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5 Tried And Trusted Ways To Get Rid Of Hyperpigmentation

5 Tried And Trusted Ways To Get Rid Of Hyperpigmentation

how-to-get-rid-of-hyperpigmentation

W

hile everyone hates dark patches, sunburns, or any form of hyperpigmentation eclipsing their potentially healthy skin, these conditions are seemingly common and can be managed. Sometimes it gets tricky to get rid of the signs of hyperpigmentation completely, but having an intentional skincare routine, especially during this colder season, can prevent brown spots, blotchy skin, and a rough skin texture.

What is hyperpigmentation?

In general terms, “hyperpigmentation is a skin condition where some part of the skin is darker than the other.”

Hyperpigmentation doesn’t occur on the skin alone, as the nails can also experience this condition. Increased melanin production causes this skin condition, although it affects individuals of all skin types. It’s commonly characterized as facial uneven spots or patches, but can also cover a large area of your skin and in rare cases—the entire body. While some of us are only interested in how to get rid of hyperpigmentation, it’s important to know its causes and how to prevent it.

As cited earlier, this condition occurs when your skin produces more melanin than required. The excess melanin produced is deposited deep within the skin, leading to a darker shade of skin than the skin surrounding it. Rarely, this could be due to an underlying medical condition.

Types of hyperpigmentation

The common types of hyperpigmentation are;

Melasma: This is often due to hormonal changes, especially during pregnancy. The darker skin patch can appear in any part of the body, but mostly on the face and stomach. After delivery, the spots usually disappear.

Sunspots: Also known as liver spots or solar lentigines. This one is common because it occurs when you expose your skin to excessive sunlight over time. It is mostly seen on the face and hand.

Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation: This occurs when the skin sustains injury or inflammation. Skin trauma, such as acne, bug bites, cuts, eczema, or vigorous rubbing, can cause inflammation. This inflammation will later produce dark spots post-injury.

Medication hyperpigmentation: This is triggered by some underlying medical condition such as Addison’s disease, which is an adrenal gland disorder that can trigger increased melanin production. Some drugs, such as antibiotics, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and antimalarials, have all been implicated to trigger hyperpigmentation.

Goodbye, botched! Here’s how to get rid of hyperpigmentation…

#1. Stay moisturized

how-to-get-rid-of-hyperpigmentation
Photo: Ron Lach/Pexels

One of the reasons you have to ensure your skin is moisturized is to improve cell turnover. Some over-the-counter moisturizers lighten and soften the dark spots. These moisturizers usually contain proven active ingredients that rejuvenate the skin. When buying a skin moisturizer, make sure it contains glycerin or hyaluronic acid and retinol. The perfect moisturizer will help the skin cells replace the old dark spots by restoring the skin’s fat barriers.

#2. Don’t scratch bug bites, blackheads, and other injuries

Photo: ShotPot/Pexels

For some of us, it’s almost like punishment when we attempt to ignore that blackhead or bug bite because there’s a satisfaction we feel when we scratch the bite or pop the blackhead. We all know the sensation of “scratching” a mosquito bite or squeezing a stubborn pimple. This is a public service announcement: “Don’t pick!” Don’t scratch!” Scratching the dark spot can only increase inflammation and ultimately lead to dark skin coloration. The more you scratch those injury spots, the worse they will look later.

#3. Use brightening cream

Photo: Mikhail Nilov/Pexels

You can explore over-the-counter brightening lotions to get rid of hyperpigmentation. Don’t just wait for the dark spots to move deeper into the skin before you treat. The longer it stays, the more difficult it is to get rid of.

According to the American¡ Academy of Dermatology Association (AAD), “When buying the brightening lotion, look out for glycolic acid, vitamin C, and retinoids.”

Brightening creams that contain ingredients such as vitamin C, and licorice root help reduce hyperpigmentation by preventing tyrosinase activities. Tyrosinase is an enzyme responsible for the formation of skin-darkening melanin. They eliminate the dark spots, paving the way for new healthy skin cells to appear and replace the old ones.

#4. Hydroquinone may be an option

Photo: 祝 鹤槐/Pexels

In more severe cases with stubborn spots, introduce hydroquinone cream to the mix. This could be used independently or mixed with other active skin lighteners. This approach has been proven effective in fading dark-pigmented spots. Hydroquinone tends to slow the production of melanin. It is available by prescription, per the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Skin experts believe hydroquinone works best to get rid of hyperpigmentation, and it is often combined with other treatments, like tretinoin—a type of synthetic vitamin A.

Note: Do not self-medicate. Consult with your dermatologist to ensure you purchase an efficacious product.

#5. Avoid excessive sunlight

how-to-get-rid-of-hyperpigmentation
Photo: Mikhail Nilov/Pexels

Appearing sun-kissed might look good on your Instagram selfie game, but in reality, sunlight remains the primary course of hyperpigmentation. We know you need the sun to up your selfie game, so take the photo and step out of the sun. In addition, wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or more on hot and cool days, even when indoors.

Try as much as possible to stay out of sunlight, especially during the peak hours of 12 pm to 3 pm, or better, use a sun umbrella to protect yourself from direct sun rays. In addition, sport a hat and/or sunglasses to further shade your face.

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