This is were areas of the skin appear darker than others due to more melanin (skins pigment) being produced in certain areas of the skin.
Hyperpigmentation can appear as brown, black, gray, red or pink spots or patches. The spots are sometimes called age spots, sun spots or liver spots.
What Causes It?
There can be many causes the main one is over exposure to the sun as well as:
- Hormones from birth control pills or IUDs
- Hormones during pregnancy
- Medications
- Rashes such as eczema that cause inflammation in the skin
- Acne or picking at your acne
- Scratching chronically at your skin
Melasma
This is caused by the sun or hormones, for example in pregnancy. It is characterised by brown patches, mainly on the upper forehead, cheeks, and /or upper lip area. The sun makes this worse, very easily.
Freckles & Sun Damage
These are brown spots from the sun and they only appear in areas that have ha sun exposure. They become darker over time with more exposure to the sun.
Post Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation (PIH)
Discoloured reddish or brownish spots left over from acne, a bug bite, rash or a scratch.
How Can We Treat It?
Microneedling SkinPen ®
Also called collagen induction therapy (CIT). SO Aesthetics Clinic in Northern Ireland uses this treatment to cause micro injuries to the skin. Nurse Susie uses the FDA approved medical device. The micro needles penetrate the upper layer of skin and break up old strands of collagen in the lower layer. This evokes a wound healing response which in turn stimulates new collagen and elastin formation. The treatment will trigger the breakdown of melanin clumps in the skin. The wound-healing response creates better quality skin that is lighter in complexion and more evenly matched to our original skin tone.
Medical Grade Peel- BioRePeel Cl3®
Nurse Susie can use BioRePeel to help treat Hyperpigmentation. It is an excellent anti-ageing peel due to it containing all the essential amino acids and vitamins your skin needs. It also contains 35% TCA ( for face and neck) and 50% TCA ( for body)and GABA (Gamma Aminobutyrric Acid) which is the ingredient in the peel that helps to treat pigmentation issues.
Medical Grade Skincare
There are many products available in the Alumier Medical Grade Skincare range that Nurse Susie would recommend to treat hyperpigmentation. Here are a few of them:
Broad Spectrum SPF
This SPF creates a layer on the skin that physically blocks the harmful UVA,UVB and UVC rays. Hence the name, broad spectrum. It is the UVA rays that cause the ageing affect on the skin. It also creates a barrier.
Ever Active Vitamin C&E
Vitamin C can aid reducing hyperpigmentation since it impedes melanin production. (Melanin is the pigment in our skin). This amazing product has many other amazing benefits, as well as leaving your skin glowing.
Retinol
This pure potent retinol serum comes in three strengths and helps increase the amount of collagen in your skin as well as being able to treat pigmentation issues. They do this by reducing the signals sent to the pigment cells (melanin) in our skin.
Even Tone
EvenTone is a lightweight serum that contains naturally powerful brightening agents that work by different mechanisms to enhance results. Emblica™, white shiitake mushroom, licorice, and brightening peptides reduce the appearance of uneven skin tone. Hydroquinone-free formula.
Intellibright Complex
Intellibright Complex is a lightweight serum that contains naturally powerful skin brightening agents that work by different mechanisms to enhance results and resistance to new pigment formation.
Arbutin, kojic acid, and punica granatum extract even skin tone and improve the appearance of discolouration and sun damaged skin. Hydroquinone-free formula.
