Hyperpigmentation: Causes and Tips to get rid of it?

Have you ever struggled with the pesky dark spots and uneven dark patches on your forehead, cheekbones and upper lips? Do you wonder what causes it and how it can be treated? If yes, then you are not alone.

These are the signs of hyper pigmentation-an uninvited neighbor which commonly appears on your face when you spend too much time in the sun. Not only face, it can occur on any part of your body, affecting the overall appearance of your skin.

Let’s dive in deep to learn what hyperpigmentation is, its common causes and 7 effective skin care tips to reduce it.

Highlights

1. What is hyperpigmentation?
2. What are the possible causes of hyperpigmentation?
3. How to prevent hyperpigmentation?
4. Top 7 home remedies to reduce hyperpigmentation
5. How to get rid of hyperpigmentation?
6. Can hyperpigmentation come back after treatment?

What is hyperpigmentation?

Any discoloration in your skin, making it appear darker can be regarded as hyperpigmentation. It is a common condition prevalent in both men and women.

There are different forms of hyperpigmentation: Sunspots, liver spots (solar lentigos), age spots, melasma, cafe au lait, and post inflammatory pigmentation. These pigmentation disorders can significantly affect your overall skin texture and tone, making it dark, patchy, dull, and lifeless.

What are the possible causes of hyperpigmentation?

All skin pigmentation disorders are not considered equal and each can be the result of a couple of culprits. Identifying the specific hyperpigmentation cause is integral for making an effective treatment plan.

Usually, Hyperpigmentation occurs when melanin production in your skin increases, either as the body’s natural defense or due to other triggers. This dark pigment deposits in your skin and causes brown or dark spots. However, various factors such as sun exposure, inflammation, hormones, and aging can trigger the overproduction of melanin.

These triggers are as explained in detail below:

Sun exposure: It is the primary cause of skin hyperpigmentation. Exposure to harmful sun rays activates the body’s natural defense system. Melanin-producing cells (melanocytes) respond to sun exposure by increasing the production of dark pigment melanin. It can cause sunspots and liver spots.

Inflammation: A number of factors leading to skin trauma-such as acne, cuts, scrapes, heat exposure, excessive rubbing, peeling, scrubbing can lead to skin inflammation. Inflammation, in turn, increases the activity of melanin producing cells, and thus causes post inflammatory hyperpigmentation on skin.

Hormonal changes: Hormonal changes in women (menopause) combined with aging usually causes skin pigmentation and age spots in the early 40’s. Increase in production of estrogen, progesterone and the melanoma-stimulating hormone levels and use of birth control pills in pregnancy also leads to skin pigmentation disorder called melasma.

Medical/ Hereditary conditions or medications: An increase in melanin production due to some medical disorders such as Addison’s disease (autoimmune disorder causing deficiency of adrenal hormones), Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (hereditary disorder causing liver spots in stomach) and Acanthosis nigricans (a symptom of metabolic disorder, diabetes) can also cause hyperpigmentation. Also certain drugs, including antibiotics and some chemotherapy drugs, can also lead to hyperpigmentation as an adverse effect.

How to prevent hyperpigmentation?

There is a well known saying that ‘an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure’. Following simple steps in your daily skin care routine can significantly prevent and also reduce your chances of getting pigmented spots on your beautiful face. So let’s get started:

1. Firstly, you should determine your unique skin type, whether it is dry, normal, oily, acne prone or combination skin. You should choose skin care products as per your skin care routine to get desired results.
2. Clean and moisturize your skin twice a day to counteract the damage caused by environmental aggressors and free radicals. It will help to remove impurities from skin while maintaining proper hydration levels.
3. Exfoliate your skin twice a week to slough off dead skin cells, fade away dark spots and correct uneven skin tone. Gently rub an exfoliating scrub as harsh application can make problems worse.
4. Use the best Vitamin C serum for hyperpigmentation twice a day on your face, after cleansing. It will work on uneven skin tone and pigmentation and help to rejuvenate the dull and lifeless skin. It also fades age spots, dark spots, and brightens skin.
5. Be sure to slather a broad spectrum and water resistant sunscreen with SPF 50, especially while stepping outside. It will protect your skin from damage caused by harmful sun rays and also significantly reduce sun spots and liver spots.
6. Always apply the skin care products in the right order: Cleanser, Toner, Serum, Eye cream, spot treatment, moisturizer and then sunscreen (in the day) and Cleanser, Toner, Eye cream, Serum, moisturizer or night cream (in the night). Layering these skin care products incorrectly will render them ineffective and can cause skin irritation.
7. Don’t just treat your skin from outside, but take a step further to correct it from inside. Adopting a healthy lifestyle with a well balanced diet, optimum sleep, and regular exercise can help to rejuvenate your skin. Aim to incorporate foods that improve the quality of your skin such as green vegetables, citrus, green tea and tuna.

Top 7 home remedies to reduce hyperpigmentation

If you wish to treat hyperpigmentation at home, you can follow these 5 best home remedies for hyperpigmentation.

#1 Potatoes

Potatoes possess anti-pigmentation activity. It works well to treat blemishes and fade dark spots.

How to use: Cut a potato from the center and dip the one half into water. Rub this slice for about 10 minutes. Rinse off with lukewarm water. Use this procedure 2-3 times a week.

#2 Almonds

Almonds contain essential fatty acids, vitamin E and A which are effective to reduce pigmentation and brighten skin tone.

How to use: Soak almonds overnight and peel off in the morning. Crush almonds and mix it with milk. Use it on your face and rinse off with warm water after 15 min.

#3 Papaya

Papaya contain a natural enzyme papain which has depigmenting properties. It sloughs dead skin cells and lightens your skin. It effectively reduces blemishes and dark patches.

How to use: Grate a fresh raw papaya and add 4 tablespoon of raw milk to form a thick paste. Apply this pack and rinse off with cold water, after 20 minutes. Repeat  this procedure thrice a week.

#4 Apple cider vinegar

Apple cider vinegar contains acetic acid which offers skin lightening benefits. It helps to lighten your darker skin.

How to use: Mix apple cider vinegar and water in equal proportion. Apply it on a pigmented area, twice daily for a few minutes. If it irritates, do not use it.

#5 Honey and Lemon mask

Lemon juice contains vitamin C which can help to lighten the spots whereas honey has moisturizing properties which will further reduce dryness caused by lemon.

How to use: Take honey and lemon juice in 1:2 and mix it properly. Apply on affected skin and leave it for 20 minutes. Rinse off with water.

#6 Gram flour and lemon pack

Both lemon and gram flour are known for skin lightening and brightening benefits. This pack helps to restore the original shade of your skin and also helps to remove tanning and sun spots.

How to use: Make a thick paste with 2 spoons of besan, 1 spoon of cream and some drops of lemon juice. Apply it on dark areas and wash off, once it dries.

#7 Rice flour scrub

Rice flour contains phytic acid which removes dead skin cells, minimizes signs of aging and also effective to treat acne and hyperpigmentation. Yoghurt also possesses skin lightening properties. Thus, this scrub effectively reduces dark spots.

How to use: Mix rice flour and curd. Scrub it on the affected skin. Rinse off with water.

How to get rid of hyperpigmentation?

If the dark spots on your skin are at a deeper level and are not going away despite the use of home remedies, then you should consult a dermatologist. Your dermatologist will offer some of the treatments which can help to get rid of hyperpigmentation permanently. These are as follow:

Anti-pigmentation creams:

Anti-pigmentation creams contain skin lightening ingredients which will help to lower the levels of melanin in your skin. It also helps to reduce dark spots, age spots and conditions like melasma.

Look for creams containing glutathione, hydroquinone, kojic acid,  azelaic acid, alpha-arbutin, mulberry extract, vitamin E, niacinamide, and licorice. Before using these products, read instructions on labels carefully and be patient for results.

Chemical peels:

Chemical peels include removal of the outermost layer of skin. New skin cells are formed which helps to recover and provides you a young and brighter complexion. Different chemical solutions are required depending on the peel (mild, medium or deep) required.

It can surely help with hyperpigmentation but needs to be done several times. It may cause adverse effects such as redness, itchiness and swelling.

Laser therapy:

This is the effective way to treat hyperpigmentation. In this therapy, broad spectrum light of multiple wavelengths is used to target melanin particles present in the superficial and dermis layer of the skin.

Results of the laser therapy can be observed after some time. It does not cause any adverse effects as it does not work by peeling off skin.

Can hyperpigmentation come back after treatment?

Hyperpigmentation can recur even after successful treatment. It can be due to constant exposure of light or hormonal imbalance. Non compliance with post treatment and sun protection measures will affect the results of pigmentation treatments. So you need to follow sun protection measures strictly.

Bottom line

Hyperpigmentation is harmless and does not lead to any medical problems. Identifying the cause and getting proper treatment early can effectively reduce various forms of pigmentation and return back to your original complexion. Dermatological procedures such as lasers can also effectively treat hyperpigmentation.

With treatment, you should follow a skin care routine regularly and use products wisely. Last but not the least, always be patient and don’t lose hope. With consistency and time, your dark spots will surely fade away.