Hyperpigmentation? | Metropolitan Studio of Esthetics

One of the most discontenting skin conditions affecting the emotions of many people is skin with hyperpigmentation. Hyperpigmentation is commonly produced when there is an overproduction of melanin in the skin, which is the pigment responsible for your skin’s color. Unfortunately, sometimes this excess melanin distributes pigment unevenly. Discoloration can appear as brown, black, gray, red or pink spots.

Everyone desires the appearance of healthy skin, but patches of discoloration on our face or body can make us feel self-conscious and affect our mood and even our livelihood. It can be very frustrating searching online for HOURS through a sea of over-the-counter products, hoping to find a real remedy to fade discoloration. It’s important to have a thorough understanding of causes and treatments available before you begin your journey attempting hyperpigmentation correction treatments.

Causes: Determining the cause of your hyperpigmentation can help determine the right treatment to correct and even prevent discoloration. The most common triggers for uneven and excess production of melanin are… sun damage, acne, hormonal fluctuations, inflammation, and injury. Sometimes a medical condition may cause hyperpigmentation. In this case, it may be necessary to seek a medical provider for treatment.

Non-Invasive Treatments: Treatments are available to reverse hyperpigmentation. Reducing discoloration can be achieved safely and successfully through a myriad of options. Fortunately, there are non-invasive treatments that are effective at fading discolored skin while minimizing potential risks. You don’t need high-beam lasers. The most common non-invasive treatments are Chemical Peels (superficial to medium depth), Microdermabrasion, and Alpha-Hydroxy Acids (Lactic, Glycolic, Malic, Tartaric). These treatments may be performed by a professional skincare provider, such as a Licensed Esthetician or Dermatologist.

Some treatments can be combined to help you meet your skincare goals faster, but only after careful evaluation by your skincare specialist. With the use of lightening products at home, you can also lighten and prevent discoloration even further. Additional skin lightening ingredients used during your treatment or at home include topical Vitamin C (L-Ascorbic Acid), Retinol, Niacinamide, Kojic Acid, and Azelaic Acid. Your skincare provider can help you determine which ingredients are right for your skin type.

Sensitive Skin and Darker Skin: Most non-invasive treatments are available to all skin types and skin tones; however, people with sensitive skin or darker skin tones may need a more elegant approach to avoid further hyperpigmentation during treatment. Product formulations have significantly improved over the decade. There are now sophisticated blended peels and lower strength product formulations more suitable to sensitive skin and darker skin. There are also many new skincare products that help fade discoloration gradually, without irritation, and without making hyperpigmentation worse. Using these new formulations may take a little longer to see improvement in sensitive and darker skin types, but the end goal is more safely attainable. It’s best to correct skin discoloration progressively, not aggressively. We all want a happy outcome when it comes to our skin.

Medical Treatments: Depending on the cause of your hyperpigmentation or how deeply pigmented it is, it may be necessary to seek medical treatments such as prescription strength topical ingredients, deeper dermal chemical peels, laser, or Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) treatments, which is not typically suitable for darker skin tones. These medical treatments are not for everyone and may not be right for your skin type, tone or condition. When choosing medical treatments, it’s important to be assessed by a licensed cosmetic medical provider or dermatologist to determine if you are a good candidate. In this article, we are only discussing non-medical/non-invasive treatments to improve the appearance of your skin. If more aggressive intervention is desired or you have a medical condition, your skincare specialist may refer you to a medical provider accordingly.

Leave it to the Professionals! You know the punchline… “Don’t try this at home”. When considering advanced treatments such as chemical peels or microdermabrasion, it’s not recommended to try these at home on your own. Without having proper training, you could wreak havoc on your skin and even cause more skin problems. Professional strength chemical peels should only be obtained and used by a licensed skincare provider, such as a licensed esthetician, dermatologist or medical provider.

Attempting a chemical peel on yourself is very risky. And although you may stumble upon peels through the internet, buying professional strength chemical peel solutions online is a “no-no”, unless you are a trained licensed skincare professional. Also, there are many chemical peels being sold through online shopping sites that are “knock-offs” (imitation brands) and these sites usually don’t have authority to sell them. Discretely, some may even be INDUSTRIAL grade acids instead of COSMETIC grade, which can cause quite a lot of damage to skin. Many cosmetic grade peel solutions must be NEUTRALIZED after applied. If neutralization of a chemical peel is not achieved correctly, adverse complications could result and it isn’t pretty. It’s best to trust the experts.

A trained licensed skin professional may perform advanced treatments after a thorough consultation with you. To experience a good outcome, chemical peels and microdermabrasion also require appropriate post-care. Your skincare provider will give you careful home care instruction immediately following your treatment.

Patience is a Virtue! Remember to exercise patience with your hyperpigmentation treatments, in the clinic and at home. Skin correction takes time. It could take 4-12 weeks or even longer to see improvement, depending on your skin’s condition. How deep and how long hyperpigmentation has been there also may determine the time it takes to see good results. Be prepared to expect a need for a series of professional treatments (this is normal) along with a good home care regimen to produce a more even skin tone. Hyperpigmentation doesn’t go away overnight, but luckily, lightening and fading of discoloration is achievable. Having a realistic expectation of your treatment results and exercising patience will keep you on the path to continuing your treatments and not giving up. It’s important to follow directions given by your skincare specialist. Ultimately, you will reap the rewards of a more even skin tone if you’re patient. Healthy skin is attainable!

Lastly, you will want to seek an experienced licensed skin provider, such as a Licensed Esthetician (superficial to medium depth chemical peels and microdermabrasion) or a Dermatologist (deeper peels or laser). Your skin type, skin tone, and present condition will be carefully assessed and options will be given to you based on your goals, lifestyle, and budget.

If you are experiencing skin hyperpigmentation and ready to improve your skin’s appearance, consider scheduling a consultation to start your skincare correction treatment plan.

Wishing you best of luck in your skincare endeavors!

~ Sharon Tatum, Licensed Esthetician, Metropolitan Studio of Esthetics, LLC

This content is provided for informational purposes only, should not be taken as medical advice, and does not intend to substitute professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

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To schedule a free consultation with a Certified Licensed Esthetician at Metropolitan Studio of Esthetics who is well trained and experienced with non-invasive hyperpigmentation treatments, anti-aging, and acne, call or text (704) 457-1950.