Are you bothered by dark spots on your skin? Dark patches on the skin are quite common and can affect people of any age. However, if you don’t like the way your skin discoloration looks and you’re ready to do something about it, you may be wondering what treatments can help.
What Exactly Is Hyperpigmentation?
Hyperpigmentation refers to dark spots or patches that appear in different areas of the skin and are darker than the normal skin tone. These dark spots vary in size and develop as a result of pigment issues.
What Causes Hyperpigmentation?
Hyperpigmentation occurs because of the overproduction of melanin in the skin. Melanin is the pigment that gives skin color and is produced by cells known as melanocytes.
The amount of melanin in the skin determines skin tone. Melanin provides natural protection against the UV rays of the sun.
Excess melanin production may occur as a result of factors such as excess sun exposure, fluctuating hormone levels, injury to the skin, and acne. However, overexposure to the sun’s UV rays is the most common culprit.
The sun’s rays naturally stimulate melanin as a form of protection against sunburn, but when too much melanin is produced dark patches form on the skin.
What Treatments Can Help Reduce Hyperpigmentation
There are a variety of treatment options available for hyperpigmentation including, chemical peels, laser skin resurfacing, microneedling, and IPL FotoFacial RF. These treatments not only reduce hyperpigmentation, they also improve the overall quality of the skin.
- Chemical Peels
A chemical peel is a skin resurfacing treatment in which a chemical solution is applied to the skin to exfoliate the outermost layers.
Chemical peels may contain alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) such as glycolic acid and lactic acid, beta-hydroxy acids (BHAs) such as salicylic acid, or trichloroacetic acid (TCA).
During a chemical peel, the chemical solution is placed on the skin and penetrates the outer layers, causing the skin to peel. The damaged skin cells that lift off are replaced by new cells that are smoother, clearer, and look more youthful.
Recovery after a chemical peel varies based on the depth of the peel.
- Laser Skin Resurfacing
Laser skin resurfacing is a non-surgical cosmetic treatment that uses laser technology to reduce skin irregularities and improve the tone and texture of the skin.
There are two types of laser treatments, ablative and non-ablative. When treating hyperpigmentation, the laser energy selectively targets and breaks up the pigmented areas of the skin.
Fractional lasers are very effective for the treatment of hyperpigmentation. Fractional lasers create microscopic holes in the skin that lead to a controlled injury.
As the skin heals, healthy new skin emerges that is clearer than before. The results of fractional laser resurfacing last a long time and downtime is minimal.
- Microneedling
Microneedling also known as collagen induction therapy, is a skin rejuvenation treatment in which tiny needles are used to create controlled micro-injuries in the skin. Treatment is done with a microneedling device equipped with tiny needles.
Microneedling tackles hyperpigmentation by encouraging the growth of new skin cells that reduce visible pigmentation and improve skin health. It also stimulates the production of collagen.
Microneedling is a quick treatment that delivers measurable results with minimal to no downtime.
Doctors typically recommend a series of 3 treatments to achieve the best results with microneedling. Sessions are spaced about 6 weeks apart.
- IPL FotoFacial RF
IPL FotoFacial RF is a non-invasive procedure that uses a combination of intense pulsed light and radiofrequency energy to improve the appearance of the skin. It can be safely used on all parts of the body including the face, neck, and arms.
The device emits gentle pulses of light and radiofrequency energy that target sunspots and other signs of hyperpigmentation. The areas of discoloration are gradually reduced over the course of several treatments.
The RF energy also stimulates collagen production which smooths and tightens the skin, reduces enlarged pores, and enhances skin texture.
IPL FotoFacial RF is a quick, totally painless procedure that leaves the skin renewed and refreshed.
If you would like to treat hyperpigmentation and restore your skin’s inner glow, visit a dermatologist for an evaluation, and find out which treatment option would be the right for you.
