Hyperpigmentation
That long word that is supposedly what you’re supposed to call those spots on your skin that you so desperately want to get rid of. To simply define it, hyperpigmentation is the word we use to describe darker spots on the skin. However, there are different types and different methods of treatment.
TYPES
- Sun Spots (Age / Liver Spots)
- Caused by sun exposure
- Appear on the face, chest, and hands
- Light to dark brown in color
- Melasma
- Caused by a surge in hormones
- Appears on the cheeks, sides of the face, top of the nose, forehead, and upper lip
- Light to medium brown in color
- Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation (PIH)
- Caused by inflammatory acne
- Appears anywhere
- Pink, red, or brown in color
- Freckles
- Caused by sun exposure
- Appears on the face, chest, and arms
- Light to dark brown, or even red or black in color
PREVENTION
- Always wear your broad spectrum sun screen. The emphasis on “broad spectrum” is incredibly important because this particular type of sun screen protects you against both UVA and UVB rays from the sun. The truth is, sun screen is not just to avoid sun burn. It is to protect your skin – the largest organ of your body – altogether.
- Invest in a Vitamin C Serum. Our personal favorite choice is SkinCeuticals’ C E Ferulic. Designed to act as a shield against environmental stressors and pollutants, this powerful antioxidant fights against sun damage and protects your skin from premature aging.
- Avoid popping pimples or picking at your skin. Although very tempting, doing so can leave behind scars and spots.
- Commit to a consistent skin care regimen. This will assist healthy cell turnover and the elimination of dead skin cells.
TREATMENT
- Chemical Peels: Our personal favorite treatment, The Perfect Derma Peel, effectively sheds the top layer of the skin, reducing or eliminating various forms of hyperpigmentation such as sun damage, melasma, and acne scars. It is also the only peel featuring Glutathione, a powerful antioxidant that lightens and brightens the skin.
- Intense Pulsed Light (IPL): Also referred to as a photofacial, this treatment is done with the use of a handheld gun that delivers various pulsed light wavelengths to target skin concerns such as hyperpigmentation and hair removal.
- Laser: In this treatment light is also used to target skin care concerns, but it is a concentrated beam of light as opposed to multiple light wavelengths like IPL. The results of laser may be faster, but the risks and down time are greater than IPL.
- Lightening Creams: Hydroquinone, Kojic Acid, Ascorbic Acid, and Arbutin are just some examples of powerful lightening agents that can dramatically alter the appearance of hyperpigmentation. You can find all of these potent ingredients in The Perfect Bleaching Cream.
