Hyperpigmentation, Brown Spots & Skin Discolorations
If you suffer from Hyperpigmentation you know how genuinely frustrating it is to try to conceal, lighten or erase the spots and brown patches on your skin.
- Photo source - D. Rivers CMA
Hyperpigmentation is essentially a case of your pigment-producing cells being pushed into overdrive by either external factors (typically sun exposure) or internal factors such as hormonal shifts caused by pregnancy, birth control pills or menopause. Any form of hyperpigmentation will be worsened - sometimes significantly - by sun exposure.
Hyperpigmentation may be referred to by a number of names, including brown spots, melasma, age spots, "liver spots", sun spots, sun freckles, pregnancy mask. Whether diffuse, as in melasma, or in single concentrated areas such as those in a freckle, hyperpigmentation is more often controlled than eliminated and in some cases the best response will be blending and lightening.
The most effective solutions to existing brown spots and unevenly-colored skin will be one of or a combination of:
Rejuvelux Photofacial - Photofacial (IPL) is a light based treatment that focuses on brown and red pigment in your skin. This dual action means it can help reduce and in some cases eliminate both brown patches and small veins.
Cosmelan - An intensive topical treatment program that inhibits melanin production and lightens your skin with non-hydroquinone ingredients
Fractional Laser - A laser treatment that has FDA approval for Melasma and Chloasma and Sun-induced hyperpigmentation
Chemical Peels - Glycolic and Chemical Peels TCA - Over-all skin regeneration by chemically causing a peeling of your damaged skin
Prevention and protection is a key element. An effective sunscreen of 30SPF of higher, used correctly, will go a long way in helping improve and prevent hyperpigmentation problems
Melanin - The Good and Bad of your natural pigment
Skin gets it's color, whether light or dark, from melanin. Some people are born with more melanin cells than others and consequently, have a higher incidence of problematic pigmentation. The more melanin, the more color and the more "color-potential" you have in your skin.
Sun exposure, heat, injury or hormonal changes can all trigger increased melanin production. It is the abnormal increase that causes irregular color on the skin. Melanin rises to the surface of the skin in response to these triggers but is not seen right away as the cells are produced deeper in the skin and then rise slowly to the surface. This is why you may not see the brown spots until days, weeks, or even months after the cause.
Melanin is a skin protector and is the body's attempt to stop cell damage from sun or heat. The "tan" that so many Southern California sun worshippers seek is actually the body's reaction to cell damage. With repeated insult, skin that evenly tanned will begin to take on a mottled appearance and then begin showing concentrated dark spots.
The 3 Major Causes of Hyper Pigmentation and Brown Spots
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