Use pigment-inhibiting ingredients: Incorporating ingredients such as vitamin C, niacinamide, azelaic acid, or hydroquinone into your skincare routine can help regulate melanin production and prevent dark spots from forming or worsening.
Apply SPF every single day: Regular use of sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher is essential in preventing hyperpigmentation. UV exposure can worsen dark spots and slow the fading process, so protecting your skin from the sun is crucial.
Get professional treatments: Chemical peels exfoliate the top layers of the skin, encouraging the production of new skin cells and helping to fade hyperpigmentation, while microneedling can stimulate skin healing and promote collagen production, which can improve the appearance of dark spots.
Why are serums so effective when it comes to tackling hyperpigmentation?
“Serums have a very fine and lightweight texture, so they are able to penetrate the skin,” explains Ayodele, while Dr Vanita Rattan, cosmetic formulator and CEO of Skincare by DrV, adds a caveat: “Serums with a higher fat content tend to absorb better into the skin compared to silicone-based gels and watery serums.” Then, of course, it’s all down to the ingredients. “You want a mixture of things that all work in slightly different ways on pigmentation,” shares Ayodele. She recommends hexylresorcinol, alpha arbutin, kojic acid, hydroquinone (on prescription only), niacinamide, vitamin C, retinoid, and liquorice extract. Tranexamic acid, which is similar to glutathione, is also great to use, while “glycolic, lactic and azelaic acid all help to smooth and refine skin texture, getting rid of old skin cells that can hang on to stale pigment on the surface of the epidermis”.
How long does it take to treat hyperpigmentation?
“It depends on how stubborn the pigmentation is, how long it’s been there for, and whether the triggers are ongoing,” says Dr Vanita. “For example, if you have melasma and you’re not protecting your skin from UV radiation by using a broad-spectrum SPF, it’s just going to get worse and worse, especially in the summertime.” That said, she continues, it’s easier to treat new instances of hyperpigmentation, such as dark spots that crop up after pimples or mosquito bites, right away. “If the hyperpigmentation has been there for a long time, as in the case of melasma or dark circles, it’s much harder to treat. This can take six to nine cell cycles, meaning six to nine months, before you see results.”
Read the full article here
