How to Choose the Right Hyperpigmentation Treatment for Your Skin Type?

Hyperpigmentation treatments, while efficient for your skin, may bring numerous after-effects that may not suit all skin types.
Stronger ingredients such as hydroquinone resolve skin concerns like pigmentation but also leave you with a barrage of complications such as irritation, inflammation, and even the rare gray-blue discoloration.
Considering the holistic well-being of your skin, it becomes very important to ask how to treat pigmentation with minimal side effects. And the answer lies within your skin type.

Keynote

• Hyperpigmentation often manifests in the form of dark spots and patches that can take a toll on your skin tone and self-esteem.
• Your skin type should determine the course of treatment you choose to avoid products that cause further irritations.
• For dry skin, gentle ingredients like Thiamidol, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid work best.
• Oily skin type benefits from exfoliating ingredients like salicylic acid, lactic acid, and antioxidants like vitamin C.
• Hyperpigmentation treatment for sensitive skin must be chosen carefully. Reactive skin responds well to gentle agents like Thiamidol, jojoba oil, and licorice extract.

Hyperpigmentation is a common skin concern that often shows up as dark spots, freckles, blemishes, age spots, or darkened patches caused by melasma.
While the condition does not affect physical health, it does more than enough to change how one perceives themselves.
Hyperpigmentation can take a hit at one’s self-esteem and their skin’s appearance which is why learning how to treat pigmentation becomes vital.
Having several effective topical skin actives at your disposal just goes to make the process easier.

Given the numerous options that one has, it becomes tough to choose the right treatment for pigmentation on the face.
While some treatments have been highly praised in public forums, the best hyperpigmentation treatment is the one that suits your skin type and skin concerns.
You may find even some of the best hyperpigmentation treatments come along with after-effects that do not suit your skin type and cause new skin concerns as a result.
Selecting the right treatment for pigmentation for your skin enables you to minimize any irritation or skin complications that may arise with the treatment right off the bat.
Start with analysing whether you have oily skin, dry skin, or a sensitive skin type before you move on to treatments.
Once you have your skin type narrowed down, read on to learn more about how to treat pigmentation.

Hyperpigmentation Treatment for Dry Skin

Dry skin presents when the stratum corneum - the outermost layer of your epidermis - lacks moisture or sebum.
It can be caused by a number of physiological and environmental factors, or simply as a result of the products you have been using.
As a result, dryness shows up in the form of flaky, itchy, scaly skin with fine lines. Since numerous treatments for pigmentation on the face rely on exfoliating the skin, dryness and irritation may be a common after-effect.
To avoid creating further complications for dry skin, it’s best to choose gentler topical acids.

1. Thiamidol

With proven efficacy after thorough clinical tests, Thiamidol comes through as an effective hyperpigmentation treatment for dry skin.
The compound interacts with tyrosinase, the enzyme responsible for stimulating melanin production.
In doing so, Thiamidol effectively regulates melanin and tackles hyperpigmentation at its root.
Owing to its gentle formulation, Thiamidol leads to rare and limited side effects to make it a compatible hyperpigmentation treatment for dry skin.
With its stable formulation, Thiamidol is easily infused into skincare products like serums, moisturisers or creams for dry skin.

Our Recommendation: Try Eucerin's Face Serum for Glowing Skin

2. Niacinamide

A vitamin B3 derivative, niacinamide works wonders for your dry skin.
The topical acid is known to reduce the appearance of hyperpigmentation while reducing the symptoms of photoaging.
Additionally, when it comes to finding the best hyperpigmentation treatment for dry skin, niacinamide pulls through again.
The ingredient functions by repairing the stratum corneum barrier function by increasing the presence of ceramides and free fatty acid levels.

3. Hyaluronic Acid

One of the most common dermo-aesthetic ingredients, hyaluronic acid or HA is known for its ability to rejuvenate the skin.
Often used in the form of dermal injections or topical acids, this hyperpigmentation treatment for dry skin is known to improve skin hydration, elasticity, and additive benefits such as minimising the appearance of wrinkles.
While HA in itself may not be the most effective treatment for hyperpigmentation, try to look for products that combine it with more potent treatments for pigmentation on the face.

Our Recommendation: Try Eucerin's Pigmentation Serum

Hyperpigmentation Treatment for Oily Skin

Appearing as ‘greasy’ or ‘shiny’, oily skin is marked by an overproduction of sebum and larger pores.
Often a result of dietary, genetic, or environmental factors, oily skin is a persistent condition that can lead to pimples, acne breakouts, and clogged pores.
Using topical products on oily skin can prove to be troublesome owing to their consistency.
This is where it becomes essential to look for exfoliating and lightweight substances when wondering how to treat pigmentation for oily skin.

Salicylic Acid

A widely used beta-hydroxy acid or BHA, salicylic acid is a commonly used ingredient in chemical peels as a treatment for pigmentation on the face.
The topical application of this exfoliant also delivers vital benefits for tackling pigmentation and acne, especially for those with oily skin.
As a hyperpigmentation treatment for oily skin, the ingredient aids desquamation or the shedding of dead skin cells on the outer layer of the skin.
In doing so, the BHA leaves you with more even-toned skin with unclogged pores.

Our Recommendation: Try Eucerin's DermoPurifyer Cleansing Gel for Oily Skin

Lactic Acid

Another widely used ingredient for hyperpigmentation, lactic acid falls under alpha-hydroxy acid or the AHA group of exfoliants.
Lactic acid goes within the outermost layer of your skin to remove dead skin cells and give you a smoother skin tone and texture while preventing any clogged pores.
This commonly used hyperpigmentation treatment for oily skin is suitable for all skin types. If you wonder how to treat pigmentation with AHAs, try to add gentle lactic acid toners to your morning and night-time skin regimen.

Our Recommendation: Try Eucerin's DermoPurifyer Face Toner for Oily Skin and DermoPurifyer Triple Effect Face Serum for Oily Skin

Vitamin C

Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is another powerful ingredient that can assist in hyperpigmentation treatment for oily skin.
Aside from its potent antioxidant properties, vitamin C also helps with melanin regulation to improve your overall skin tone and remove the dullness often found in oily skin.
Vitamin C also helps with an anti-inflammatory effect on acne breakouts, which are more common in oily skin types.

Hyperpigmentation Treatment for Sensitive Skin

Sensitive skin refers to highly reactive skin that experiences symptoms such as tightness, itching, and stinging more commonly than the normal skin type.
Predominantly found on the face, sensitive skin can be triggered by a number of physical and environmental factors such as age, weather, lifestyle, genetics, or even a hampered skin barrier.
If you wonder how to treat pigmentation, gentle products are the answer.

Thiamidol

An ingredient that maintains a high efficacy while being very gentle on the skin is Thiamidol, helping dry skin, oily skin, and sensitive skin too.
These factors make it one of the best hyperpigmentation treatments for a sensitive skin type.
Thiamidol presents with minimal and rare side effects while maintaining its potency as a treatment for pigmentation on the face.
As a more effective inhibitor of human tyrosinase out of 50,000 tested compounds, Thiamidol presented significant results against hyperpigmentation.
With a high tolerability, the ingredient proves to be a fitting hyperpigmentation treatment for sensitive skin which can be used daily and even up to four times a day.

Our Recommendation: Try Eucerin's Night Cream for Pigmentation

Jojoba Oil

An anti-inflammatory emollient, jojoba oil is another efficacious hyperpigmentation treatment for sensitive skin.
Rich in antioxidants and fatty acids, the natural oil is known for skin-brightening properties while toning down inflammation and dryness within the skin.
As a treatment for pigmentation on the face, jojoba oil is ideal for dry to sensitive skin as it increases the flexibility of your skin while reducing moisture loss.
It can also be used to remove comedones, preventing clogging of pores which ultimately leads to acne.

Licorice or Licochalcone A

Licorice root or its extracts like Licochalcone A (LA) are ideally suited to hyperpigmentation treatment for sensitive skin.
Licochalcone A neutralises free radicals that lead to dark spots or marks on the skin to prevent hyperpigmentation concerns.
The licorice root extract also helps deal with skin concerns such as acne and melasma, alongside treating dark spots and pigmentation, making it one of the best treatments for pigmentation.

Our Recommendation: Try Eucerin's Hydro Protect Lightweight Sunscreen

Considering your skin type and its needs becomes sacrosanct while learning how to treat pigmentation.
With several alternatives listed down for each skin type, select the one that makes the most sense for you and remain consistent with your regimen for at least a few weeks to see the effects.
If you’re uncertain about which skin type you fall under, it’s best to consult a dermatologist and limit your regimen to only dermatologically tested products.

What skin type is prone to hyperpigmentation?

All skin types are prone to hyperpigmentation but oily and acne-prone skin often requires hyperpigmentation treatment. However, factors such as hormonal imbalance, sun exposure, and genetic dispositions may lead to hyperpigmentation in all skin types.

How can I check my skin type?

Visual inspection and monitoring of your skin’s behaviour is the most common way to understand your skin type. You can also use blotting papers to measure the sebum production on your skin or consult a dermatologist for a professional opinion.

How quickly can I fade hyperpigmentation?

Laser therapy, chemical peels, and micro-needling are some of the fastest clinical methods to treat hyperpigmentation. However, if you’re looking for the best hyperpigmentation treatments at home you can invest in topical acids such as Thiamidol which treat pigmentation effectively with minimal side-effects.

How can I remove hyperpigmentation on my face?

Dermatologically tested and clinically researched topical acids can be a great way of learning how to treat pigmentation. Create a skin regimen using effective products like Thiamidol, salicylic acid, hyaluronic acid, and more to remove hyperpigmentation on the face.

Can pigmentation come back?

Yes. Pigmentation can be a recurring skin concern, especially if you’re prone to hormonal imbalance or spend long hours in the sun. This is why it’s vital to create a regular regimen with the best hyperpigmentation treatments to prevent any recurrences.