The Ultimate Guide To Pigmentation, Its Causes & Treatments

By Mary Basiadima, 15 April 2020

Thank you for our to . 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 is :

"a colouring matter in animals and plants especially in a cell or tissue"

What causes skin pigmentation?

We can suffer from whatever age, sex, skin tone and we are.

Skin pigmentation can result in an over or under of . is by the meloncytes in the skin cells. When there is an over production of pigmentation it is called hyperpigmentation, when not enough is produced it is called hypopigmentation.

Skincare experts and Doctors are not sure of the for certain skin changes. Other conditions like sun spots have causes.

Pigmentation and hyperpigmentation

Pigmentation of the skin is a misleading phrase as all skin contains pigmentation. When it is or a problem it is best to as .

causes dark patches or spots. They can be beige, brown, red or purplish coloured and can appear anywhere.

The sun is one of the causes of pigmentation, along with pregnancy and hormonal changes. Below are the most of pigmentation. Sometimes it can be severe and like vitiligo or . Let’s look at these two of pigmentation first.

Pop star Michael is said to have from which saw his change over the years from dark to light.

Other severe skin pigmentation issues can occur due to autoimmune conditions, changes and sometimes shock.

Pigmentation seen in clinics everyday is not a severe as the two above. The following types of are more common, starting with one of the most common Melasma.

What is Melasma?

Pigmentation caused by is called Melasma. (It is also known as ‘chloasma’ or ?? mask’). The name comes from melas which is the Greek word for black. It results in brown or greyish patches of pigmentation 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 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 unprotected hours in the sun.

Hyperpigmentation from Acne Scarring

from acne can also cause . It is often red and can be very noticeable and to cover up as the skins surface is damaged and uneven.

Acne pigmentation

This is caused by the extra melanin which can form around damaged skin. It is often to as hyperpigmentation and can be removed with careful skin care and laser treatment. Lasers destroy the and is suitable for all skin types

The left behind by acne can be as bad as the acne and is more permanent. If an away red, brown or purplish discolouration, where the spots once were, can permanently be left behind.

Freckles (Lentigenes / Ephelides)

Lentigo is one freckle and lentigene are many. Freckles are a type of hyperpigmentation. The for them is ephelides. They happen because more melanin is across the skin. This causes little spots of known as a .

Freckles are not caused by the sun. They’re . They do, however, appear when the skin is to the sun.

What can I do about hyperpigmentation?

The best protection against it to use When it is caused by or by certain illnesses it is best to speak to your doctor.

Before seeking treatment have the area checked by a skincare expert, doctor or dermatologist. Any skin changes should also be checked by a .

Once you are given the go ahead for treatment and have been there is nothing dangerous about your pigmentation, or any recent changes, you can take the next step to have them . But what are available?

Treatments for hyperpigmentation

There are many miracle cures, over the and creams all to work wonders for skin pigmentation. The internet is full of them. And they are usually quite expensive. Only a few of these 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 . Trying to navigate through all the claims and promises can leave your skin worse off and out of pocket for of pounds.

Some of the best for pigmentation are listed below.

(OTC) treatments use specific ingredients to in either gel or cream form. Many have available via prescription. Applied once or twice a day, over time they help lighten the skin over time.

Creams or gels are most effective on flat spots like age spots or . They are also good for patches of across most .

OTC products are easily available and a more affordable option for hyperpigmentation. They can take longer to work than professional treatments.

If you are only purchase products from websites and manufacturers you trust.

Face or exfoliate or shed the top layer of your skin. The new replace older ones out your skin tone making it smoother.

Face acids are available OTC at and chemists. Always look for an OnabotulinumtoxinAAbobotulinumtoxinAIncobotulinumtoxinAPrabotulinumtoxinALetibotulinumtoxinARimabotulinumtoxinBHyaluronic Acid FillersCalcium Hydroxylapatite FillersPolymethylmethacrylate FillersAutologous Fat GraftingForehead Frown Lines TreatmentCrow's Feet TreatmentBunny Lines TreatmentChemical Brow LiftLip FlipGummy Smile Chin SmoothingCobblestone Chin SmoothingNefertiti Neck ReliefBruxism TreatmentTMJ TreatmentCervical Dystonia TreatmentBlepharospasm TreatmentLip EnhancementTear Trough FillersNasolabial Fold SofteningMarionette Line Nose JobJawline ContouringJawline DefinitionChin AugmentationTemple VolumisingHand Filling (click through the next post) content of 10% or less from a . A higher percentage may increase risks of side and are best left to professionals in a clinic setting.

Popular acids include:

Face acids are ideal for on lighter skin tones.

Retinoids are some of the oldest used in the beauty industry. from A, their small molecular structure lets them deeply penetrate into the skin layers below the epidermis.

can be either prescription or OTC, with OTC being weaker. If after a few months you don’t notice results ask your about (Retin-A).

OTC retinoids may be safe for all . If you have darker skin, check with your if you plan on using them long term.

Also may not be the first line of as they are more often used to treat wrinkles than hyperpigmentation.

Dermabrasion goes much deeper into the layers of the skin then microdermabrasion and is more with a longer healing time required. The results are more as a result of the invasive nature.

For microdermabrasion a diamond head is used along with a serum. are "blasted" over the in a controlled way.

Old and damaged skin is smoothed away with clear, left behind.  As the layer is production is encouraged. A course of treatments is ideal to target scars or pigmentation.

can use various to lessen the pain to a tingling or scraping sensation so you should not worry about it being .

The must only be carried out by professionals. Too much or over can damage the skin and actually cause new pigmentation to form. If applied correctly is very effective. It can be used on a of .

Microdermabrasion works best on superficial scars and for people with . Your skincare provider will help you decide whether it is the right treatment for you.

works on more serious and is far more riskier, a longer healing process of days. There is also a risk of infection as layers of skin are away.

A is used to take off upper layers of skin. The most popular chemical is acid mixed with other .

The preparation is applied by brush and left like a peel. When it is removed the skin sheds. This happens over the course of a few days. Applying sun block after a is . If not more pigmentation may occur as the new is very vulnerable and .

Two many clinics offer are the and the Dermaquest .

which is for spots and patches. It is a that is suitable for anyone from or melasma. It blocks the melanin production in problem cells so gets to the root of the problem.

After the peel you will need an home care kit to help your results in the weeks and months following the treatment.

This is a more peel. It is ideal for targeting sun spots, age spots and freckles. It works by the skin encouraging the damaged skin.

Skin lightening peels are also fantastic treatment for rejuvenating the skin where or darker pigmentation is visible. Over a course of treatments, a Alpha Hydroxy treatment is under clinical conditions. This removes a layer of skin revealing fresh, undamaged skin beneath. The treatment is not painful and the results are superb.

Chemical peels are best suited to treat age spots, sun damage, and blotchy skin. They also work best on lighter skin tones and may provide quicker results than face acid products.

Non invasive and pain free, laser treatment is very against many forms of pigmentation. It is becoming increasingly popular because of the fantastic results and used.

Todays lasers are more and sophisticated then earlier models and are now very successful on a range of too.The laser beam targets the in the skin cells. It destroys the without affecting the surrounding tissues.

The is then from the body over time through its immune system. Laser pigmentation is not painful or . After 2-6 sessions most will notice   in skin.

Laser work well on Freckles, Sun Spots, Hyperpigmentation, Age spots (solar lentigines), Flat pigmented birthmarks ( 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 then which the layers of skin and require a longer period.

Intense Pulsed Light treatment  (IPL) is great for skin tones. It is different then laser as it uses multiple to target larger areas. Unlike laser which focus a targeted laser on an exact spot at an exact wavelength.

and growth is stimulated within the dermis. It normally requires sessions.

IPL is used for overall pigmentation issues, but flat spots especially respond to this treatment. It may also help reduce the appearance 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 . People with all skin tones can use the treatments 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:

high-beam lasers

IPL therapy

chemical peels

microdermabrasion

glycolic or kojic acid

microdermabrasion

lower-strength peels

laser – only used at lower intensities over a larger number of sessions

Dark Circles Under The Eye Dark (Preorbital Dark Circles)

Dark under the eyes or preorbital dark occur when the skin below the eyes shows blood and pools. They appear blue in people with fair skin as skin only lets in the blue wavelength of light.

If they appear darker it is because under eye circles reflect light from blood under the thin skin. The contrast is greater and more the lighter 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 can be by a number of ways.

Combines 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 reducing the dark .

Puffiness or "bags" often come with dark . Dermal can help brighter, more youthful 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 penetrating beneath the skins surface to start cell . Heat the connective tissue which makes it pull together and lift. It reaches deep into the layers cell regrowth and dark circles.

Designed for ages 30 – 50, it can either be used to or .  Results develop over eight weeks and it is considered to be highly effective, safe as well as FDA .

With so many and affordable on offer, you don’t need to suffer with skin any longer. The first step you can take today is to apply good quality high SPF sun cream to your skin. The next step should be to a qualified skin care practitioner to examine and your skin and draw up a plan for you.

Why not book a free consultation with one of our specialists today. It’s free, the only cost is your time.

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