Skin with too much melanin is called hyperpigmented skin. Skin with too little melanin is called hypopigmented. Skin with no melanin at all is called depigmented. Pale skin areas are due to too little melanin or underactive melanocytes.
The three main types include age spots, melasma, and post-inflammatory trauma. Post-inflammatory trauma can result from an injury, sun exposure, or a skin condition, such as acne.
... from zero to four (0: skin color comparable to other facial skin; 1: faint pigmentation or change in color of infraorbital fold; 2: more pronounced pigmentation or change in color of the infraorbital fold; 3: deep dark pigmentation or change in color, all four eyelids; 4: grade 3 with pigmentation or change in ...
Does Hyperpigmentation Get Darker Before It Fades? Yes, sometimes, the body speeds up pigment production before the cells break down and fade. But sometimes, the dark spots can also fade without getting darker first.
Causes of hyperpigmentation
sun exposure. genetics. hormonal fluctuations, such as during pregnancy. medications, including certain antibiotics and drugs that cause increased sensitivity to the sun.
“Treatments containing ingredients like vitamin C, licorice root, and kojic acid help reduce hyperpigmentation by inhibiting tyrosinase, an enzyme responsible for the formation of skin-darkening melanin," says Ni'Kita Wilson, a cosmetic chemist in New York City.
A new observation reported here illustrates that Wood's light can be used to determine the depth of melanin pigmentation in the skin: contrast in epidermal pigmentation is increased while contrast in dermal pigmentation is decreased under Wood's lamp illumination compared to ambient visible light.
Topical HQ is regarded as the gold standard for the treatment of facial hyperpigmentation. HQ is a bleaching agent that acts by inhibiting tyrosinase to limit melanin production in the skin.
It appears as irregular patches of tan, brown or brown-gray pigmentation, usually on the face. Melasma is more common in women than men because of hormonal changes, and it occurs more often during pregnancy. Other common triggers include sun exposure and medications like as oral contraceptives.
Does Drinking Water Help Pigmentation? Research notes that increasing how much water you drink everyday can positively impact the skin's overall health and appearance. 5 This suggests, that in some cases, staying hydrated may help with some types of skin pigmentation.
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.
Pigmentation or hyperpigmentation as it is also known, can occur for a variety of reasons. The effects can also become more obvious as we age, and if left untreated and unprotected can worsen. Common causes of hyperpigmentation are: over-exposure to the sun.
Three of the best vitamins for lightening dark spots are vitamin C, vitamin B12, and vitamin E. Vitamin C helps your skin produce more collagen while inhibiting the formation of melanin. Vitamin B12 also promotes collagen formation while supporting the growth of new skin cells.
Green Tea
Green tea contains antioxidants, particularly catechins, which may help protect the skin from damage caused by UV rays. Sipping on this tea can help reverse signs of aging and reduce the impact of pigmentation on topical application.
Some of the best creams for pigmentation in India include Kojic Acid and Vitamin C Cream (₹95) and Zeeglow Glycolic Acid, Arbutin, and Kojic Acid Cream (₹149). These creams are effective in reducing dark spots and evening out skin tone.
In the case of pigmentation, the melanin production is in balance, leading to an even and natural skin tone. However, with hyperpigmentation, there is an overproduction of melanin in specific areas, resulting in darker patches or spots.
The patch pattern can also help you determine if you have melasma or hyperpigmentation. "Hyperpigmentation is usually very focused, whereas melasma appears as broad patches with intervening areas of clearing," says Anthony Rossi, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City.