Hyperpigmentation: What Causes It and How Do You Treat It?

What is Hyperpigmentation and What Causes it?

Types of Hyperpigmentation

• Melasma: These are brown patches that mainly discolor sun-exposed parts of the face but may also affect the neck, forearms, and abdomen. It affects people with darker skin tones more often and is mainly a product of hormonal changes. Melasma is commonly experienced by pregnant women and women who take birth control pills since both undergo the same type of hormonal changes. However, this type of hyperpigmentation can affect anyone.
• Pigment Spots/Age Spots: These are small, dark patches that appear on the face, arms, and hands as a result of excessive sun exposure. Age spots are common in elderly people but may also develop during childhood.
• Freckles: This form of pigmentation can appear on any part of the body but mostly appears on the face and arms. Freckles are an inherited skin trait, and like age spots, the discoloration becomes more prevalent when the skin is overexposed to sunlight.
• Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation: This type of hyperpigmentation is caused by injuries or inflammation to the skin due to eczema, acne, or psoriasis. Pigment production increases in affected areas, resulting in dark spots. Though post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation can happen to anyone, it occurs more often in people with darker skin.

How to Treat Hyperpigmentation

Skincare Products & Topical Treatments for Hyperpigmentation

• Soy: Soybean extract contains pigment-reducing and anti-aging properties. This ingredient also inhibits the transfer of melanosome, which are organelles responsible for the transportation of melanin, to the topmost layer of the skin. Soy can also be found in many skin-lightening moisturizers.
• Ellagic Acid: Derived from strawberries and pomegranates, ellagic acid functions as an antioxidant and suppresses melanin production. This ingredient is also considered to be effective for skin lightening when combined with hydroquinone.
• Kojic Acid: A type of metabolic antioxidant, kojic acid is found in different fungal species such as Acetobacter, Aspergillus, and Penicillium. Kojic acid is able to inhibit melanin production in the skin and can also break it apart. One percent of kojic acid combined with two percent hydroquinone has been proven by research to be effective in depigmenting melasma.
• Niacinamide: As an active form of vitamin B3, niacinamide is found in root vegetables and yeast. This ingredient is able to fight hyperpigmentation by preventing melanosome transfer from reaching the skin’s topmost layer. Niacinamide is also used in many skincare products due to its skin-lightening properties.
• Arbutin: Found in bearberry and blueberry, arbutin is a derivative of hydroquinone that’s commonly used in over-the-counter cosmeceuticals. According to research, three percent concentrations of Arbutin can notably lighten the skin.

Chemical Peels

Laser Treatment for Hyperpigmentation

• Skin test and physical assessment
• Discussion about one’s medical history and lifestyle
• Discussion about the treatment and how it works
• Breakdown of the number of sessions

Transform Your Skin Texture and Pigmentation

Laser Genesis is one of my favorite treatments for improving pigmentation and skin texture. With no numbing cream and no downtime. We treat in small, controlled areas and use your feedback to guide the session, and with 4-6 treatments, patients see smoother, clearer, more radiant skin.

Discover the benefits of Laser Genesis for smoother, clearer skin with zero downtime. Expect radiant results with just 4-6

Posted on behalf of Sedgh Plastic Surgery

When under our care, Dr. Sedgh always ensures you feel comfortable, cared for, well-informed about every aspect of your upcoming treatment, whether surgical or non-surgical. With an approach which focuses on achieving refreshed, natural-looking results, Dr. Sedgh prides himself on always acting with transparency, honesty, and the highest level of ethical treatment, from start to finish.