How to identify, prevent & treat Hyperpigmentation

Here at Heath Skin, we are dedicated to harnessing the power of medical-grade active ingredients with the power of nature’s best herbs and natural botanicals to care for even the most delicate skins. Whether it’s from too much time in the sun, a particularly bad break out or an alternative skin condition flare up (e.g., eczema), this cell damage eventually accumulates and results in changes to the skins appearance and frustratingly can be extremely hard to treat.

The scienc(y) bit…

What on earth is it? Hyperpigmentation is often one of the first signs of skin ageing and typically results from sun exposure, although hormone changes can also play a significant role. Regardless of the cause, the roots of every type of hyperpigmentation all start with melanin (read: the pigment in our skin).

To put it simply hyperpigmentation is caused by overproduction and irregular distribution of melanin in the skin. When unprotected skin is exposed to the sun’s harmful UV rays the skin’s melanocytes (the cells that are responsible for producing melanin) are naturally triggered to produce more melanin as a way to protect itself. This ‘over pigmentation’ of the skin can occur in many patterns and may appear suddenly after years of sun exposure.

How can you identify it?

Now that we’ve briefly touched on the different types of discoloration, we’ve put together a one stop shop for identifying all things hyperpigmentation:

1) Age Spots: essentially dark marks on the skin that are bigger than a freckle but often easily distinguishable from moles. These develop on areas that are exposed to the sun the most frequently (read: the face, neck, forearms, chest, and hands.
2) Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation: a specific term for discoloration that remains visible after some skin conditions, for example a bad breakout or acne, eczema, a rash or cut.
3) Melasma: this form is believed to be closely connected to our hormones. It generally appears as patches of discoloration usually on the cheeks, bridge of the nose, forehead, chin and above the upper lip. It is most often associated with the massive flux of hormones associated with pregnancy.
4) Freckles: the amount you’re blessed with is often down to genetics, but they may become darker and consequently more visible with sun exposure.

How can you prevent & treat it?

One of the best preventative measures you can take is to limit your sun exposure and we bet you already knew the answer to this one. Wear.Your.SPF.Every. Single.Day. SPF 30 or higher is enough but consistency is really important. No treatment will be effective if the skin is continually being exposed to the sun and therefore stimulated into producing more melanin. Now, how to treat something that is notoriously difficult? Choose products with the right ingredients.

Heath Skin products contain medical grade ingredients so are results driven but are suitable for hypersensitive skin. If you’re one of the many people who find that strong skincare can cause unwanted reactions or find that even regular skincare is full of harsh preservatives or parabens, then Heath Skin is for you. We have a specially formulated range of products specifically for tackling hyperpigmentation. To find out more check out our dedicated skin concern page