6 Tricks to Treat

Hyper Pigmentation

June 2018

Tip 1: Hands Off!

As tempting as it might be to scratch a mosquito bite or squeeze a stubborn blackhead, think back to your mother's warning — "Don't pick!" — and pay attention. "Scratching and picking at a spot will only increase the inflammation that's responsible for skin discoloration,

Tip 2: Head to the farmacia

The sooner you treat hyperpigmentation, the faster it will fade, so begin using skin-brightening products as soon as a wound has healed. Ingredients like vitamin C, licorice root, and kojic acid help reduce hyperpigmentation by inhibiting tyrosinase, an enzyme responsible for the formation of skin-darkening melanin.

Tip 3: Maximize Moisturization

While your primary goal with hyperpigmentation is to lighten the dark spots, an effective over-the-counter product should contain ingredients that benefit the skin in other ways. In addition to addressing the pigment issues, a good product will have moisturizing agents like glycerin or hyaluronic acid, and maybe even a retinol to boost cell turnover.

Tip 4: Ask a Dermatologist

If OTC remedies aren't getting rid of the dark spots, it's time to call in the pros. Considered the gold standard among dermatologists, prescription-strength hydroquinone is the most effective treatment for stubborn skin discoloration because it slows the production of pigment

That being said, in high concentrations hydroquinone can cause sun sensitivity and may bleach the skin, so you need to be sure your dermatologist is monitoring the treatment closely.

Tip 5: Go High Tech

Depending on how deep the hyperpigmentation is and what product you're using, it can take up to three months for your dark spots to fade completely. If topical solutions aren't fixing the problem, you may want to talk to your dermatologist about more aggressive methods, like laser treatments or chemical peels. (One exception: If you have melasma, lasers and chemical peels could make your hyperpigmentation worse.)

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6 / 6   Tip 6: Prevent Future Dark Spots

If your skin is prone to hyper-pigmentation, you'll probably get dark marks  again (Sorry!). Still, you can take steps to minimize future damage. First of all,  you should protect yourself against the triggers: Use acne medications to fight off pimples, and bug spray to prevent bites, and treat acne and bug bites as soon as possible. Finally, the importance of sun protection can't be stressed enough. The UV rays just send the pigment into overdrive, turning dark spots darker.