Hyperpigmentation

Hyperpigmentation is a common, usually harmless condition in which patches of skin become darker in colour than the normal surrounding skin. This darkening occurs when an excess of melanin, the brown pigment that produces normal skin colour, forms deposits in the skin. Hyperpigmentation can affect the skin colour of people of any race. While it may be common, and harmless, the potential embarrassment it can cause will lead sufferers to seek a treatment solution. The Melrose Aesthetic Centre, a specialized skin care centre, can offer several excellent forms of treatment for hyperpigmentation.

Age or "liver" spots are a common form of hyperpigmentation. They occur due to sun damage, and are referred to by doctors as solar lentigines. These small, darkened patches are usually found on the hands and face or other areas frequently exposed to the sun. Melasma or chloasma spots are similar in appearance to age spots but are larger areas of darkened skin that appear most often as a result of hormonal changes. Pregnancy, for example, can trigger overproduction of melanin that causes the "mask of pregnancy" on the face and darkened skin on the abdomen and other areas. Women who take birth control pills may also develop hyperpigmentation because their bodies undergo similar kind of hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy.

Hyperpigmentation can also result from outside causes. For example, skin conditions such as acne may leave dark spots after the condition clears. Other causes of dark spots are injuries to the skin, including some surgeries. Freckles, an inherited characteristic, are small brown spots that can appear anywhere on the body, but are most common on the face and arms. Freckles, age spots, and other darkened skin patches can become darker or more pronounced when skin is exposed to the sun, and this happens because melanin absorbs the energy of the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays in order to protect he skin from overexposure. The usual result of this process is skin tanning, which tends to darken areas that are already hyperpigmented.

Treatments for Hyperpigmentation

Laser Treament – The Sciton Profile BBL™ will gently heat up the upper layers of your skin. The heat absorbed by the targeted areas will stimulate your skin cells to generate new collagen. This will help restore your skin to its natural beauty, blending its natural colours and making it smoother, vibrant and younger-looking.

Chemical Peels – A TCA Peel or deeper Phenol Peel are also used to treat hyperpigmentation. Both are beneficial in reducing or eliminating the effects of aging and in particular aging from sun damage, pigmentation caused by sun damage, as well as treatment of the pigmentation of melasma and chloasma. TCA or Phenol peels are also of great benefit in treating more difficult cases of acne and for superficial acne scarring.

Laser Peel – The Sciton Profile Contour7trade; is used to remove thin layers of your skin's surface, which will be replaced by younger skin growth, and pigmented lesions will greatly improve.

Topical skin lightening products containing skin lightening ingredients, such as hydroquinone, retinoids, kojic acid, and Vitamin C are often used to reduce hyperpigmentation, but are less effective, and only mask or superficially treat the condition.

Contact The Melrose Aesthetic Centre for an appointment, and restore your confidence, and give your skin the smoother, even skin tone you want, along with a more youthful appearance.