Pigmentation means colouring. When a person is healthy, their skin color will appear normal. In the case of illness or injury, the person’s skin may change color, becoming darker (hyperpigmentation) or lighter (hypopigmentation). Some pigmentation diseases only impact specific areas of the skin. Others have a body-wide impact.
Melanin is the pigment that gives your skin its color. It is created by certain skin cells called melanocytes. The production of melanin is impacted when these cells are harmed or become unhealthy. Your skin darkens if your body produces an excessive amount of melanin and vice versa. Spots or patches of pigmentation might be brown, black, grey, red, or pink. Sometimes these spots are referred to as liver spots, aging spots, or sun spots.
Your skin can become pigmented due to things like Addison’s illness, sun exposure, pregnancy and some other disorders. If you encounter any kind of pigmentation on your skin, it is advised to consult a dermatologist because self medication can make matters worse.
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Below mentioned are some conditions that may cause skin pigmentation:
Skin pigmentation is a common skin condition, and there are a number of different treatment options available. Keep reading to learn more about your options, including what to expect from different treatment procedures.
A laser treatment uses targeted beams of light to reduce hyperpigmentation. The latest and most popular laser technique in this area is the PicoSure laser technology. It’s fast, safe, and non-invasive, and the results are backed by scientific evidence too.
The Pico laser works by sending ultra-short pulses of energy without heat to targeted areas. The laser’s impact on the skin is intense, it breaks the problematic skin pigment or particles. These are then eliminated naturally by the body. The benefits of Pico laser are as follows:
Face acids and skin acids act by removing the top layer of your skin through exfoliation. Every time you exfoliate your skin, fresh skin cells replace the old ones. Your skin will become more even in tone and smoother overall as a result of the process.
Many face acids are available OTC at beauty stores and drugstores. Popular options include: alpha hydroxy acids, such as glycolic, lactic, citric, malic, or tartaric acid, azelaic acid, kojic acid, salicylic acid and vitamin C (in the form of l-ascorbic acid). Face acids work well for mild hyperpigmentation on fairer skin tones.
Retinoids, which are derived from vitamin A, are one of the oldest traditional OTC skin care components. Their small molecular size enables them to treat the skin layers beneath your epidermis by penetrating the skin deeply. Both prescription and over-the-counter retinoids are available widely. However OTC versions typically have lower efficiency.
After a few months, if you still don’t notice any improvement, consult your dermatologist. All skin tones may be safe for OTC retinoids, but if you have darker skin and intend to use these products, you should double-check with your dermatologist. It’s also crucial to remember that hyperpigmentation is less frequently treated with retinoids because retinoids are more suitable for treating wrinkles.
When performing a chemical peel, greater concentrations of acids are used to treat the targeted skin area. By eliminating the top layer of your skin, chemical peels lessen the appearance of hyperpigmentation.
To achieve more dramatic results, stronger versions of chemical peels are used, they may actually reach the central layer of your skin. But you may want to think twice about obtaining a professional-grade peel or consult your dermatologist for a heads up before you get the chemical peel done.
It is because redness, irritation, blisters, infection, scarring, and an allergic reaction are all potential side effects of chemical peels, whether done at home or in a medical facility. Chemical peels might not be suitable for you if you frequently spend time in the sun. As your skin becomes more susceptible to the sun’s rays after chemical peels.
Whitening creams are over-the-counter (OTC) treatments that help reduce pigmentation. They’re often used once or twice a day to gradually lighten the skin. Licorice extract and vitamin B-3 are two substances frequently found in over-the-counter lightening remedies.
For flat areas like melasma or age spots, whitening lotions or gels work well. These treatments work for almost all skin types. But if you have sensitive skin consult your dermatologist before using lightening creams.
IPL therapy, also referred to as photofacial, promotes collagen production in the dermis. It is used to treat general pigmentation problems, although flat areas respond particularly well to this therapy.
Also, it can aid in lessening the visibility of wrinkles, spider veins, and enlarged pores. But you may require several sessions of IPL therapy before it shows any results.
An in-office technique called microdermabrasion is used to treat hyperpigmentation that only affects the epidermis (superficial scarring). Your dermatologist will use a drill-like handheld equipment with a wire brush or other abrasive attachment throughout the operation.
The epidermis is then swiftly removed from your skin using the instrument. To get the best results, you might require several sessions of microdermabrasion.
Dermabrasion removes your epidermis, but it also has an impact on a portion of your dermis. Dermabrasion is typically used to address textural issues, these include scars from acne, age spots, chickenpox, injuries, and sun damage. Also it is occasionally used to smooth out wrinkles.
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