Pigmentation— also known as hyperpigmentation— is a condition that causes the skin to darken in large areas, small patches, or, in extreme cases, a person’s whole body. Due to it being a common complaint had by clients who frequent Clear Skin Solutions, we’ve done our due diligence to become experts in not only what causes pigmentation, but how to treat it.
What are the different types of pigmentation?
You may be thinking, “I know that I have pigmentation, but how do I know what kind of pigmentation I have?” While there are several kinds of pigmentation, the three most common variations are as follows:
- Melasma: Melasma is believed to be caused by hormonal changes, making it a common skin condition for pregnant women. However, melasma isn’t strictly found in women who are pregnant: women of any age or condition may find the brown blotchees on their forehead, chin, cheeks, upper lip, or nose that is an indicator of melasma.
- Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation: A result of skin injury or inflammation, this kind of pigmentation is typically the consequence of acne.
- Sunspots: Nicknamed “liver spots”, sunspots are the most common form of pigmentation and are linked to excess sun exposure. They generally appear on areas of the skin that are steadily exposed to the sun, such as the face and hands.
Aside from hormones, a leading cause of pigmentation is the excess production of melanin—the pigment that lends skin its color. This can be caused by changes in hormones, certain medications, chemotherapy, and Addison’s Disease. Since the likelihood of getting pigmentation rises as you age, hyperpigmentation-reducing treatments are a popular anti-aging treatment, anti-aging facials commonly also fight to reverse pigmentation.
Another common cause? As mentioned above in our “sunspots” rundown, sun exposure can be a culprit for triggering pigmentation– according to Dr. Kourosh of Harvard Health, “The sun is a major exacerbating factor, whatever the underlying cause… [Pigmentation] can be caused or worsened by not only the sun’s rays, but also heat and visible light. This means that even sunscreens that protect against skin cancer aren’t enough to ward off [pigmentation]. This makes treating it a challenge, particularly in the summer months.”
So how exactly DO you combat pigmentation?
Here at Clear Skin Solutions, we have two golden rules for fighting pigmentation: patience and diligence.
To those of you who are disappointed that we don’t have a magical treatment that can whisk your pigmentation away in seconds, we get it—and if we had any top-secret pigmentation-reducing techniques trust us, we would share. However, think of it this way: if it took you ten years to develop those dark spots due to excess sunbathing, then it’s going to take a bit of time and effort to reverse it.
The majority of products will take at least four to six weeks until results will begin to be visible. We stock a variety of our original pigmentation-reversing products both online and in-spa that are perfect for at-home use—but, to ensure that our clients are treating their skin correctly, you must sign up for an in-person or long distance skin consultation in order to purchase products from us.
That leads us to our second rule—diligence. There would be zero point in buying and using products inconsistently, right? Right. Since your pigmentation is always lingering under the surface of your skin, neglecting to wear a physical sunscreen every day, shielding your face from UV rays both inside and indoors, and not consistently applying your at-home treatments means that you’re stalling your journey to an even skin tone.
We recommend staying in touch with your assigned skin therapist, as it’s imperative that any changes in your skin are seen to quickly so that your regimen can be altered accordingly.
If you have concerns about pigmentation, don’t wait a second longer– your consultation is one click away.