Facts on Hyperpigmentation

Age spots, liver spots, and brown spots are caused due to acne and excessive exposure to the rays of the sun. Hyperpigmentation makes the skin dark, and the problem is severe. If there are spots and pigmentation marks on the face, it will cause a lot of embarrassment. It not only impacts the overall look of the person but also affects self-esteem. Brown spots and age marks can be addressed with the use of skin brightening creams, natural remedies and by adopting preventative measures. Before you choose ways to getting rid of pigmentation marks, you must learn everything about hyperpigmentation. Melanin is the skin pigment which is responsible for hyperpigmentation. There are several facts on hyperpigmentation you must know about.

Important facts on melanin

• Melanin imparts color to the skin
• The color of the skin is dependent on the melanin produced by the skin cells
• Melanin is produced by skin cells called melanocyte cells
• If melanin is produced in a small amount, the color of the skin will be lighter. This condition is called hypopigmentation
• Melanin also imparts color to the eyes, hair and inner ear

What is hyperpigmentation?

Hyperpigmentation of the skin is a difficult situation. Hyperpigmentation refers to the darkening of the area around the nail and skin due to excessive production of melanin. The condition is harmless whereby the areas of the skin become patchy and acquires brown and black spots. Melanin is brown in color which gives normal color to hairs, skin and form deposits over the skin. If you are healthy, the color of your skin and hairs will be normal. Hyperpigmentation is the skin condition which results in dark patches and uneven skin color. It may occur in any region of the body like face, nose, arms, legs and anywhere else. Hormonal changes can also lead to hyperpigmentation or excessive production of melanin.

Hyperpigmentation is a kind of skin condition

Hyperpigmentation is the kind of skin condition which is characterized by the darkening of the skin due to an overproduction of melanin. The condition is not at all harmful and may be treated with creams and ointments or natural remedies for hyperpigmentation. The problem may be embarrassing and annoying and so it is essential to handle it timely.

Skin darkening may result from the variety of reasons

Your skin may get darkened due to various reasons. And skin darkening may occur from sun damage, exposure to the rays of the sun, hormonal changes, genes or the effect of certain medications. Skin injury, natural aging, and antibiotic can also cause skin discoloration.

Skin pigmentation on the epidermis layer

The epidermis is the outermost layer of the skin which is affected by hyperpigmentation. Skin discoloration does not impact middle layer or dermis layer of the skin but the outermost layer. If you forget to apply the sunscreen lotion on the skin, it is your epidermis layer which will be impacted and not the dermis. When the skin is exposed to the UV rays of the sun, melanocytes produce melanin in large amounts to safeguard the skin.

There are different kinds of hyperpigmentation

There are various kinds of hyperpigmentation. Some of the disorders relating to hyperpigmentation are:

• Albinism is the lack of melanin, either complete or partial, in the skin.
• Melasma is the kind of skin disorder which shows on the face. Also known as ‘mask of pregnancy’, there may be symmetric patches and dark brown patches on the face
• complete loss of pigment due to skin damage
• Vitiligo showing in the form of white patches due to the loss of melanocyte.
• Age spots or lentigo shows up when you age. If the dark spots are all due to sun exposure, a condition called solar lentigo develops.

No magical pills are available for hyperpigmentation

To remove the dark spots from the skin, no magical pills are available. But, the treatment options are available to get rid of pigmentation marks or hyperpigmentation. Some of the best treatments are given below:

• Alpha hydroxy acid or AHA like lactic acid or glycolic acid may help to eliminate any buildup of dead skin cells. Once the pigmented surface is removed, you can see smooth and flawless skin. Alpha Hydroxy Acid can lessen the discoloration.
• Skin lightening creams are also a great way to do away with skin discoloration. There are lightening ingredients like retinoid, kojic acid, and hydroquinone. Know everything about the skin lightening cream before buying any. Make sure it does not harm your skin.
• There are a lot many cosmetic procedures such as laser therapy, chemical peels or dermabrasion. Discuss out the treatment options with your dermatologist to make sure the chosen option is just suitable for you.
• Protect yourself from the harmful rays of the sun. Sun’s rays can wreak havoc on the skin, and so you must do your best to protect your skin. Wear sunglasses, hats and protective gear to safeguard your skin. If you protect your skin from the rays of the sun, you will get back your previous look.

Which is the best solution for pigmented and dark skin?

There are hundreds of products available in the market to restore healthy and glowing skin. By using them in the pigmented areas, your skin will regain a healthy glow. Skin lightening products are widely available in the market. Use a clinically proven advanced skin lightening cream to restore youthful glow, to get rid of the discolored skin. Skin brightening moisturizers and natural exfoliants can lighten your skin tone and remove the dark spots. They may bring back glow to the skin by removing the spots. By using them, you can get rid of dead skin cells and avoid any excessive production of melanin. The end result would be lighter and more beautiful skin. The treatment is the best for treating hyperpigmentation and addressing dark spots.

It is essential to treat hyperpigmentation

The tone and color of skin play an important role when it comes to deciding the appearance of a person. When Melanocyte cells produce excessive melanin, the region of the skin becomes dark. This condition is hyperpigmentation. Exposure to the sun’s rays and side effects of the particular medication may cause hyperpigmentation. The condition is not that dangerous or fatal but one must try to prevent skin from getting darker or becoming unsightly. If thyroid hormone is imbalanced, it can again lead to skin discoloration. The type of hyperpigmentation must be understood before adopting a treatment mode. If you want quick and sure shot result from the treatment, you must see a dermatologist.

He will carry out series of examinations to find the reason behind skin discoloration. After this, he would recommend you a topical cream to address the issue. If the skin brightening creams fail to work, the dermatologist will suggest you advanced treatments such as skin peels, laser treatment or may be acid peels. Such advanced treatment options can powerfully address skin discoloration.

Natural remedies can get rid of skin discoloration

Are you having dark patches and uneven skin tone? Hyperpigmentation is one such condition which leads to uneven skin tone, dark patches and ugly marks on the skin. There are various natural remedies for hyperpigmentation that can address the issue:

Lemon is rich in citric acid which can bleach the skin. You just need to squeeze fresh lemon juice and dip in cotton ball. Apply the juice directly on the spot and just leave for 20 minutes. Wash off later on. This must be done every day for at least 2 months. Doing so will give you relief and eliminate pigmentation marks.

Raw potato is also a great way to diminish blemishes and lighten hyperpigmented areas. Blemishes, spots and age marks will all clear off with regular use of potato juice on the skin. The catecholase content of raw potato can lighten up the skin tone. Peel potatoes and cut that into slices. Rest the slices directly on the skin blemishes and age marks. Leave it for 10-15 minutes and repeat the process twice daily for 2 months time. For better results grate a raw potato and add lemon juice. You may apply the solution on the pigmented areas and leave for half an hour.

Nourish the Skin

Walnuts are rich in minerals and vitamins to nourish the skin. The skin stays moisturized which is essential. If you have dark spots on your neck, face, arms, you can prepare scrub of yogurt and walnuts since it is useful. Prepare a thick paste by mixing crushed walnuts and yogurt. Apply this paste all over the dark areas and scrub for a few minutes. Wash off with cold water. This must be done at least twice in a week to rejuvenate the neck skin or reduce the dark appearance.

You can also apply cucumber on dark spots since it has soothing properties. It can eliminate dead skin cells, repair skin cells and bring about a glow on the face. For better results, mix lemon juice and cucumber juice and apply the mixture on affected areas and leave for 15 minutes.

The severity of the skin condition

Hyperpigmentation occurs in certain regions of the body. Its severity varies right from being a small localized spot to something which covers a significant portion of the face, neck, arms or shoulders. And hyperpigmentation may be severe to cover most part of the face or neck whereby you will notice uneven skin patch which is darker than surrounding areas.

Hyperpigmentation may be the side effect of laser therapy

Hyperpigmentation or excessive melanin production can result from excessive exposure to the rays of the sun or might also be the side effect of laser therapy. It may even result from an adverse reaction to various medications. During puberty and menopause, hormonal changes take place, and this also causes hyperpigmentation. People who have diabetes may have dark patches on the skin. So, if you notice dark patches over the skin, get in touch with a physician to know what the problem is. It is good to see a dermatologist timely when you notice such patches on your skin.

Important facts on hyperpigmentation treatment

If you are upset with hyperpigmentation, know the treatment options. Below are some hyperpigmentation treatment facts:

• Hyperpigmentation may be addressed with skin lightening creams and maybe lasers when nothing works out
• The kind of treatment is dependent on the nature of pigmentation, the preference of the patient and the risk tolerance
• Skin pigmentation may be categorized into epidermal or superficial, dermal or deep and mixed.
• Different sorts of lasers can address different kinds of skin pigmentation or skin types
• When it comes to treating skin pigmentation, good quality sunscreen lotion is paramount
• Laser treatment is an effective treatment for skin discoloration but needs to be approached with caution.

There are topical lightening creams that take time to show results. Laser treatment for hyperpigmentation delivers faster results.

Important facts on laser treatment

Laser treatment can treat skin pigmentation and causes the least impact or minimal impact. It is all due to ‘selective photothermolysis’ process. It is the term used to describe the way the particular wavelength gets attracted towards pigmented lesions and just minimally to normal skin. So, laser treatment causes minimal damage to the surrounding skin. Millisecond pulse width laser can treat skin pigmentation. The pulses the laser emits get attracted to melanin and thus the problem of hyperpigmentation is resolved. Apart from this, the Q-switched laser can also treat hyperpigmentation. Such laser can heat up the pigment and thus disrupt it. The laser may also get rid of tattoo pigment. Laser treatment is effective and aggressive and has no side effect. But, it still relies on the proficiency of the cosmetic surgeon.

Apart from the laser, there are over-the-counter creams to prevent the appearance of dark patches. If applied on the surface of the skin, the cream can fade away the spots slowly and gradually. Do not move out of the home when it is sunny. Freckles, brown birthmarks, pigmentation marks are the forms of hyperpigmentation that can make your skin ugly and unimpressive. A cosmetic procedure can get rid of pigmentation marks. Know as many facts on hyperpigmentation as possible.