How to treat Hyperpigmentation
If you have dark, blotchy patches of colouring on your face, you may want to wave a magic wand and have them gone straight away.
The good news is that hyperpigmentation can be treated by a skin specialist or dermatologist. The bad news is that there is no “quick fix” for hyperpigmentation. You need commit to a treatment and a maintenance routine with a skin professional.
Prevention First
You’ll want to stop hyperpigmentation getting worse by avoiding the sun and using a sunblock of at least SPF30 year-round says Nurse Practitioner Kerry Lynch. To stop hyperpigmentation developing after an injury to your skin, don’t pick spots or scabs. Even if you don’t have hyperpigmentation now, both of these are smart strategies to prevent future problems.
Seeing a Skin Specialist
If you are concerned about hyperpigmentation, book an appointment with one of our skin specialists that will discuss your skin and medical history and do a skin examination. Our therapist will want to determine whether your skin is affected by discolouration such as freckles, sun spots or age spots, or whether it is affected by a condition called melasma.
While melasma does come under the umbrella of hyperpigmentation, it is a specific type of discolouring that is linked to hormonal factors, says Kerry. Click here to discover the difference between hyperpigmentation and melasma.
After this consultation, you will have a clearer picture of what treatment is available and what results we may be able to achieve for your skin.
You’ll want to stop hyperpigmentation getting worse by avoiding the sun and using a sunblock of at least SPF30 year-round.
Treating Hyperpigmentation
Depending on your individual skin challenge, a treatment will be tailored to you. It can include:
- Topical treatments using ingredients such as hydroquinone, retinoids and vitamin C. Again, these will need to be used over weeks, or months, and do not make hyperpigmentation immediately disappear.
- Cosmetic procedures including laser therapy and other light therapies. Advises Kerry: “Light therapies need to be used cautiously in skin of colour because of the
risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.” North Coast Medispa uses medical grade equipment operated by the most qualified and highly trained practitioners in the Northern Rivers region. - Chemical peels, which can help stimulate skin turnover and remove damaged skin, to improve overall appearance.
- Microdermabrasion, a mild, mechanical exfoliation that removes the superficial layer of old skin cells and can help topical treatments penetrate deeper into the skin.
- In severe cases of hyperpigmentation, a dermatologist may prescribe an oral medication, says Kerry.
She adds that intradermal and topical ingredients, with and without fractional-assisted laser, are being explored as treatments for melasma.
Two sessions of IPL focusing on pigment.
North Coast Medispa uses medical grade equipment operated by the most qualified and highly trained practitioners in the Northern Rivers region.
When to see a dermatologist
At North Coast Medispa, nurses are all members of the Australian Dermatology Nurses Association and focus on general skin health, aesthetic medicine and wellness. Meet our team here. Talk to them about your skin concerns, especially if they are related to ageing and UV exposure. Partner Lismore Skin Clinic offers a full-time specialist service providing advanced-level care for chronic skin disorders ranging from melasma to psoriasis.
Please contact us on 1800 186 333 or email us at [email protected] to book your next appointment.
