Articles

As we age, our skin begins to lose its even skin tone. You may notice small, dark spots appear on your face and hands. Sometimes, these spots may begin as small and insignificant, but will quickly grow to a much larger and noticeable size.

This darkening in skin tone is referred to as hyperpigmentation. It can be caused by too much sun exposure over a long period of time or it can be caused by hormonal fluctuations, such as those present during pregnancy. Whatever the case, hyperpigmentation can cause a significant impact on your self esteem.

When hyperpigmentation shows up on certain parts of the face (forehead, cheeks and nose) it is referred to as melasma. It is a very common occurrence in all ethnicities, but it is usually seen more in people with darker or olive toned skins. And among this group of people, women are the ones most prone to suffering this form of hyperpigmentation.

Melasma treatments usually involve the use of some form of skin whitening. The objective is to get correct skin tone by reducing the amount of melanin in the cells and block its production. Here's a short list of some of the most commonly used whitening techniques.

*Laser Treatment

This type of procedure will work on melasma, but it can eventually lead to more hyperpigmentation and even hypopigmentation problems. The results can also be inconsistent. Laser treatment is recommended more for darker skinned individuals.

*Chemical Peels and Dermabrasion

The intensity of a chemical peel can be controlled to best suit your needs, making it a great option in the treatment of melasma. The depth of the peel will depend on the chemicals the specialist uses to perform it. Any discomfort that you might feel can be treated with cooling agents and/or topical anesthetics.

*Bleaching Creams

These products help lighten the skin and work best over larger areas of the skin. Bleaching creams are different from each other and use a variety of different active ingredients.

One of the most popular bleaching ingredients is known as Hydroquinone. This ingredient can lead to problems such as irritation or permanent discoloration. However, there seem to be safer alternatives.

Azelaic acid is a common alternative to hydroquinone. It is also used in acne medication. Kojic acid in conjunction with glycolic acid has also been proven to be a good alternative to hydroquinone.

Post-Treatment Precautions

It is crucial that you protect your skin after using any one of the previous techniques or products. Their main objective is to inhibit the production of melanin, which is precisely the substance that protects your skin from the sun. So, when choosing a bleaching product, make sure that it contains a high SPF or apply a sunscreen after any procedure.