Exfoliation is the act of removing dead skin cells from the skin. If the first layer of skin contains the hyperpigmentation, then exfoliation will help to get rid of the tricky skin cells on that top layer, leaving it soft and smooth.
Dark spots, hyperpigmentation, melasma, even discoloration left by acne are all forms of excess melanin. Exfoliation helps to reduce the excess melanin by breaking up the pigmented cells and sloughing them off.
You're exfoliating too harshly.
“Patients sometimes try to aggressively exfoliate dark spots to fade them, but that can often make the problem worse,” says Dr. Choudhury. “Too much scrubbing can darken the hyperpigmentation.”
"Darker skin is more likely to develop patchy pigmentation (post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation) if it is irritated or damaged – that's exactly what excessive exfoliation is." That's not all: exfoliating too much can also disrupt your skin's natural equilibrium, causing it to overproduce sebum (or underproduce it).
Gonzalez. So mature skin may be thin, dehydrated, contain open pores, and have visible wrinkles. Exfoliating one-two times a week keeps the skin tight, improves hyperpigmentation, smooths wrinkles, and corrects dark spots without irritating the skin, she says.
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It is super important to exfoliate your skin, as it helps liberate dead skin cells, revealing a fresh new layer of radiant skin. That sloughing process helps to even out skin tone and even in some cases fade fine lines.
Exfoliation removes dead skin cells from the surface of skin - and you may be wondering, does exfoliating remove dark spots? Well, sadly they won't be completely gone, but exfoliation will help to diminish the appearance of dark spots.
Exfoliate Your Skin Regularly
Using physical and chemical exfoliants in your skincare routine will help to lighten your skin at a quicker rate since melanin is expressed in the keratinocytes.
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Gently exfoliating the skin will help remove pigmented dead skin cells from the outer layer of skin. This can reduce the appearance of the tan.
Some cases of hyperpigmentation may never go away completely. If hyperpigmentation is caused by injury, then as the skin heals the discoloration will lessen as melanin is absorbed into the tissue surrounding the injury.
How long does it take for hyperpigmentation to fade? Once what's causing the dark spots or patches is found and stopped, fading can take time. A spot that is a few shades darker than your natural skin color will usually fade within 6 to 12 months. If the color lies deep in your skin, however, fading can take years.
Chemical peels, laser therapy, microdermabrasion, or dermabrasion are all options that work similarly to rid skin of hyperpigmentation. These procedures work to gently remove the top layer of your skin where the dark spots lie.
Most experts advise that you exfoliate two to three times per week — as long as your skin can handle it. Chemical exfoliants tend to be fine to use more regularly. Physical methods, on the other hand, may be too abrasive to use multiple times a week.
Does Exfoliating Remove Scars? Exfoliating can fade scars and make them smoother and less noticeable. But if you'd like to remove your scars, you may need treatment such as laser therapy.
Pigmentation on and around lips can be the result of dehydration, among other lifestyle and environmental factors. But don't worry as smooth, healthy lips are just a scrub away. Scrubbing helps exfoliate dead skin cells and makes them appear brighter and smoother.
DON'T rinse off a chemical exfoliant
After exfoliating, don't wash it off right away - the active ingredients take time to absorb into your skin and work their magic! Leave your exfoliant on for about 15-30 minutes to ensure the ingredients dissolve and remove all dead skin cells.
Lack of exfoliation leads to build up of dead skin cells, and could result into dry, dull, patchy, flaky skin, clogged pores, with uneven skin tone.
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, exfoliation can leave your skin looking brighter and improve the effectiveness of topical skin care products by enhancing absorption. Regular exfoliation can also help prevent clogged pores, resulting in fewer breakouts.
Hyperpigmentation within the dermis has a blue-gray appearance and may either be permanent or resolve over a protracted period of time if left untreated.
This increases the concentration of melanin in the epidermis, creating a temporary darkening of the spots. So, the darkening is what you want to see. It means the pigment is coming up and is ready to be shed away. You might be tempted at this point to over-exfoliate in an attempt to speed up the process even more.
Yes. Active treatment accelerates cell turnover, pulling pigmented cells to the surface at a faster rate. This increases the concentration of melanin in the epidermis, which can create a temporary darkening of the spots. The darkening means the pigment is coming up and is ready to be shed away.