What can I do about uneven pigmentation?
What is pigmentation?
The pigmentation of one’s skin is the result of millions of years of evolution,
which explains the wide range of skin tones we see in everyday life. People with
origins close to the equator, where the sun is the most intense, had to develop
protection against dangerous UV rays. The result? An increase in the production
of melanin, a natural skin and hair colorant that absorbs UV radiation and protects
the body from damage. In fact, the epidermis of a dark-skinned person absorbs up
to 25% more UV radiation than that of a light-skinned counterpart
How do I prevent unbalanced pigmentation?
Pigmentation disorders are caused by a myriad of factors, which include sun damage,
hormonal imbalance, and skin trauma or disease. Of all these causes, sun damage
is both the most common, and the most easily prevented! Simply applying a sunscreen
with a minimum SPF15 every day, and avoiding peak sun times around midday, will
do a lot to prevent the sun damage that can make your skin’s pigment act up. Dermalogica
Solar Defence Booster SPF30 provides optimum daily sun protection.
Hormonal imbalance, a cause of pigmentation mostly affecting women, can occur during
any time that the body’s natural hormone balance is disturbed. These triggers can
include hormonal changes, such as those that happen during the menstrual cycle,
menopause, prolonged stress, pregnancy or even when taking birth control pills.
Unlike pigmentation related to trauma or sun damage, hormonally-induced hyper pigmentation
generally disappears when balance is restored to the body, and it can be treated
during the interim period with topical skin brighteners.
The pigmentation related to skin trauma (cuts, wounds, scrapes and the like) is
difficult to prevent in the case of accidental damage to the skin. Picking at acne
lesions is also, of course, a big no-no, and will only exacerbate the pigmentation
associated with the wound healing.
What are my treatment options?
When it comes to hyper pigmentation (when pigment-producing cells are damaged and
produce too much colour), there are two possible treatment approaches -- botanical
and chemical. Chemical lighteners, predominantly those containing Hydroquinone,
are the only approach officially recognized by the US Food and Drug Administration
as effective skin lighteners. However, Hydroquinone has been linked with many negative
side effects and can cause severe skin allergies and worsening of the pigmentation
condition. (This is why Hydroquinone is now actually banned in much of Asia and
Africa.)
Botanical skin brighteners are a much safer approach for brightening the skin, and
are as effective when used consistently in a professional brightening regimen. Brightening
agents to look for include Liquorice, Bearberry, Rice, Kiwi and Mulberry, coupled
with Lactic Acid and Vitamin C. Your skin care therapist will be able to prescribe
the regimen best for you, but it will most likely begin with a professional series
of Skin Brightening treatments. These highly-active treatments include a professional-only
exfoliation to smooth away the unevenly pigmented skin cells, followed by the application
of a powerful botanical serum.
Of course, your at-home regimen is also vitally important. After cleansing in the
morning, use Dermalogica Day Bright SPF15, which contains optical illuminators,
and will help protect your skin from further sun damage while actually helping to
combat melanin production on the cellular level. At night after cleansing, use Daily
Microfoliant®, a Rice-based powder that smoothes and brightens the skin. Then apply
Night Bright, which penetrates deep into the skin and delivers a potent dose of
eleven botanical brighteners to regulate melanin production.
How much you can reduce the appearance of hyper pigmentation depends largely on
what is causing the problem in the first place, as well as how deeply into the skin
the pigmentation extends.
Generally speaking, most people see results within 8-10 weeks of beginning a treatment
program. Keep in mind, however, that all sun exposure must be avoided during this
time – even one unprotected day in the sun can completely reverse all positive treatment
results.
Close
Dermalogica at WWSM