The primary triggers for hyperpigmentation are excessive sun exposure, hormonal imbalance, and skin injuries. These cause inflammation like blemishes or pimples on the skin surface. After experiencing triggers, your skin starts to overproduce melanin, resulting in dark patches on the skin.
A number of factors can trigger an increase in melanin production, but the main ones are sun exposure, hormonal influences, age and skin injuries or inflammation. Sun exposure is the number one cause of hyperpigmentation as it's sunlight that triggers the production of melanin in the first place.
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.
As sun exposure worsens hyperpigmentation it is important to protect the skin with sunscreen on a daily basis. Treatment often begins with a skin care regimen composed of a daily sunscreen, moisturizers, and skin care brighteners.
“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.
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.
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.
Hyperpigmentation is a general term for any skin condition that covers a large area and causes dark patches to appear. It occurs when the skin produces excess melanin, a natural substance that gives your skin color. A dark mark (or dark spot) is a specific area that appears darker than the surrounding skin.
Vitamin C has powerful antioxidant properties, neutralising free radicals to help protect the skin from damage caused by the sun's rays and other external aggressors. It's also gained a reputation for its ability to lighten areas of hyperpigmentation, helping visibly fade dark spots to achieve a more even skin tone.
Understanding the stages of pigmentation can help in managing and treating it effectively: Early Stage: This is when you first notice minor discoloration or spots that may be barely visible but are starting to affect the overall tone of your skin. Moderate Stage: Spots and discolorations become more pronounced.
What triggers hyperpigmentation? Triggers include sun exposure, hormonal changes, and trauma to the skin, for example, due to acne or an injury. Picking at scabs and spots may make it worse. Some face creams can irritate the skin, leading to further hyperpigmentation.
Call your health care provider for an appointment if you have: Skin discoloration that causes significant concern. Persistent, unexplained darkening or lightening of the skin. Any skin sore or lesion that changes shape, size, or color may be a sign of skin cancer.
Sun Exposure. Sun exposure is a common cause of skin pigmentation. The body produces more melanin, in order to defend itself against UV rays from the sun.
Three common types of hyperpigmentation include: Sunspots, age spots, liver spots, or solar lentigines. These are different names for spots that develop because of one thing—sun exposure. Sunspots are most likely to pop up on areas that are commonly exposed to the sun, such as your face and hands.
Hyperpigmentation refers to skin that darkens in comparison to its natural color. These patches of discoloration can develop anywhere on the skin, but are most often seen on sun-exposed areas such as the face, neck, chest, tops of the arms and hands, and shins.
Uneven skin tone refers to an overall uneven distribution of colour or pigmentation on the skin's surface. It can manifest as patches of darker or lighter areas, giving the skin a mottled or blotchy appearance.
The fastest way to get rid of hyperpigmentation is through dermatologist treatments such as chemical peels, microneedling, and laser treatments. In some cases, you can expect to see results within just a day or two.
Try: A skin-lightening ingredient like hydroquinone or cysteamine hydrochloride. Hydroquinone has been used for decades to help lighten dark spots. It's recommended for those who have stubborn melasma—you probably don't need hydroquinone if you have mild hyperpigmentation, says Dr.
Retinol benefits the skin in many ways – by stimulating cell turnover, renewing the skin, reducing sebum production and has even been proven to lighten some forms of pigmentation over time. This has resulted in retinol being increasingly touted as a solution for many skin conditions including hyperpigmentation.
Avoid products that contain retinol and Vitamin A because they deprive your skin of moisture. It's much better to use a moisturizer that is specially designed for black skin. Our Healing Body Balm will keep your skin moisturized naturally. It also helps heal eczema, psoriasis, and severely dry skin.