Pigmentation Removal and Reduction

Pigmentation Removal

I love my skin, its texture, and how it allows me to experiment (on most days). Taking care of your skin also means that you should be able to give it the treatment it deserves. As we age, our skin starts to show signs of distress, and when the weather is not in your favour, the symptoms get worse. Hyperpigmentation is one of the distress signs. It is the patches of skin that become dark around the skin. Our upper layer of the skin, dermis, is responsible for giving us our skin pigment called melanin. However, due to overexposure to the sun, hormonal imbalances, or certain medication, the pigmentation shows adverse effects on our skin. It occurs when our skin starts to produce more melanin, and it is one of the most commonly occurring skin problems amongst all skin types. Not just that, hyperpigmentation has various types and thankfully various treatments as well.

There are many ways to avoid hyperpigmentation, resulting in flawless skin few which are my most preferred

1. Avoid the sun, but don’t forget your sunscreen

Sun is our dear friend with some negatives. One of the downsides is that over-exposure to the sunlight ages our skin and results in hyperpigmentation. To prevent hyperpigmentation or to stop it from becoming more aggravated, we should always wear sunscreen and avoid going out in the sun during the peak hours of the day. Sometimes, we also pick at our skin that does more harm than good. So stop touching YOUR skin. That again is doing us no good – so wear your sunscreen and don’t pick at your skin.

2. Topical creams

Various topical creams are now available at the stores that result in a more healthy-looking skin. But before you buy one, take a hard look at the ingredient list, and ensure that it contains azelaic acid, vitamin C and retinoids. Taking care of your skin is easy when you know what works for it.

3. Cosmetic procedures

Thanks to the advancement made in technology, now you can opt for laser therapy, microdermabrasion etc. to reduce hyperpigmentation and make it look younger. But don’t forget to discuss the procedure with your dermatologist. Research it before you invest in it! Some of my favourites are

Skin needling

This procedure helps by increasing the collagen and elastin production in the skin. It encourages cell renewal and helps repair the already damaged skin by improving the skin texture, melanin production and skin tone.

Pigment peel

This one requires no downtime and doesn’t flake or peel your skin contrary to what is believed. Pigment peeling is a superficial skin peel, and it is super fast-acting and shows results within hours. It is one of the highly effective treatments.

4. Aloe

Aloe vera is nature’s way of telling us that it loves us. Aloe Vera is rich in Aloesin, which in some cases helps to reduce hyperpigmentation. Aloesin is a melanin inhibitor and may help to lessen the pigmentation on your skin. However, this home remedy does lack scientific research, so a direct relation between our skin and aloe vera is still unknown. But I love the cooling effect aloe leaves on my skin.

5. Make green tea your best friend

Green tea is induced with antioxidants that have shown proven benefits for the skin. It also has potential anti-inflammatory properties that help to decrease hyperpigmentation. But of course, every home remedy lacks research. However, drinking green tea has many other benefits as well.