Melanin is a substance that gives skin and hair it's natural color. Those with darker skin have higher amounts of melanin. In contrast, those with fair skin have less melanin.
In humans melanogenesis is a darkening of the skin, or an increased production of melanin, also called hyper-pigmentation. This is common and usually a harmless condition. This will show as patches of skin that become darker in color than the normal surrounding skin. The darkening occurs when an excess of melanin (the brown pigment) that produces normal skin color forms deposits in the skin.
We use a Fitzpatrick scale 1-6 to measure or type skin color. Someone who has very pale skin, freckles, light eyes, red or blond hair would be a 1 on the scale. The other end of the scale would be black skin, dark hair, rarely sun sensitive would be a 6. Every person on this scale can have different forms of hyper-pigmentation. With this being said there are ways to treat every Fitzpatrick type with different acid peels, home care products, and professional treatments in the office.
It is very important to have an aesthetician or doctor to understand your skin type and what products work best for you! Always ask questions!! Everyone is different and what works for one does not work for all! This is why I tailor all my treatments to each patients needs.
Hyper-pigmentation can occur from different types of sources UV rays, sun damage, hormonal changes, and post acne inflammation. There are a variety reasons why you may see hyper-pigmentation on your skin.
I also see a lot of women with melasma around their lips (it looks like a mustache) or on the cheeks and forehead. WE CAN FIX THIS!!
8 out of 10 people I see in the office have some form of hyper-pigmentation.
Are there treatments for hyper-pigmentation ? Yes, With proper home care and professional skin care treatments you can make a difference in your skin. Following the directions given to you by your aesthetician or doctor is a MUST! If you don't follow the protocol you will not get your desired results. Sometimes you need to have pretreatments if you have a series of chemical peels also post care is very important.
AND PLEASE USE YOUR SUNSCREEN THIS IS NECESSARY TO KEEP YOUR HYPER-PIGMENTATION FROM BECOMING WORSE OR NEW SPOTS APPEARING.
Today we have many different tools and ingredients to help treat hyper-pigmentation.
Hydroquinone is one of the oldie but goodies. A prescription needed for hydroquinone! You can purchase retail products from your medspa or doctors office like cleansers, moisturizer, sunscreen, and serums that have hydroquinone and other skin lighteners in them. Always make sure what products you use are for your skin type, you can cause damage leading to hypo-pigmentation which is loss of color leaving the skin with white or lighter color patches, there is no treatment for hypo-pigmentation.
Ingredients to look for...........
Watermelon extract - skin lightener
licorice extract - skin lightener
Willow bark extract - skin lightener
Mulberry - skin lightener
Bearberry - skin lightener
Kojic acid - skin lightener
Glycolic acid - exfoliant and skin lightener
Arbutin - skin lightener
Niacinamide - skin lightener
Paper Mulberry - skin lightener
Remember please use your sunscreen to prevent early signs of aging, hyper-pigmentation and the most important use it to help defend yourself from Skin Cancer!
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