How to Reduce and Prevent Hyperpigmentation

Hyperpigmentation is a tricky customer. It has a habit of rearing its annoying self just when you least want it to. It can be difficult to treat, hard to figure out why you’ve got it, and it doesn’t just end up affecting your skin but your confidence and self-esteem too. We’re here to help...

What is Hyperpigmentation and what does Hyperpigmentation look like?

Hyperpigmentation is a skin condition that causes darker patches of skin to appear. It is a harmless condition but can often make those suffering from it feel self-conscious about their appearance. It is most noticeable when it appears on the face, but it can develop on the hands, stomach and other body areas too.

What causes Hyperpigmentation?

Knowing what causes skin pigmentation can be difficult to pin down, as every client is different. Even though it may take time to work through all the possible options and find the reason as to why you are experiencing hyperpigmentation, you will usually discover possible underlying factors. Hyperpigmentation can be split into three different types -

1. Melasma - occurs due to either hormones or sun damage

2. Freckles and/or sun damaged skin – caused by overexposure to the sun

3. Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation – appears because of either rashes, acne or skin inflammation

Hyperpigmentation can also happen simply down to the ageing process, or as part of changes in skin pigmentation during pregnancy. You may also find that you’ve been making your hyperpigmentation more of a problem simply by eating the wrong foods...

How to Treat Hyperpigmentation

If you’re wondering how to lighten hyperpigmentation, let’s start with food. Did you know certain foods can trigger hyperpigmentation and make it worse? If you’re experiencing darker patches of skin and you want to try and improve them naturally, consider eating the following food -

• Green vegetables like spinach and broccoli
• Citrus fruits like oranges, lemon, lime
• Salmon
• Almonds

You could also try adding apple cider vinegar and/or aloe vera juice to your diet as both have been shown to help lighten hyperpigmentation.

There are also foods that you should definitely try to avoid in the fight against hyperpigmentation. That’s because they’re stacked with chemical hormones that can make hormone-related hyperpigmentation kick-off. Steer clear of foods such as chickpeas, soy items, flaxseed, and black beans and see if you get an improvement.

How to get rid of Skin Pigmentation

We often get asked, ‘does vitamin C help skin pigmentation’, and the answer is yes. Serums that include a high concentration of vitamin C can help target hyperpigmentation. It’s down to the fact vitamin C helps stop melanin being produced... and when too much melanin is produced, hyperpigmentation occurs.

Another skin pigmentation treatment is one that you can find in-clinic at Este. It’s the Cosmelan Pigmentation Peel and it works by zoning in on the cells responsible for producing too much melanin. Azelaic acid kills bacteria and boosts skin cell turnover, while Kojic acid stops melanin production. Furthermore, the peel itself works to ensure your skin’s natural melanin production is reduced by ensuring the tyrosinase enzyme is inhibited too.  

Does Exfoliating Help Hyperpigmentation?

This is a tricky one to answer, as some people believe that, yes, exfoliating skin can help with hyperpigmentation as it helps slough off pigmented and dead skin cells. However, others firmly believe that it can actually damage and irritate skin further. If you are concerned, your best option is to enjoy a salon treatment specifically designed to help target hyperpigmentation. At Este, we offer -

1. Hydrafacial – zero downtime treatment that targets a whole range of skin concerns from hyperpigmentation to wrinkles and oversized pores

2. Cosmelan Peel – inhibits melanin production and boosts skin cells

3. Pixel Laser Resurfacing – promotes collagen and targets hyperpigmentation caused by acne

4. Chemical Peel – we use a solution that’s tailored just for you so that it works on your personal skin concerns

What’s more, because we use the Visia Digital Skin Analysis tool we are able to look deep into your skin to discover what’s really going on beneath the surface. This helps us ensure the treatments we offer you will address your concerns in the most effective way possible and will be right for your skin.

Is Hyperpigmentation Permanent?

If you’ve been trying to sort out your hyperpigmentation at home, you may be feeling like your skin issue is a permanent one. However, with the correct treatment, it hopefully won’t be. Some forms of hyperpigmentation should fade within a six-to-12-month timeframe, some may take longer, and some, unfortunately, may be permanent.

If you’re fed up of darkened patches of skin on your face and you’re looking for treatments that work, get in touch with the team at Este and we’ll help get your skin glowing again.