What is the best treatment of hyperpigmentation
September 17, 2019Hyperpigmentation is a condition that causes the skin to be darker than the color of the surrounding skin. Hyperpigmentation may appear as small, broad-shouldered, or even affect the entire surface of the body. Therefore, one should seek treatment for hyperpigmentation immediately.
This condition is usually harmless but can be a symptom of other medical conditions. There are several types of hyperpigmentation:
- Melasma is hyperpigmentation caused by hormone changes and can be found during pregnancy. Hyperpigmentation areas can appear anywhere on the body. Melasma occurs most often in the stomach and face.
- Sunspots, also called sun lentigines, are one of the most commonly found hyperpigmentation. The sunspots are caused by excessive sun exposure over time. Usually, sunspots appear in areas where the sun is exposed, such as hands and face.
- Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation is a condition that results from injury to the skin
A common cause of hyperpigmentation is excessive melanin production. Melanin is a pigment that gives your skin color. Melanin is produced by skin cells called melanocytes. A number of different conditions or factors can cause changes in melanin production in the body.
Certain medicines can cause hyperpigmentation. According to the University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center, some chemotherapy drugs can cause side effects of hyperpigmentation. Pregnancy can change hormone levels and can affect melanin production in some women. Endocrine diseases, such as Addison’s disease can disrupt hormone levels and can increase melanin production. Excessive sun exposure can also lead to increased melanin. Therefore, excessive sunlight exposure can increase the risk of hyperpigmentation.
How to Prevent Hyperpigmentation
Preventing hyperpigmentation on the skin can be done by:
- Get used to using a sunscreen with SPF 30 daily before starting activities to keep your skin protected from sun exposure. In addition to preventing the risk of hyperpigmentation, the use of sunscreen may also minimize other skin damage.
- When working, try to avoid sun exposure. The face is a part of the body that is vulnerable to sunlight and experienced. Therefore, it is recommended to wear a hat when operating outdoors to keep the face protected from direct sun exposure.
How to Overcome Hyperpigmentation?
The appearance of black spots on the skin, especially on the skin, certainly disrupts the appearance. To deal with these hyperpigmentations, you can address them by:
Maximize moisturizing
Some over-the-counter moisturizing creams can be an option to overcome skin hyperpigmentation. However, it is recommended to prefer products that contain glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and retinol. Drugs or creams containing retinol can enhance the regeneration of skin cells. These ingredients will help bleach to work more effectively.
Vitamin C
Medicines containing vitamin C and acetic acid can brighten and reduce skin hyperpigmentation. For that, if you have hyperpigmentation, seek information about these medications immediately. The reason is that vitamin C and acetic acid content can inhibit the tyrosine enzyme that plays a role in dark skin melanin formation. Another thing to keep in mind, the faster the hyperpigmentation is handled the faster the condition disappears.
Laser or chemical peeling
After using specific medicines to overcome hyperpigmentation, they usually fade and disappear within three months. In rare cases, topical drugs are not able to overcome these black spots. Therefore, further treatment, such as laser or chemical peeling, is often recommended by doctors to eliminate peeling. It should be noted that melasma hyperpigmentation should avoid chemical peeling procedures as this therapy will only exacerbate the condition of the hyperpigmentation.