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.
Usually the pigmentation production begins in the deeper layers of the skin, and then these pigments come to the surface of the skin and later show up as dark spots or hyperpigmentation. As the skin constantly regenerates these dark spots tend to darker with time in most people.
Based on your skin complexion, these areas can appear brown, tan, pink, gray, black, or even purple. As opposed to a suntan, which comes and goes, hyperpigmentation tends to be more longstanding, although areas may lighten or fade with time and treatment.
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.
Many patients may begin to notice the presence of tan to brown to gray patches on their skin, which are often worsened with sun exposure. This condition is called hyperpigmentation and affects both men and women.
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.
The darkening of certain areas of the skin can occur at any age and are often caused by sun exposure, inflammation, hormonal changes, or ageing. When exposed to the sun's damaging UV rays, the skin produces excess melanin, resulting in darker patches or sunspots.
“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.
One study showed that visible light caused more noticeable, persistent hyperpigmentation that UVA alone, especially in people with deep skin tones.
Areas of hyperpigmentation might also fade on their own without treatment. To help speed up the process, there are several different types of topical medication that can reduce PIH skin spots: Skin lighteners such as hydroquinone and azelaic acid to help reduce melanin production.
The length of time it takes for PIH to fade depends on how dark the spot is compared to the surrounding skin. The bigger the contrast between the dark area and your natural skin tone, the longer it will take to fade. PIH doesn't always fade away on its own. In some cases, it's more or less permanent.
Vitamin C can help reduce hyperpigmentation and even out skin tone, with noticeable results in as little as 3-4 weeks. After two months of use, users may experience significant fading of hyperpigmentation.
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.
Treating the underlying cause of acanthosis nigricans can make the dark patches of skin fade or even disappear. This can mean stopping any medicine that's causing the problem or treating diabetes and other health conditions. Losing weight will help acanthosis nigricans fade.
Some may also have skin discoloration due to using niacinamide combined with other active ingredients that are too harsh for your skin type. Niacinamide can also cause problems when it's mixed with the following substances: Acids, including lactic acid, glycolic acid, and azelaic acid.
Glycolic or salicylic acid peels.
They can help fade dark spots, brighten skin, decrease the appearance of pores and minimize fine lines. Depending upon your skin type and degree of hyperpigmentation, most experts will recommend a series of peels, spaced about a month apart.
The energy from the laser blasts away pigment in the skin, making it temporarily look more even-toned. However, the bad news is that the inflammation triggered by the heat and light from the laser stimulate the skin cells that produce melanin to turn back on — in fact, they turn on even more strongly than before.
In general, PIH that affects only the epidermis (the top skin layer) disappears or fades significantly on its own within six to 12 months, while dermal hyperpigmentation may take considerably longer to fade and disappear, or it may be permanent.
Alpha arbutin helps reduce melanin production, fade existing dark spots and prevent new ones from forming, making it a highly effective ingredient for addressing pigmentation issues. You can also use other face serums like azelaic acid, and vitamin C for pigmentation.
Causes of hyperpigmentation include: Skin inflammation (post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation) Use of certain drugs (such as minocycline, certain cancer chemotherapies, and birth control pills) Hormone system diseases such as Addison disease.
Vitamin C aids in the brightening process by priming the skin cells and making them more susceptible to the effects of Glutathione. Additionally, research suggests that Vitamin C itself may possess some brightening properties.