Hyperpigmentation treatment is used to treat dark patches appearing on the skin. These patches range in color but are always darker than the surrounding skin. This occurs when the body produces too much melanin, the chemical that gives skin its color.
What Causes Hyperpigmentation?
One of the most common forms of the condition is age spots or liver spots. As the sun causes them, their technical name is solar lentigines. Much like liver spots, most forms of the condition are harmless.
Hormonal changes can also cause a form of spotting called melasma or chloasma. These spots are larger than liver spots and are common during pregnancy. They often darken the skin on the face. This can also occur with women taking birth control, as the hormones in the contraception are similar to those that occur when pregnant. Acne and physical injuries such as bug bites or bruises can also cause darker spots to appear on the skin.
How to Treat It
I recommend different methods of hyperpigmentation treatment, and a combination of more than one is likely to be most effective.
A skin scrub should be your first choice. These are mild abrasives that will clean the over pigmented area. If you are looking for a scrub with a chemical skin lightener, I would recommend one with hydroquinone. Use it only on the affected area, and be careful not to use it if you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant. It is powerful, so it should only be used for twelve weeks at a time followed by 3 months of not using it.
If you do not like the idea of a strong chemical skin brightener, you can always opt for a more natural method. Licorice root and willow bark extracts have shown some positive results as hyperpigmentation treatment methods. Vitamin C topicals can also help.
If these topical treatments do not work, chemical peels and lasers are also effective. In addition to these, microneedling allows the skin brightening chemicals to be injected deep into the skin tissue. These more serious options are best left to the professionals. If a skin brightener doesn’t clear up your dark spots, I would recommend you consult a professional aesthetician for further hyperpigmentation treatment. And always remember the sun worsens any form of hyperpigmentation. Use a broad spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher and reapply often, typically every hour when outdoors.
