported skin lightening treatments have been found to be laced with mercury, steroids, and other dangerous substances.
4. Protect your skin from the sun
The most effective strategy to prevent sun-induced discoloration is to use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or more every day, even on cloudy or cool days. “UV rays just send the pigment into overdrive, turning dark spots darker,” says Dr. Day. “You must wear sunblock daily on exposed areas.”
SPF solely pertains to UVB short-wave radiation protection. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)recommends using a product that contains Mexoryl, Parsol 1789, titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, or avobenzone to protect against UVA long-wave radiation. Furthermore, the AAD advises against going outside between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., when the sun is at its brightest. You can also protect your head, face, ears, and neck by wearing a wide-brimmed hat.
5. Inquire with a Dermatologist About High-Tech Options
If topical remedies aren’t working, talk to your dermatologist about more aggressive ways to remove discoloration, such as chemical peels, microdermabrasion, or dermabrasion, or, according to the International Association of Physicians in Aesthetic Medicine, laser resurfacing. If you have melasma, lasers are considered a last resort because they have not been shown to reduce excess melanin synthesis, according to a review published in the International Journal of Women’s Dermatology in March 2017.
People Also Read: Proven Ways to Lose Weight Fast
Quick note:
Aside from therapy and sun protection, there are further preventive steps you can take to reduce the occurrence of future black spots. Use gentle skin-care products that do not sting or burn, as irritation can aggravate or induce hyperpigmentation. Use acne medicine to treat pimples and bug spray to prevent bites to protect yourself against other typical skin-darkening factors.
To conclude, while hyperpigmentation offers no immediate damage to the health of your skin, it can be aggravating to have an uneven skin tone. By effectively treating your skin’s dark spots with professional hyperpigmentation treatment, the skin discoloration will fade and you will recover confidence with an even and glowing complexion.