How to Treat Skin Pigmentation?

Hyperpigmentation treatments may differ with the cause of one’s condition.
This is why it becomes crucial to understand hyperpigmentation while narrowing down its possible causes.

Hyperpigmentation Meaning

Hyperpigmentation, simply put, is the darkening of certain areas of your skin.
The spots, patches, or blemishes may vary in shape or size and may appear anywhere on the body.
Hyperpigmentation is largely caused by the overproduction of melanin, the pigment that is responsible for lending color to your skin, hair, and eyes.
Factors like sun exposure, environmental stressors, or hormonal imbalances lead to the overproduction of melanin, causing hyperpigmentation.

Types of Hyperpigmentation

Hyperpigmentation can appear in various forms: dark spots, discolored patches, melasma, or acne scars.
Age spots, often brown or tan, result from aging and too much sun exposure. These commonly show on your face, forearms, and shoulders.
Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH), on the other hand, refers to acne marks. This happens when skin conditions like acne or eczema leave dark patches behind.
Melasma, which is often found in women after hormonal changes, can create larger, darker blotches, primarily on the face.
These types of hyperpigmentation are different from freckles—small, flat brownish spots that become more evident after you step out in the sun.

Common Causes

A number of environmental stressors and physiological changes can lead to hyperpigmentation.
Once you narrow down the cause, you can proceed with a treatment that proves to be effective.
Sun exposure and UV rays are the leading causes of hyperpigmentation. These can leave you with tans and dark spots.
Hormonal changes also play a crucial role, especially when it comes to conditions like melasma. This type of hyperpigmentation can be triggered by factors such as pregnancy or puberty.
Treating different types of pigmentation often involves the use of potent actives that suit your skin type.

Selecting the appropriate treatment for hyperpigmentation is essential for achieving desired results while minimizing potential side effects.
The best approach often depends on the type and cause of hyperpigmentation, as well as individual skin type and sensitivity.
A patch test is advisable before committing to a full treatment.

Hyperpigmentation treatments are a process and may take time to show results, depending on how well you follow the regimen.
Topical treatments, or skin care serums, are often the first-line pigmentation treatments for the face.
Skin actives such as hydroquinone, kojic acid, glycolic acid, and even gentler alternatives like Thiamidol fall under these. They can be accompanied by oral formulations too, such as melatonin.

Then comes the chemical peels and laser therapy, your second-line hyperpigmentation treatment. These must be administered by professionals and often come bundled with side effects, leaving your skin peeled or dried out.
Seeing the complications brought along by these treatments, alternatives such as micro-needling are taking the spotlight too.

When on the lookout for the best treatments for pigmentation, weigh in your skin type and concerns. Then it’s time to look at what these treatments can do for you -

Topical Acids

A popular hyperpigmentation treatment, topical acids help with site-specific hyperpigmentation such as dark spots.
Formulated as serums, creams, or even gels, these pigmentation treatments work by regulating melanin production.
Skin actives such as Thiamidol work by inhibiting tyrosinase, the enzyme responsible for melanin production.
This is how the topical acids go about pigmentation removal.

Pros

• Topical hyperpigmentation treatments are ideal for dealing with site-specific hyperpigmentation, from sun spots to post-acne marks, emerging as one of the best treatments for pigmentation.
• While being a part of your skincare routine for pigmentation, topical acids also serve other benefits. For instance, glycolic acid also helps with exfoliation while vitamin C offers antioxidant properties, allowing you to tailor their use for your skin type.
• Comparatively milder on the skin, topical acids can be used in a cyclic manner or in combination with other ingredients to achieve effective pigmentation treatment.
• Topical acids are often formulated into gels, creams, or serums that can be woven into regular skincare regimens and used consistently.

Cons

• Strong topical acids such as hydroquinone may lead to side effects like itching, inflammation, and dryness. This rules out a few topical pigmentation treatments for dry and sensitive skin types.
• Topical hyperpigmentation treatments may need a long time to take effect, causing many to give up their regimen midway.

Retinoids

Retinoids are derived from Vitamin A and have long been hailed as skincare giants.
Retinoids can tackle hyperpigmentation in more than one way.
They can regulate melanogenesis—the process of melanin production—or tyrosine—the enzyme that triggers melanin.
Its derivatives such as tretinoin or adapalene are known for their effectiveness against hyperpigmentation caused by acne scars or photoaging.

Pros

• Retinoids are known to be an effective skincare routine for pigmentation while being gentle on the skin.
• Retinoid products can also take care of wrinkles, fine lines, and scarring while working on hyperpigmentation.
• A few retinoid formulations can also address persisting skin concerns like acne while enhancing skin cell turnover.

Cons

• Retinoids may have side effects such as redness or flaking.
• This treatment is not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women owing to its serious aftereffects.

Chemical Peels

Chemical peels are another common pigmentation treatment for the face.
Typically, peels work by removing the top layer of your skin to tackle any superficial pigmentation.
Chemical peels also tend to improve the penetration of topical pigmentation treatments.
It’s recommended to practice this pigmentation treatment under expert guidance.

Pros

• Chemical peels can be tailored for their strength/depth, helping with different intensities of hyperpigmentation treatments.
• They are often considered one of the best treatments for pigmentation when dealing with conditions like melasma.
• It shows effect in significantly less time when compared to topical acids.

Cons

• Deeper peels, while effective, may cause an array of serious aftereffects such as uneven pigmentation, scarring, and inflammation.
• Certain chemical peels may also end up causing post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation in darker skin types.

Laser Treatments

Another in-clinic treatment, laser therapy uses a strong, focused beam of light for hyperpigmentation treatment.
This process delivers a set wavelength of light to pigmented skin in a short duration.
The laser destroys the pigmented cells, causes minimal damage to surrounding cells, and delivers an even tone.

Pros

• Laser therapy is one of the minimally invasive hyperpigmentation treatments for the face.
• Different types of laser therapies can also target other concerns like wrinkles, redness, and skin texture.

Cons

• Laser therapies may lead to post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
• Using lasers may prove to be a more expensive hyperpigmentation treatment as compared to the alternatives.
• Certain treatments may require more than one sitting and days of downtime after the treatment.

Lightening Creams

Lightening creams, often referred to as fairness creams, are over-the-counter treatments that help with the overall brightening of skin for pigmentation removal.
Often used multiple times a day, these creams can also be used in more concentrated, prescribed forms.

Pros

• Bleaching creams may help with hyperpigmentation treatment of dark spots and acne scars.
• This technique helps with even-toned skin.

Cons

• Certain skin bleaching creams may contain mercury and may lead to mercury poisoning after prolonged use.
• Skin fairness creams may cause inflammation and contact dermatitis after use.
• Using this form of treatment may also result in blue-black pigmentation after long-term use, especially when it comes to creams with hydroquinone.

Mesotherapy

Mesotherapy is a common clinical treatment for hyperpigmentation.
This technique focuses on using very fine needles to inject vitamins, enzymes, hormones, and phytochemicals on or near pigmented skin.
These injections prove to be effective pigmentation treatments for the face while aiding other skin benefits like collagen synthesis.
If you wonder how to treat skin pigmentation without pain or downtime, mesotherapy is your answer. This process uses a meso injector for a smooth procedure.
While this pigmentation treatment may give you quick results, it can also lead to side effects such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and mild pain.

Microneedling

Microneedling uses fine microneedles to create small abrasions on your skin and kickstart a healing process.
This pigmentation removal technique helps brighten your skin and also leads to the production of elastin and collagen to help you with healthier-looking skin.
This procedure also helps products penetrate deeper within your skin, making other topical hyperpigmentation treatments more effective.
However, it’s best to have microneedling done professionally, as this pigmentation treatment changes for different skin types.

IPL Therapy

A type of laser therapy, IPL or Intense Pulsed Light therapy effectively reduces dark spots on the skin.
This therapy uses pulsed light that can be used for pigmentation removal, countering photoaging, and even hair removal.
While you may need more than one sitting to completely tackle dark spots, IPL treatments have proven to be gentler for the skin compared to lasers.
They also require a shorter downtime after treatments, making them a good option to treat hyperpigmentation.

Microdermabrasion

Microdermabrasion is another hyperpigmentation treatment that strips off a part of the epidermis, your skin’s outermost layer.
As your skin begins to heal, it forms a new epidermis. This pigmentation treatment also helps with skin texture while reducing pores.
However, this process may cause complications like swelling, redness, bruising, and even post-procedure photoaging in sensitive skin types.

Often caused by environmental stressors, hyperpigmentation can prove to be a recurring process. If you wonder how to remove pigmentation from face, prevention is key.
It is essential to tap into a few preventative measures that help you maintain even-toned skin while you’re practicing hyperpigmentation treatment. A few being -

Sun Protection

Try to invest in broad-spectrum sun protection that keeps you safe from both UVA and UVB.
Opt for lightweight, dermatologically tested products that help with pigmentation removal.
Ensure you use sunscreens every day, regardless of the weather.

Gentle Skin Care

Invest in mild skincare products, especially if you’re using them every day.
Opt for gentle topical hyperpigmentation treatments that have limited and rare side effects, such as Thiamidol.
Consult a dermatologist before you start using pigmentation products.

Night time Skincare

Your skin cells repair at their highest point during the night.
Make sure you cleanse and layer your skin with effective skincare products like our night cream for pigmentation treatment before bed and get plenty of hours of sleep.
Your skin’s blood flow is also high during the night, helping the penetration of pigmentation treatments.

Healthy Lifestyle

Hormonal imbalance is also a leading cause of hyperpigmentation. Make sure that you’re consuming a nutrient-rich diet and getting enough sleep, water, and exercise to regulate your health and hormones.

Consistency is key when it comes to preventing hyperpigmentation. Make sure you keep up with your lifestyle every day to reduce the risk of skin concerns.

Hyperpigmentation treatment can be a complex journey, requiring you to properly understand the causes and select the fitting treatment.
A variety of treatments can help you achieve more even-toned skin, from topical acids to clinical procedures. Make sure that you’re selecting a procedure that is safe, effective, and right for your skin type.
A rule of thumb is to opt for gentle, dermatological-tested products and consult your doctor before opting for any clinical treatments.

What is the best treatment for skin pigmentation?

Topical acids, clinical treatments, and preventative measures are a few of the best hyperpigmentation treatments. Gentle topical acids like Thiamidol can be woven into your everyday skincare for a more even-toned skin. If you opt for clinical treatments, ensure you’re consulting your dermatologist first.

Can skin pigmentation be cured?

Yes. Topical and clinical pigmentation removal can combine to fade hyperpigmentation over a period of time. Prevention, consistency, and a balanced lifestyle, however, are essential for hyperpigmentation treatment.

Do pigmentation marks go away?

Yes. Using topical acids such as Thiamidol consistently can help with pigmentation removal. You can also combine this skin active with other ingredients or clinical treatments. However, it’s essential to consult your dermatologist before doing so.

Why is my pigmentation not going?

Using effective and targeted treatment is essential for pigmentation removal. Make sure you use topical actives and clinical treatments that have potent results with minimal side effects. Agents such as Thiamidol and niacinamide can be used in your regular skincare for hyperpigmentation treatment.

Does exercise reduce pigmentation?

Yes. Exercise and a balanced lifestyle can help with blood circulation and hormonal balance, contributing to pigmentation removal. Combine it with gentle, potent skin care treatments such as Thiamidol in your daily skincare routine.

Can I remove pigmentation permanently?

Yes. Hyperpigmentation treatment can be a process but it can be dealt with using the right topical acids, clinical treatments, and preventative measures. Stronger treatments like IPL and chemical peels can help with higher levels of hyperpigmentation in a shorter period of time.

Can pigmentation be stopped?

Yes. With the right combination of preventative measures and skincare products, treating hyperpigmentation is possible. Ensure you use sun protection consistently while maintaining a healthy and balanced lifestyle to avoid recurrence.

How to control melanin?

Skin actives such as Thiamidol inhibit tyrosinase, the enzyme that leads to melanin production. This is how topical acids help control melanin for hyperpigmentation treatment. Ensure you opt for acids that have minimal side effects and are gentle on sensitive skin.

How can I stop pigmentation loss?

A number of preventative measures can help you avoid uneven pigmentation. Consistent use of sunscreen, wearing protective clothing, following a balanced lifestyle, and integrating effective topical acids like Thiamidol can help prevent hyperpigmentation.

What is the best treatment for skin pigmentation?

Topical acids like Thiamidol, which prove to be effective against pigmentation with minimal side effects, are one of the best treatments for pigmentation.