How to Treat Hyperpigmentation
How to treat hyperpigmentation
There are many skin care products to treat hyperpigmentation.
Skin lightening serums and sunscreen are the best treatments to get rid of hyperpigmentation.
How to choose which hyperpigmentation remedies are best?
We can help you find the best hyperpigmentation solution for your skin type, habits, and budget.
What do dermatologists recommend to stop hyperpigmentation?
Most dermatologists recommend:
- A good skin care routine for hyperpigmentation
- Chemicals peels
- Changing lifestyle habits to avoid sun and heat
- Wearing a hat with a wide brim
- Daily sunscreen!
10 ways to treat hyperpigmentation:
- Chemical peels
- Daily SPF
- Dermabrasion
- Exfoliants
- IPL therapy
- Laser
- Microdermabrasion
- Microneedling
- Retinoids
- Skin Lightening serums
Not all of these treatments are a good idea because anything that wounds the skin can cause rebound proinflammatory hyperpigmentation.
This occurs because inflammation causes increased skin pigmentation.
In sunny climates like Miami, avoid light and lasers when you have melasma because it tends to recur.
Is there a hyperpigmentation cure?
The only way to cure hyperpigmentation is to use the right skin care routine consistently in addition to sunscreen and sun avoidance.
Make sure your skin care products and brands are right for your Baumann Skin Type to avoid inflammation that can cause pigmentation.
What is the most effective treatment for hyperpigmentation?
The most effective treatment for hyperpigmentation is a skin care routine containing:
Skin care can be combined with treatments, but hyperpigmentation treatments will not work very well if you are not using effective skin lightening products and sunscreen.
Hyperpigmentation Skin Care
The best serums to treat pigmentation
The best serum to reduce pigmentation is Derma Made Mela Fade.
It was developed by dermatologist Dr. Amy Brodsky to clear up hyperpigmentation.
You can learn more here where I interview Dr. Brodsky on our You Tube channel.
Dermatologist-recommended serums to remove hyperpigmentation on the face are:
Alastin A-LUMINATE BRIGHTENING Serum
Skinceuticals Discoloration Defense
SkinMedica Lytera 2.0
The most affordable serum to lighten skin is:
Medature Hydrobright Treatment because it is affordable and effective.
Looking for a dermatologist to treat unwanted pigmentation?
You can find doctors and medical providers that specialize in skin care here.
These are our dermatologist's favorite skin lightening products:
Creams for hyperpigmentation
The best creams are prescription creams containing:
- hydroquinone
- a steroid
- a retinoid.
Talk to your doctor or skin care expert about which cream is best for you.
Acne Hyperpigmentation Treatments
Steps to get rid of hyperpigmentation from acne?
- Prevent future acne with acne treatments- otherwise you will just be making more acne spots.
- Get on a skin care routine to treat both your acne and your dark spots.
- Use retinol which exfoliates, treats acne and helps remove dark spots.
- Choose an exfoliating cleanser
- Pick a moisturizer based on your Baumann Skin Type.
This can be complicated- so take the quiz to get the exact skincare routine steps to treat your acne hyperpigmentation.
Best Cosmeceutical Ingredients to Clear up Pigmentation
Is AHA or BHA better for hyperpigmenttaion?
They are both exfoliants which help remove unwanted pigment. Which to choose depends upon your Baumann Skin type.
Alpha hydroxyacids like glycolic acid are better for dry s kin types.
Beta hydroxy acid such as salicylic acid is better for oily skin types.
Don't guess if your skin is dry or oily- take the quiz.
Which AHA is best for hyperpigmentation?
Our dermatologists prefer AHA and BHA cleansers to exfoliate away pigmented spots.
The 3 best AHA cleansers for dry skin to fade spots:
Essopi Glycolic 10% Moisturizing Cleanser
Here are some of the best BHA cleansers for dry skin to fade spots:
Replenix Gly-Sal Deep Pore Cleanser
Can hyaluronic acid remove pigmentation?
HA is a humectant and doe snot affect the melanin production pathway at all. However, HA can make other skin care ingredient absorb better into the skin.
Does niacinamide reduce hyperpigmentation?
4 reasons niacinamide is great ingredient to treat pigmentation disorders:
- anti-inflammatory
- blocks PAR-2
- blocks movement of melanin into skin cells
- and gives cells energy to repair themselves
The concentration of Niacinamide in skin care products should be 5% to be effective.
Niacinamide will work better when combined with tyrosinase inhibitors in other steps of the skin care routine.
Is niacinamide or retinol better for hyperpigmentation?
Retinol is better because it is an exfoliant and a tyrosinase inhibitor.
Retinol will work better when combined with niacinamide because they block 2 different pathways in melanin production.
Does retinol reduce skin pigmentation?
Yes! Retinol is a retinoid which are the best treatments to remove unwanted spots on the skin.
Learn how to use retinoids properly here.
Will retinol worsen hyperpigmentation?
Retinol side effects can lead to dyspigmentation.
Avoid worsening hyperpigmentation by starting with a low strength retinoid such as:
Medature Encapsulated Retinol Serum
Does Vitamin C help with hyperpigmentation?
Vitamin C is a tyrosinase inhibitor, but not a very strong one. It is not the best ingredient to block melanin production.
Vitamin C is often used in maintenance skin care routines for melasma.
However, it is our favorite ingredient to use in a melasma maintenance regimen.
Is Vitamin C or niacinamide better for hyperpigmentation?
They are both good but work different ways - so combining them together is a good idea.
Vitamin C blocks tyrosinase and is an antioxidant.
Niacinamide is a PAR-2 blocker and anti-inflammatory.
Why is it so hard to treat hyperpigmentation?
Hyperpigmentation worsens from things we cannot avoid like sunlight, heat and hormones. This is why it is so hard to treat.
Once pigmentation clears, sun and heat can make it return. So you must be vigilant with sunscreen and sun avoidance.
You cannot fade hyperpigmentation in a week.
It takes 12-16 weeks in most people to fade pigment on the skin.
How can I fix my hyperpigmentation naturally?
- Avoid sun
- Avoid heat and infrared
- Wear tinted sunscreen.
- Eat an anti-inflammatory diet
- Vitamins and supplements
Treatments and Procedures To Treat Pigmentation on Skin
Facials for pigmentation
Facials can combine AHAs, BHA and skin lighting ingredients to help remove pigment on the skin.
Medical facials should be done every 3-4 weeks and combined with a skin care routine that is right for your Baumann Skin Type.
Lasers and Lights for pigment on skin
Are lasers and light treatments good for pigmentation? Maybe not!
It depends upon the cause of the hyperpigmentation.
Lasers and lights work best for sun spots on light skin.
Lasers and lights can make melasma worse.
Talk to your doctor before using any type of light on your skin to treat pigmentation.
All forms of light including blue, red, yellow, infrared and ultraviolet light can make pigmentation worse.
What products make hyperpigmentation worse?
- photoallergens
- allergens
- Substances that make skin sensitive to sun like oil of bergamot
- light treatments
- light from phones
- light from computer screens
To find the best way to treat your pigment problems,
Shop by your Baumann Skin Type!