HYPERPIGMENTATION

Understanding your skin

Hyperpigmentation

Hyperpigmentation is the appearance of darker-than-usual patches on the skin. The opposite is hypopigmentation, which is a loss of pigment.

The skin's pigment is determined by the amount of melanin our cells produce. This can be affected by natural and artificial hormonal changes, including pregnancy, HRT and the contraceptive pill, as well as medication and fragrances used on the skin. Hyperpigmentation can also develop around a scar or acne lesion.

Sun exposure

Exposure to UV rays from the sun or sunbeds stimulates melanin production within our skin cells. This melanin rises to the skin's surface to help protect it from UV damage, meaning a suntan is the result of increased melanin production.

Genetic and hormonal changes

Melasma, chloasma or the “mask of pregnancy” presents as brown patches on the face of adults. It usually occurs in women, although it can also affect men. Some women overproduce melanin during pregnancy, particularly on the face and occasionally the abdomen. It often fades after birth as hormones settle. It can also affect women taking the contraceptive pill or using an IUD and becomes more prominent with sun exposure and during summer.

Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation occurs following trauma to the skin. It commonly appears after acne spots or lesions, aggressive skin treatments or the incorrect use of products.

What you can do

• Use SPF daily on all exposed areas; prevention is always better than cure.
• Exfoliate with products suitable for your skin.
• Stay out of direct sunlight and wear a hat and sunglasses.
• Use vitamin C products and tyrosinase inhibitors regularly. Tyrosinase is the enzyme responsible for melanin synthesis, and inhibitors can be found in advanced skincare products.

What we can do

• Laser skin rejuvenation and targeted treatments
• Melanopro
• Mesotherapy
• Dermalogica Pro Power Peel and resurfacers
• Dermalux LED light therapy
• Microneedling
• NanoSure Nd:YAG laser treatment
• HydrO2 Facial

Recommended homecare may include the Dermalogica PowerBright range, retinol products and BioLumin-C products.