Understanding Hyperpigmentation And How To Treat It
Hyperpigmentation is a common skin condition that affects people of all ages and most often takes the form of dark patches on the skin. There’s more than one type of hyperpigmentation, along with various reasons for why it develops.
We’ll explore these reasons in this article, along with hyperpigmentation treatment methods.
What causes hyperpigmentation?
There are a couple of different types:
Age/liver spots
Ageing is one of the most common causes of hyperpigmentation.
Also known as liver spots, this type of hyperpigmentation typically forms around the mouth, on the face, hands and other body parts. While they can develop in older adults, young people also get age spots through sun exposure.
In this case, liver spots appear because the body is trying to protect itself against UV rays from the sun. Natural skin pigment, melanin, absorbs the energy and the body can still darken as a result.
Melasma
Melasma is a specific kind of hyperpigmentation often linked to hormonal changes. Melasma appears as darkened skin and commonly occurs in pregnant women through an overproduction of melanin.
In fact, Melasma, also known as the ‘mask of pregnancy,’ is a form of hyperpigmentation tied to hormonal shifts. It mainly affects women, especially during pregnancy, causing darkened patches on the face due to increased melanin production. Sun protection, topical treatments, and procedures like chemical peels can help manage it.
How to treat hyperpigmentation
There are several ways to treat hyperpigmentation. At The Aesthetics Doctor, we provide the best solution to improve your skin appearance, including our exclusive range of Obagi hyperpigmentation treatments.
Obagi Nu-Derm for treating hyperpigmentation
Using specific prescription-based skincare products can help to reduce the impact of hyperpigmentation and a great example is the Obagi Nu-Derm system. Products in this collection focus on lightening the skin and minimising uneven skin tone.
Here’s a closer look:
- Obagi Nu-Derm Blender: This is a skin lightening and blending cream applied for daily use. It’s ideal for correcting dark spots, liver spots and melasma.
- Obagi Nu-Derm Clear: This product is a skin lightening cream that should be applied in the morning and evening.
- Obagi Nu-Derm Sunfader: A type of skin tone product, Sunfader SPF15 provides a balanced skin hue and treats brown spots.
Sunscreen
An easy method of reducing the chances of darkening your skin is to apply a generous amount of sunscreen on hot days. There are several best practices for applying sun blockers.
One example is to opt for sunscreen that provides both ultraviolet-A (UVA) and ultraviolet- B (UVB) protection. This means you’ll be safeguarded from sunburns, skin damage and reduce the risk of developing skin cancer.
The Obagi Nu-derm Sun-protectors range includes several products to prevent hyperpigmentation and premature ageing.
