Hyperpigmentation-Treatments

Skin Discoloration and Hyperpigmentation

Discoloration or darker patches on the skin occur when melanocytes, the cells that produce melanin, the skin's pigment, fail. Sometimes there are too many of them in some places, sometimes they are too active and produce too much dye. Discoloration most often appears in places exposed to the sun: on the face, hands, cleavage, forearms, shoulders and calves. They are caused by the sun's rays, hormonal changes and inflammation, as well as some drugs and photosensitizing substances present in medicines, perfumes and cosmetics, increase with age.

Types of discoloration

• Freckles, to which we are genetically prone, but their appearance is closely related to sun exposure, and the first freckles appear in childhood.
• Melasma or chloasma is a type of discoloration caused by hormones, the sun and genes. It usually appears during pregnancy, hormonal changes or taking oral contraceptives. It is most often located on the forehead, cheeks or around the mouth. It appears suddenly in the form of diffuse brown spots which darken even further when exposed to the sun.
• Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation occurs as a result of skin trauma, such as skin damage, acne or mechanical damage, and are located at the site of the injury.
• Age discoloration is larger than freckle spots that appear in old age in people who have abused the sun in earlier years.
• Toxic or chemical discoloration related to the use of cosmetics.
  

Treatments in clinic for hyperpigmentation

• Chemical Peels- Skin peels for hyperpigmentation treatment give improved and enhanced results when other topical therapies are unable to provide desired results. 
• Q-switch laser – It works effectively in treating stubborn patches of pigmentation. The pigments absorb the laser energy. It breaks off into smaller fragments and is naturally cleared away by the body and skin.
• Laser IPL – It uses non-abrasive lasers. When they hit your skin, they create a ‘controlled thermal injury. Thus triggering a natural response in the body to produce more collagen and elastin.