What is Hyperpigmentation And What Can I Do About It?
Hyperpigmentation is a skin condition that causes discoloration and blotchy patches. It occurs primarily on our faces and bodies and can cause frustration and embarrassment.
If you aren’t sure what it is or what to do about it, we have some answers. Many people have hyperpigmentation, and knowing what it is and what you can do about it is important.
Hyperpigmentation And Its Challenges
We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article. As an Amazon.com Services LLC Associate, we earn a commission from any qualifying purchases at no cost to you.
Many years ago, I noticed my skin starting to discolor in patches all around my face. Obviously, dismayed and concerned, I made an appointment with a dermatologist.
Above all, when you see any skin discoloration, you should always make an appointment with one too. First and foremost, it’s always a good idea to have these discolorations checked.
After the visit, I felt a huge sense of relief knowing they were harmless. She also provided me with clear instructions on how to diminish them. Since my skincare routine constantly evolves, it’s important to use products targeting the problem.
Below, we will take a look at some of the causes of hyperpigmentation and what we can do about it.
What Exactly Is Hyperpigmentation?
Simply stated, hyperpigmentation is a skin condition that includes age spots, melasma, and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. It occurs when our skin products a chemical called melanin. Melanin gives our skin color and makes our skin appear in various shades.
For example, hyperpigmentation occurs when our skin becomes darker than our natural skin color because our melanin levels changed. Melanin controls the pigmentation of the skin naturally. These dark patches indicate an excess of this substance.
The melanin creates deposits in the skin which builds up and creates the darkening effect that you may experience. A condition like this can affect anyone, regardless of their race or skin tone. Therefore, it is important to understand that anyone can experience hyperpigmentation.
The Different Types Of Hyperpigmentation
Since there are various types of hyperpigmentation, it’s important to understand them all. Not all dark spots are the same so let’s dig in.
Liver spots and age-related darkening can occur naturally over time. Most likely, commonly attributed to sun damage. These types of spots are very common and most everyone will experience them.
You will most commonly find affected areas on the hands and face. And of course, on any part of the body which experiences significant exposure to the sun on a regular basis.
It’s important to understand that hormonal changes can also cause hyperpigmentation. Typically, due to the overproduction of melanin and/or imbalances of estrogen and progesterone.
For example, during pregnancy, it’s common for women to see a darkening of the skin in places. This occurs due to hormonal changes. While these dark spots are mostly harmless, it’s always a good idea to check them with your physician.
There are other forms of hyperpigmentation that can simply occur from damage to the skin via external factors, or even genetics. It is possible for damage to the skin to occur after surgery as well. And people with freckles may experience hyperpigmentation more frequently than others.
Moreover, as you might know, freckles are an inherited characteristic from one of the parents. Recently, freckles have become a fashion statement and many actually get freckle tattoos or use makeup to draw them on their faces.
In addition, people with acne may also experience permanent facial scarring or darkening. Fortunately, treatments do work to lighten this scarring and reduce discoloration.
Should You Consult A Medical Professional For Skin Darkening
It is important to understand that while we believe it is critical for people to know about hyperpigmentation, this is not a substitution for being cautious and alert.
If you find that you do experience hyperpigmentation, and it occurs frequently, it is important to speak to a medical professional. There are many types of skin cancer that can manifest as a darkening of the skin.
While hyperpigmentation is not dangerous, it is also not always the only reason for a sudden darkening of the skin. And it’s important to identify what is causing this change to your complexion and treat it right away.
For example, it’s a good idea to check with a medical professional especially if you have been abroad recently and are experiencing darkening of the skin once you returned.
Wearing the best sunscreen is essential to prevent hyperpigmentation. it is possible that the natural UV light from the sun can damage your skin. Typically, you should act quickly to seek a medical professional and identify the potential problem.
Bottom line, if you see a spot that looks suspicious, always check with your physician. Better safe, than sorry.
Treatments For Hyperpigmentation
So, now that we fully understand what causes hyperpigmentation, let’s discuss the range of possible treatments you can try to get rid of it.
For example, there are a few things you should always do – avoid exposure to the sun, wear a good sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher and never pick or irritate your skin intentionally.
When I visited my doctor, they prescribed hydroquinone, a topical cream, to reduce my dark spots. While this did help, I discovered skincare products worked just as well and were far less expensive. Plus, they had fewer side effects and adverse reactions.
For instance, you can try a good Dark Spot Corrector formulated to treat and lighten your dark spots. They contain powerful and effective ingredients that penetrate deeply into the skin to remove them.
Typically, they remove acne scars, dark spots, age spots, freckles, and sunspots to give you an even, bright skin tone.
More so, they remove acne scars, dark spots, age spots, freckles, and sunspots to give you an even, bright skin tone. You can also try using azelaic acid, corticosteroids, kojic acid retinoids, such as tretinoin, or skincare containing vitamin C.
Additionally, cosmetic procedures like laser therapy, intense pulsed light, chemical peels, and microdermabrasion have great success. You can try a microdermabrasion treatment you can do at home too. These treatments are very successful in treating hyperpigmentation.
In Conclusion
To summarize, hyperpigmentation is not an especially dangerous thing to deal with. And it can be a challenge for people to live with. After all, it does affect our vanity and that’s saying a lot.
Above all, there are obviously many different forms of conditions that can affect the skin. Hyperpigmentation does not necessarily indicate a problem.
In fact, generally speaking, it is harmless, but there are many conditions that will masquerade as hyperpigmentation that can be more dangerous for you.
Seeking the advice of a medical professional is never a bad idea, as it will help you to get peace of mind. And at the same time make sure that you are not worrying unnecessarily about something.
Remember, you never can be too careful with conditions like skin cancer, which can be quite common for people who experience large quantities of sunlight on a regular basis.
Don’t Forget To Pin Your Inspiration!
Don’t forget to read How To Get A Clean Face The Right Way too!
We participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, Skimlinks, and other Associate Affiliate Programs. Affiliate advertising programs like these allow us to earn fees by linking to affiliated sites at no cost to you. As Amazon Associates, we earn from qualifying purchases. Please check our Disclosure Privacy Policy page. Thank you for supporting our website.
