Do you worry about dark spots?
Melanin is made by the cells in your skin and the pigment is responsible for your skins colour. Pigmentation is the build up of pigment concentrated in a certain area. Pigmentation can affect us in many different ways. For some of us it enhances our features, for others it can effect our confidence and make us feel self conscious.
Pigmentation tends to be more of an issue for darker skin tones however it can effect all of us.
There are 2 types of pigmentation
- Hypo-pigmentation – This refers to a loss of pigment in the skin and are hard or impossible to treat.
- Hyper-pigmentation- This refers to areas where there might be an increase in pigment on the skin.
Hyperpigmentation can be caused by:
- Sun – UV Radiation
- Hormones/Pregnancy
- Stress
- Medication
- Injury or trauma to the skin
Conditions like freckles tend to be genetic, they may appear from childhood and will be impossible to eradicate. Melasma, “the mask of pregnancy” is mainly centred around the forehead. Melasma might go away or fade by itself but it can also be treated post pregnancy. Post inflammatory pigmentation is the result of trauma to the skin. It is usually the result of spot squeezing, injury to the skins surface or the result of acne. Age spots are the result of UV exposure and cellular damage.
How to treat pigmentation
- Identify what the issue is.
- Consider how long has it been a problem? This may determine how long it takes to treat.
- What causes pigmentation and how is it affected?
- How it can be treated?
How can it be treated?
With Products
When you topically apply products onto your skin they will need to work from the top down. Skincare that is exclusive available to salon will have a higher concentration of active ingredients. The concentration of active ingredients and the fact that many companies will usually conduct studies to ensure their products can live up to their claims tend to be more effective.
One way to treat pigmentation is to apply products topically to the areas of concern.
The ingredients listed below are proven to treat pigmentation. In the industry we refer to them as tyrosinase inhibitors (TI’s). TI’s stop and slow the process that is responsible for melanin formation (melanogenesis).
Look out for products that contain some of the following ingredients:
- Liquorice extract
- Shitake mushrooms
- Kojic Acid
- Lactic acid
- Synovea HR
- Mandelic Acid
It is important to follow the usage guidelines when starting out with new products. You will need to be introduce these gradually to avoid any adverse reactions. Look out for a combination of ingredients in specific skincare products, they will have proven results. Always speak to a professional if you unsure about using new ingredients on your skin especially if you have dark skin.
Professional Peels and Resurfacing Treatment
Professional peels and resurfacing treatments are the most effective way to reduce pigmentation. They work by removing the top layers of the skin (the epidermis). Professional peeling treatments are able to penetrate deeper into the skin (the dermis). The added benefits of these treatments is that they result in stimulating the production of new skin cells. This will leave you with a much clearer and brighten complexion. Although it is safe to use at home peels it should be noted that they will be very superficial and you should seek professional advice before trying anything at home yourself.
Laser and IPL
Laser and IPL is also very effective at reducing some types of pigmentation like age spots for example. You should always check with your provider to make sure that the machine that they are using is suitable for your skin type and type of pigmentation that you are wanting to treat. Home devices are usually ineffective for many concerns as they are not able to penetrate the skin at the required depth.
How do you stop it from coming back to haunt you?
Many things can cause pigmentation. The most important way to reduce this is to protect your skin from cellular damage caused by Ultra Violet Rays (UV).
UVA & UVB transmitted from the sun. UVA is responsible for the ageing process (cellular damage) is emitted from our phones, TVs and laptops. UVB is the element that is responsible for burning of the skin. UV causes damage to our cells which leads to the over production of melanin.
Sunscreen should be applied as part of your daily as part of your routine. Physical sunscreens will reflect the UV away from the skin rather than absorbing it.
Products that are TI’s can be used in your usual skincare to help maintain the results of a professional treatment.
What should you do next?
If you are concerned about pigmentation but have not yet found an effective way to treat it, get in touch to find out how I can help you or point you in the right direction. If you are ready to to tackle your pigmentation concerns book your next appointment with us today!
