What are the effective treatment options for skin pigmentation issues?

Skin pigmentation issues are one of the most common facial skin issues and there are a number of different treatment options available. But what causes skin pigmentation issues and what are the most  effective treatments available? 

What causes skin pigmentation issues?

Skin pigmentation issues are caused by an increase in the production of melanin in specific areas or patches of the skin. Melanin is a natural pigment that is produced in our cells, and is  responsible for skin and hair colour. This overproduction in specific parts of the skin results in darker patches of skin and dark spots, leading to an uneven complexion. This overproduction of melanin can be caused by a range of factors including:

UV exposure- When the sun’s UV rays hit the skin tissue on your body, an increase in melanin can be triggered, which is what allows our skin to tan. However, frequent or prolonged exposure to the sun can cause dark sun spots to appear. 

Melasma- Melasma is a skin condition that can be triggered by a combination of sun exposure, genetics, and hormonal changes. In fact, this is often referred to as the “mask of pregnancy” due to the appearance of the brown or dark patches women may experience on their facial skin during pregnancy.

Inflammation- If you experience a facial injury the inflammation this can cause can cause the skin’s cells to overproduce melanin, leaving behind a dark patch even after the initial wound has healed.

Medication- Some types of medication or medical problems like Addison’s disease can cause hyperpigmentation. 

So, what are the effective treatment options for skin pigmentation issues?

There are a number of highly effective treatment options for treating skin pigmentation issues. These treatment options include:

IPL treatment– IPL treatment is the use of Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) to target specific skin cells and remove these permanently. This is a more gentle treatment option than laser treatment, and as a result can be used to treat sun spots or pigmentation issues across facial tissue. This works by directing the light at the target tissue, where it is absorbed by the skin, and then transformed into heat energy. As a side effect of the heat, the patches of skin pigmentation will be divided into small pieces. These tiny particles will then rise to the skin’s surface, initially causing the pigmentation to darken before this will scab, crust and form possible flaking which will then naturally fall away within 7-10 days.

Chemical peels- Chemical peels have long been one of the most popular choices for treating skin pigmentation issues as these can penetrate the deeper layers of the skin breaking down the areas of skin pigmentation. However, unlike IPL treatment a chemical peel treatment will be used across the whole of the face, instead of just to target one area. 

Choose The Skin and Wellbeing Clinic for skin pigmentation treatments

Here at The Skin and Wellbeing Clinic we are Preston’s leading aesthetic treatment providers, and we offer a wide range of high quality professional treatment options, including both chemical peels and IPL treatments. For more information or advice, get in touch today!