Are you hoping to finally enjoy a brighter and more even complexion? Then your skincare routine should be targeting hyperpigmentation. A common skin concern that affects all ages, hyperpigmentation can make the skin look patchy and dark, dampening your natural glow. 

Luckily, with the right ingredients and lifestyle changes, hyperpigmentation is manageable, and its effects left on your skin can be cleared. Read on to learn more about this common skin condition that leaves many not looking their best. 

What is Hyperpigmentation?

Hyperpigmentation can affect all skin tones and types but there are also hyperpigmentation treatments just as individualized. Hyperpigmentation is a term that refers to patches or spots on the skin that are darker than the surrounding skin.

Many cases of hyperpigmentation are cosmetic and of no cause for alarm, but it may also be a sign of sun sensitivity and skin damage, or a symptom of another medical condition that should be investigated. 

Types 

There are multiple forms of hyperpigmentation. Its appearance and/or cause often characterizes the type. The most common types of hyperpigmentation include melasma, sunspots, and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.

Melasma is a condition characterized by dark freckle-like patches that can affect the whole body. Sunspots, also known as liver spots or age spots, are clearly defined, darkened spots that appear on areas of the body commonly exposed to the sun such as the face and hands. 

Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation is the darkening of skin following trauma such as a scar and is commonly seen after an acne flare-up. 

Causes 

There are several causes of hyperpigmentation with the most common being sun damage, hormonal changes, and scarring. Individuals susceptible to increased melanin production are also at risk, and the condition can affect all skin tones and types. 

Too much sun exposure is the root of most hyperpigmentation. The skin darkens when in the presence of the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays. Melanin production occurs from skin trauma and injuries which makes these susceptible to exacerbation of dark, uneven tones. 

In the case of melasma, this form of hyperpigmentation is often the result of hormonal changes. Typical states of rapid or significant changes to hormones are experienced during pregnancy or as a symptom of another medical condition. Certain medications and clinical treatments can also affect your hormones and create hyperpigmentation.

Treatments

Now that you know why you might be experiencing irregular skin color, you might be wondering what the best treatment for hyperpigmentation is.

Fortunately, there are many effective treatments available that can treat hyperpigmentation on the skin’s surface and ways to prevent it from occurring in the first place. Some of the most common treatments include:

• chemical peels
• laser facial
• brightening serums
• microneedling
• platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatments
• hormonal medications

To aid in prevention, it’s important that you protect your skin from excess melanin production. Wearing sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 to 30 when outdoors, limiting sunbathing, and getting your sun-induced vitamin D in the early morning or evening, are some lifestyle modification options.

Book With Us to Experience Brighter Skin

At Bellevue Medical Aesthetic Center, we’re proud to offer premium cosmetic services. Our highly trained professionals and medical director are dedicated to providing an extensive range of medical aesthetic treatments including those for hyperpigmentation, signs of aging, acne, and much more. 

To learn more about what we offer or to book your appointment for brighter skin, please call us at (425) 896-8270 or contact us online today!