At all times, smooth and radiant skin and even complexion without pigmentation spots have been considered symbols of youth and beauty. However, what can we do, if pigmentation spots are “signs of old age” that overwhelm us even now? What is hyperpigmentation, its types, how to prevent and treat this condition?
Complexion is determined by many factors: the number and distribution of pigments (melanin, carotenoids, hemoglobin), the thickness of the epidermis and its condition, the number and location of vessels (surface or deep), skin texture (the presence or absence of wrinkles).
The main skin pigment is melanin. This pigment and the cells that synthesize it determine not only a beautiful tan, but also the appearance of such a widespread aesthetic deficiency as hyperpigmentation.
The most common types of pigmentation are freckles, melasma, and solar lentigo. The latter appears due to a long stay in the sun. It occurs predominantly in middle-aged people with light skin type, and the number of lentigo spots tends to increase with aging.
Causes of hyperpigmentation
The main causes of hyperpigmentation are traditionally considered genetic factors, exposure to UV radiation, the impact of female sex hormones, thyroid disease, inflammatory skin diseases, as well as some cosmetic procedures that result in injured skin (fractional photothermolysis, laser and photoepilation, chemical peels).
Genetic predisposition is considered one of the main reasons for the development of hyperpigmentation. Data from epidemiological studies show that there are differences in the appearance and intensity of pigmentation in the representatives of different races. It is also influenced by a burdened family history.
Prevention and treatment
A standard plan for the correction of excessive pigmentation of the skin usually involves the removal of provoking factors and active destruction of the pigment with the help of topical agents or cosmetic procedures.
Patients with an increased risk of hyperpigmentation (especially with Fitzpatrick skin phototype III and above) are advised not to expose the skin to ultraviolet radiation. They should also regularly use sunscreen with a minimum of SPF 25, regardless of weather conditions.
There are effective ways to treat hyperpigmentation, aimed at blocking the production of pigments. For example, the selection of an external agent with such ingredients as niacinamide, arbutin/deoxyarbutin, licorice extract, soybean trypsin inhibitor, peptides, antioxidants, kojic acid, retinol, and fruit acids.
If the effect of cosmetics is absent, dermatologists and cosmetologists prescribe laser therapy. This allows you to effectively and painlessly destroy the pigment and the cells that synthesize it without damaging the surrounding tissue. The most popular of the lasers used are alexandrite, neodymium, carbon dioxide, and picosecond.
IPL systems based on the use of high-intensity pulsed light are also used to correct hyperpigmentation. Today, there are new researches on the combination of different types of laser therapy with other methods of treatment. Remember that laser pigmentation treatment should be carried out only after other methods have proved ineffective. Lasers and light sources can cause complications, so they should only be used by an experienced doctor.