Are you looking for effective ways to treat hyperpigmentation? You don’t have to let it embarrass you further. Below are ideas on how to treat hyperpigmentation.
Hyperpigmentation is a common skin condition that causes patches of darkened skin. It can affect all ethnicities and skin types, but it’s especially prominent in people with darker complexions.
Hyperpigmentation is commonly caused by sun exposure and aging, but it can also occur from hormonal changes or other factors such as stress and fatigue.
Before treating hyperpigmentation, you have to identify the particular hyperpigmentation it is. This is because hyperpigmentation occurs in several forms on the skin. Identifying the specific form helps you to choose the most suitable treatment option.
Types of Hyperpigmentation
- Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIE): This is often seen in darker-skinned individuals after they have had acne; it is caused by inflammation, which triggers an increase in melanin production in the area where the inflammation lies. PIE can also occur after trauma, such as a burn or scrape, where there has been some degree of damage to the skin surface and underlying tissues.
- Aging hyperpigmentation: As we age, our bodies produce less melanin naturally so we may develop areas of discoloration on our face or hands.
- Melasma: This common condition appears as dark patches on the forehead, cheeks, bridge of the nose, and chin. It’s also called “the mask of pregnancy.” Melasma usually clears up after giving birth but may reoccur during hormone changes (such as during menopause). Melasma can also occur in people who take birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for menopause symptoms.
- Liver spots: These occur when melanocytes (cells that produce melanin) are damaged or destroyed by UV radiation or other sources of injury. This can lead to areas of darkened skin with irregular borders.
How to Treat Hyperpigmentation – 11 Effective Ways
1. Topical Creams and Lotions
A variety of over-the-counter creams and lotions — containing ingredients like hydroquinone and retinol can help fade dark spots caused by hyperpigmentation. These products work by reducing the production of melanin (the pigment responsible for causing dark spots) in your skin cells to make them less visible.
However, they usually take time to work (anywhere from three weeks to six months) and can have side effects such as dryness or irritation
2. Laser Therapy
This involves using a laser to heat a small area of your skin (usually less than half an inch) so that your body naturally produces new collagen and elastin cells, which help plump the skin.
Laser therapy is generally only suitable for small patches of hyperpigmentation and can take several sessions before it starts to work. It’s also not suitable if you have darker skin, as there’s a risk of irritation or burns from the laser beam hitting.
Laser therapy comes in two forms, which are: ablative and non-ablative.
- Ablative lasers have to do with removing layers of your skin. They can be very intense as it helps new skin cells to grow out more toned and tighter by destroying the element of the old skin cells.
- Non-ablative therapy is less intense as it is targeted at the dermis to promote tightening effects and collagen growth.
3. Hydroquinone
Hydroquinone is a prescription-strength skin lightener used for decades to treat hyperpigmentation. It works by blocking tyrosinase — an enzyme responsible for producing melanin (the pigment responsible for skin color).
The downside of hydroquinone is that it may cause irritation or sensitivity in some people, so it’s important to use it as directed by your dermatologist.
4. Chemical Peels
Chemical peels are another effective treatment for mild to moderate hyperpigmentation problems. A chemical peel uses acids at stronger concentrations to treat the selected portion of the skin.
The chemical peels remove the top layer of the skin known as the epidermis, which reduces the appearance of hyperpigmentation. Also, the chemical peels can be deeper and targeted toward penetrating the dermis. The latter produces more dramatic changes on the skin.
Possible risks of chemical peels include infection, scarring, redness, irritation, blistering and allergic reaction. If you are always exposed to the sun, chemical peels are not suitable for you as they can cause a lot of painful allergies.
5. Azelaic acid
Azelaic acid is another prescription cream that helps fade hyperpigmentation by inhibiting tyrosinase activity and reducing inflammation associated with melasma (brown patches). This treatment is less irritating than hydroquinone.
6. Kojic acid
Kojic acid is made from fermented soybeans and acts as an antioxidant on your skin. It helps prevent pigmentation by inhibiting tyrosinase — an enzyme that’s responsible for producing melanin — from doing its job properly. Kojic acid comes in creams and lotions that you apply directly to affected areas once or twice daily until your hyperpigmentation clears up completely
7. Oral Medications
Your doctor may prescribe oral medications for more severe cases of hyperpigmentation. These include isotretinoin (commonly known as Accutane), hydroxychloroquine sulfate (Plaquenil), and acitretin (Soriatane).
Home Remedies in Treating Hyperpigmentation
8. Lemon Juice
Lemon juice contains vitamin C, which helps heal skin discoloration by promoting collagen production in the dermis and reducing melanin production in the epidermis. To use this ingredient in your treatment plan:
Mix 1 teaspoon of lemon juice with 1 tablespoon of glycerin or honey in a bowl. Apply this mixture directly to any areas that have hyperpigmentation and leave it on for 10 minutes before rinsing it off with warm water. Repeat this process once daily until you see results.
9. Turmeric Powder
It is one of the most popular home remedies for hyperpigmentation because it contains anti-inflammatory properties that reduce pigmentation marks on your skin. Turmeric powder can be mixed with any other ingredient to make a paste or used directly as a scrubbing agent on your face.
You can also use turmeric as a mask by mixing honey with it or use it as a toner by mixing rose water with turmeric powder in equal quantity and applying it on your face before going to bed at night time. This will help in reducing the appearance of dark spots.
10. Aloe vera gel
Aloe vera gel is great for getting rid of hyperpigmentation. It contains antioxidants that help in treating hyperpigmentation by reducing the free radicals in the body and fighting against free radical damage.
11. Cucumber Juice
Cucumber juice is rich in vitamins A and C, which help in lightening your skin tone naturally without any side effects. Squeeze out some cucumber juice from fresh cucumber and apply it directly on your face or mix it with some aloe vera gel.
If you are in Nigeria and you are looking for a beauty shop to get the best hyperpigmentation treatment, then Biovivia Spa is your best choice.
At Biovivia Spa, we formulate customized skin care products for each of our clients. We study your skin and give you the most suitable product for after-home care use that will help treat any form of hyperpigmentation on your skin.
Biovivia Spa is located at 9b, Adewunmi Abudu Street, Opp. Mposon Pharmaceutical In’l Airport Road, Ajo Estate. You can contact us via [email protected] or our official telephone number, +2349010002221.
