If there’s an overabundance of melanin in your skin, hyperpigmentation develops. Melanin is the pigment that provides the skin with its color and is generated by melanocytes. Melanocytes are naturally prompted to create more melanin if the skin in our body is exposed to the sun in order to defend our skin from sunburn. Hyperpigmentation happens if melanin synthesis is uneven, resulting in skin areas that seem to be darker than the skin around them.
There are several types of hyperpigmentation, but the most common are sunspots and melasma. These disorders most often affect sun-exposed regions such as the neck, face, hands, décolleté, legs, and arms.
Skin Pigmentation Types
We will discuss a few typical forms of pigmentation that vary in appearance, etiology, and response to pigmentation removal treatments.
Melasma
Probably the most difficult kind of pigmentation to cure, melasma develops owing to a hereditary predisposition and is exacerbated by hormonal fluctuations and sun exposure. It’s likely to recur, sometimes as a result of the smallest provocation. There are several differences in the look and placement of pigments. It’s critical that the doctor recognizes the various manifestations of melasma since treatment response varies substantially.
Hori’s Naevus
Acquired bilateral nevus of Ota-like macules, often known as Hori’s Naevus, is a frequent condition in women in Asia. Although unpleasant, this pigmentation type has one of the greatest resolution rates. It’s among the few types of pigmentation wherein recurrence is uncommon and clearance is possible. However, several laser treatments are required to reach that point.
Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation
Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, often known as PIH, arises as a consequence of melanin excessive production in reaction to any kind of skin damage. It might occur as a result of direct physical damage, infections, UV burns, or inflammatory skin diseases. Individuals with darker complexions or greater sunlight exposure are more likely to develop this illness. PIH is usually transitory and totally disappears, particularly if therapy is started early.
Freckles
Freckles may appear in adults as a result of hormonal changes, such as pregnancy. They grow more common as we get old as a result of cumulative UV exposure. Freckles frequently react to skin-lightening agents because melanin deposition develops in the epidermal skin layer. Nonetheless, pigment laser sessions are recommended for full elimination. Freckles, although readily removed, tend to reappear with sun exposure.
Solar Lentigines
Solar lentigines, often known as age spots, are common in persons over the age of 40, although they might arise sooner owing to genetic susceptibility and hormonal stimulation. Unlike freckles, they show a bigger area of ‘damage’ in the skin from accumulated sun exposure. And unlike freckles, the treatment response is also lower, and the rate of recurrence is greater.
Singapore’s Best Pigmentation Treatments
There’s no question that there are several procedures for this aesthetic issue that impacts a large number of individuals to varying degrees. Because the majority of them are non-surgical, they are suitable for all of us.
Facial peels are used to improve the appearance of the neck and facial skin. It’s performed by applying a chemical or acidic solution to the face, which induces exfoliation and finally peels off. Following that, fresh and regenerated skin may be noticed, resulting in cleaner and smoother skin overall.
Laser therapy is a kind of pigmentation removal procedure that employs focused intensity and light. It’s more exact since cosmetic doctors have greater control over the intensity of the light during the treatment. The strength of laser treatments may be regulated to be either high (which could penetrate deeper skin layers) or low (which only operates on the surface layer). Laser skin resurfacing therapy, which is prominent in aesthetic clinics in Singapore, is one such procedure.
Creams are always the first choice since it’s easy and inexpensive, help balance out the tone of skin, and could be performed in the comfort of your home. However, since they are merely basic surface procedures, it would take longer (up to a few months) to see apparent results.