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The Ultimate Guide To Pigmentation, Its Causes & Treatments
By Mary Basiadima, 15 April 2020
Thank you for visiting our ultimate guide to pigmentation. We hope after you have it you will be better prepared to tackle your . (8 min read)
This guide covers the following areas:
What is pigmentation?
According to the Mariam Webster dictionary pigmentation is :
"a colouring matter in animals and plants especially in a cell or tissue"
What causes skin pigmentation?
We can suffer from pigmentation issues whatever age, sex, and we are.
can result in an over or under production of . is by the in the skin cells. When there is an over production of it is called hyperpigmentation, when not enough is produced it is called hypopigmentation.
and are not sure of the for certain changes. Other conditions like sun spots have obvious causes.
Pigmentation and hyperpigmentation
Pigmentation of the skin is a misleading phrase as all skin contains pigmentation. When it is unwanted or a problem it is best to as .
Hyperpigmentation causes dark patches or spots. They can be beige, brown, red or and can appear anywhere.
The sun is one of the causes of pigmentation, along with pregnancy and changes. Below are the most of pigmentation. Sometimes it can be severe and noticeable like vitiligo or albinism. Let’s look at these two extreme forms of pigmentation first.
Pop star Michael Jackson is said to have from vitiligo which saw his skin colour change over the years from dark to light.
Other can occur due to conditions, hormonal changes and sometimes shock.
seen in is not a severe as the two above. The following types of are more common, starting with one of the most .
What is Melasma?
Pigmentation caused by is called . (It is also known as ‘chloasma’ or �[https://www.oatlandsaesthetics.com �pregnancy] mask’). The name comes from melas which is the Greek word for black. It results in brown or greyish patches of pigmentation developing usually on the face.
It is more common in women with up to 50% affected during pregnancy, in people of colour and those who tan easily.
Hyperpigmentation From Sun Damage (Solar Lentigenes)
When on the face it is normally found on the most exposed areas of the cheeks, nose and forehead. They can look like freckles or age spots or just as of colour. Sun spots or age spots are found in people over 50 but they can also appear in younger people who have spent many hours in the sun.
Hyperpigmentation from Acne Scarring
Scarring from acne can also cause hyperpigmentation. It is often red and can be very and difficult to cover up as the skins surface is and uneven.
Acne pigmentation
This is caused by the which can form around damaged skin. It is often to as hyperpigmentation and can be with care and laser treatment. Lasers the discoloration and is for all skin types
The darker pigmentation left behind by acne can be as bad as the acne and is more permanent. If an gradually fades away red, brown or purplish discolouration, where the spots once were, can be left behind.
Freckles (Lentigenes / Ephelides)
is one freckle and lentigene are many. are a type of . The medical term for them is . They happen because more melanin is produced unevenly across the skin. This causes little spots of discolouration known as a freckle.
are not caused by the sun. They’re . They do, however, appear when the skin is exposed to the sun.
What can I do about hyperpigmentation?
The best protection against it to use When it is caused by medication or by certain illnesses it is best to speak to your doctor.
Before have the area by a skincare expert, doctor or dermatologist. Any skin changes should also be checked by a medical professional.
Once you are given the go ahead for and have been advised there is nothing dangerous about your pigmentation, or any recent changes, you can take the next step to have them treated. But what treatments are available?
Treatments for hyperpigmentation
There are many cures, over the and creams all to work wonders for . The internet is full of them. And they are usually quite expensive. Only a few of these treatments will have an effect for most people.
That is why it is important to speak to a so they can point you in the right direction. Trying to navigate through all the claims and can leave your skin worse off and out of pocket for hundreds of pounds.
Some of the best proven treatments for are listed below.
(OTC) use specific ingredients to in either gel or cream form. Many have stronger varieties available via . Applied once or twice a day, over time they help lighten the skin over time.
Creams or gels are most effective on like age spots or melasma. They are also good for patches of discoloration across most .
OTC are easily available and a more affordable option for . They can take longer to work than professional treatments.
If you are buying online only purchase products from and manufacturers you trust.
Face or skin acids exfoliate or shed the top layer of your skin. The new skin cells replace older ones evening out your skin tone making it smoother.
Face acids are available OTC at beauty clinics and . Always look for an acid content of 10% or less from a trusted source. A higher percentage may of side and are best left to professionals in a .
Popular acids include:
Face acids are ideal for mild hyperpigmentation on lighter skin tones.
are some of the oldest skincare ingredients used in the beauty industry. from A, their small molecular structure lets them deeply penetrate into the skin layers below the .
can be either or OTC, with OTC being weaker. If after a few months you don’t notice results ask your about tretinoin (Retin-A).
may be safe for all . If you have darker skin, check with your provider if you plan on using them long term.
Also retinoids may not be the first line of defence as they are more often used to treat than hyperpigmentation.
goes much deeper into the layers of the skin then and is more with a longer healing time . The results are more effective as a result of the .
For microdermabrasion a is used along with a unique nourishing serum. Tiny crystals are "blasted" over the skins in a controlled way.
Old and is smoothed away with clear, left behind. As the layer is removed collagen is encouraged. A course of treatments is ideal to or .
Practitioners can use various methods to lessen the pain to a tingling or scraping sensation so you should not worry about it being painful.
The must only be carried out by . Too much or over vigorous treatment can damage the skin and actually cause new to form. If is very . It can be used on a of pigmentation issues including acne scarring.
works best on superficial scars and for people with lighter skin. Your will help you decide whether it is the right treatment for you.
works on more serious and is far more riskier, requiring a longer healing process of days. There is also a risk of infection as layers of skin are scrapped away.
A chemical preparation is used to take off upper layers of skin. The most popular chemical is acid mixed with other skin .
The preparation is applied by brush and left like a normal facial peel. When it is removed the skin sheds. This happens over the course of a few days. sun block after a peel is . If not more may occur as the new fresh skin is very and .
Two peels many offer are the Depigmentation Peel and the Peel.
which is for dark spots and . It is a one-off peel that is for anyone from deep or . It blocks the melanin in problem cells so gets to the root of the problem.
After the peel you will need an extensive home care kit to help your results in the weeks and months following the .
This is a more gentle pigmentation peel. It is ideal for targeting sun spots, age spots and . It works by exfoliating the skin encouraging the skin.
Skin peels are also treatment for rejuvenating the skin where age spots or darker pigmentation is . Over a course of treatments, a special Alpha is applied under clinical . This removes a layer of skin revealing fresh, undamaged skin . The is not and the results are superb.
peels are best suited to treat age spots, sun damage, melasma and skin. They also work best on skin tones and may quicker results than face acid .
Non and pain free, laser is very effective against many forms of . It is becoming increasingly popular because of the results and technology used.
Todays lasers are more and sophisticated then earlier models and are now very successful on a range of skin types too.The laser beam the unwanted pigmentation in the skin cells. It the without affecting the surrounding tissues.
The is then from the body naturally over time through its immune system. Laser pigmentation removal is not or uncomfortable. After 2-6 most will notice in skin.
Laser treatment work well on Freckles, Sun Spots, Hyperpigmentation, Age spots (solar lentigines), Flat pigmented birthmarks (congenital melanocytic naevi) and is suitable on all skin types.
IPL is a type of non-ablative (fractional) laser treatment. Non means it heats up the skin and is gentler then ablative procedures which destroy the layers of skin and require a longer period.
Pulsed Light treatment (IPL) is great for skin tones. It is different then laser treatment as it uses to target larger areas. Unlike laser which focus a laser on an exact spot at an exact .
and growth is stimulated within the dermis. It normally requires .
IPL is used for overall issues, but flat spots especially to this . It may also help reduce the of wrinkles, spider veins, and enlarged pores.
IPL works best for people with fair skin.
What works best for your skin tone?
Skin tone affects the and length of treatments. People with all skin tones can use the mentioned above but if you have a darker skin tone you may need more time for treatments to work.
The following may be ruled out if you easily tan or have darker skin:
lasers
IPL therapy
chemical peels
microdermabrasion
or kojic acid
microdermabrasion
chemical peels
laser treatments – only used at lower intensities over a larger number of sessions
Dark Circles Under The Eye Dark (Preorbital Dark Circles)
Dark circles under the eyes or dark occur when the skin below the eyes shows blood vessels and pools. They appear blue in people with fair skin as skin only lets in the blue of light.
If they appear darker it is because under eye reflect light from blood under the thin skin. The contrast is greater and more the your skin. Skin under your eyes is only 0.5mm thick which compares to 2mm thick on rest of your body.
Causes range from:
Dark under eye circles can be by a number of ways.
Combines microneedling and radiofrequency. It stimulates collagen production and helps to plump and firm the skin. The skin under the eyes becomes fuller unable to blue light as much and the dark appearance.
Puffiness or "bags" often come with dark circles. Dermal fillers can help restore brighter, more eyes. Injectables are not for everyone and can be seen as a step to far but they do work well and are an option.
This works by beneath the skins surface to start cell regrowth. Heat targets the tissue which makes it pull together and lift. It reaches deep into the layers cell regrowth and eliminating dark .
Designed for ages 30 – 50, it can either be used to preventative or . Results develop over eight weeks and it is considered to be highly effective, safe as well as FDA approved.
With so many effective and affordable treatments on offer, you don’t need to suffer with skin any longer. The first step you can take today is to apply good high SPF sun cream to your skin. The next step should be to a skin care to examine and discuss your skin and draw up a treatment plan for you.
Why not book a free with one of our skincare specialists today. It’s free, the only cost is your time.
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