Hyperpigmentation occurs when melanin is overproduced in certain areas on the skin. Hyperpigmentation results in flat, darkened spots on skin that are light brown to dark black in colour, and can differ in size and shape.
This overproduction is triggered by a variety of factors, but the main ones can be due to sun exposure, genetic factors, age, hormonal influences, and skin injuries or inflammation.
Hyperpigmentation can cause significant distress as the dark spots tend to appear on the face, hands, and visible body parts that have been exposed to the sun, and can be difficult to hide and cause for social problems in certain patients..
There are many types of Hyperpigmentation, but the following are the most common:
(1) MELASMA OR CHLOASMA often referred to as “the mask of pregnancy”, as it affects 80% of pregnant women. It occurs as a result of hormonal influences pregnancy and birth control pills, and causes dark and irregularly shaped areas on the face that can be quite large.
(2) POST INFLAMMATORY hyperpigmentation occurs when a skin injury or trauma heals and leaves a flat area of discolouration behind.
(3) POST ACNE PIGMENTATION – it is a major cause of pigmentation on face and trunk in young age group.
(4)PIGMENT SPOT – AGE SPOT such as , seborrheic dermatitis, dermatosis papulosis nigra are caused by sun exposure. For this reason, they appear mainly on body parts that are frequently exposed, such as the face, hands and arms. They tend to be small, darkened and elevated patches of skin.
(5) skin diseases like actinic lichen planus ,pigmented naevus and many more are also pigmented in nature.
MAIN CAUSES FOR HYPERPIGMENTATION.
(1) Sun exposure is the number one cause of hyperpigmentation, as it’s sunlight that triggers the production of melanin . Melanin acts as your skin’s natural sunscreen by protecting you from harmful UV rays, that is why people tan in the sun light.
Once dark spots have developed, sun exposure exacerbate the dark spots of freckles , age spots , melasma and PIH spots even darker.
Limiting sun exposure, wearing protective clothing, and using a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a high SPF can help reduce your risk of developing hyperpigmentation, and stop existing dark spots from getting worse.
(2) Hormonal influences are cause for melasma or chloasma. It’s particularly common among women, as it’s thought to occur when the female sex hormones oestrogen and progesterone stimulate the overproduction of melanin when skin is exposed to the sun.thyroid disease ,addisonian disease are due to disturbances of thyroid and cortisol hormones.
(3) Hyperpigmentation is also effects of certain diseases such as some autoimmune and gastrointestinal diseases, metabolic disorders and vitamin deficiencies. Hyperpigmentation is also a side effect of certain hormone treatments, chemotherapy drugs, antibiotics, antimalarials, anti-seizure drugs, and other medications.
TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR HYPERPIGMENTATION.
(1) Chemical peels involve applying an different medicinal solution to the face or body parts to remove the surface layers of the skin in desired manner.. These chemicals cause the skin to blister and eventually peel off, revealing new and evenly pigmented skin behind.
(2) Laser therapies have much the same effect, but tend to be more precise, as the dermatologist has more control over the intensity of the treatment.The mildest treatments work just on the skin’s epidermis (surface layer), while more intense treatments can penetrate the deepest layers of the skin.
(3) oral and topical medications such as oral , injectable and topical glutathione. oral and topical vitamin C and many more safe topical and oral medicine.
(4) RF Microneedling with Latest Machine for face rejuvenation and to reduce pigmentation.
(5) Microdermabrasion for polishing ,rejuvenate skin and to reduce pigmentation.
(6) Hydrafacial with latest machine to use natural healing power of water and oxygen to effortlessly exfoliate the skin and to decrease pigmentation.
RESULTS AFTER COMBINATION TREATMENT.
