What Are You Going To Do About Those Brown Spots And Uneven Skin Tone?
My clients often-times have been concerned with patches of excess pigmenatation on their skin. Professionally, these patches are referred to as “Epidermal Hyperpigmentation.”
“Epidermal” refers to the outer-most layer of the skin and “hyperpigmentation” means excessive color.
Have you experienced a sudden ‘appearance’ of some brown spots recently?
So you’re aware, there are different kinds of Epidermal Hyperpigmentation:
Melasma, is common with expectant mothers, and is referred to more commonly as ‘The Mask of Pregnancy’.
With Melasma, there is a darkening of the skin on the face, as well as the abdomen and other areas.
Another popular name for the same affection is ‘Chloasma’.
‘Age’ or ‘Liver Spots’ are smaller dark patches present in adult skins and are considered a sign of over sun-exposure or sun damage accumulated throughout the years.
‘Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation’ occurs as a result of acne, or even some cosmeceutical procedures. Deep chemical peels (medical grade) and dermabrasion can also stimulate this condition.
To treat these conditions, particularly sun-damage, you should follow a professional treatment series. This of course should be in conjunction with a home care regimen to complement the professional treatment.
The professional treatment should include a process to prep the skin, including using products with glycolic acid (or if you’re under a dermatologist’s care, Retin-A).
The idea is to prepare the skin for a series of pigmentation peels so the exfoliation will be move even, and less sensitizing. Together with the exfoliation home treatment, lightening products (with or withour hydroquinone) should be added to the regimen.
Professional Treatment:
- A peels series of 4 to 6 treatments done every 3 to 4 weeks. Personally, I like every 4 weeks so that it coincides with the skin’s natural exfolation mechanism.
- If the peel is more aggressive, then you should spread it out more (at least every 4 weeks.) However, if the peel is quite mild, then every other week should work fine.
- Just remember: If the skin becomes sensitized and/or inflammed, that in of itself is enough to trigger more pigmentation, which is the opposite effect you are trying to obtain.
- To ensure good results without being disappointed, you should ask your esthetician if they have a Woods/Ultraviolet light. This special light allows you to see the pigmentation in the skin that may not be visible on the surface yet.
- If the pigmentation is/gets darker when under this light, it means the pigmentation is superficial and it will be easier to obtain satisfactory results.
- If the pigmentation seems light when viewed under the UV light, then this means the pigmentation is deeper in the skin and it will be difficult to lighten.
Be sure to discuss with your esthetician/dermatologist which treatment protocol is right for you. We encourage you to ask a lot of questions and be sure you are satisfied with the plan before you proceed.
Understanding and having realistic expectations is important. Pigmentation (specifically from UV exposure) accumulates over many, many years and it is impossible to expect it to disappear overnight.
By now, I am sure you are well aware of the fact that a broad-spectrum sunblock is a must if you want to see any improvement in the pigmentation. To read more on how to pick an effective broad spectrum sunblock, click here.
To your skin’s health!
The Derma Divas.
P.S. Thought you might want to check out this link:
http://www.cosmeticscop.com/learn/art.asp?ID=157
