Hyperpigmentation – What It Is And What You Can Do to Get Rid of It!  

Causes of hyperpigmentation: There are three main types of hyperpigmentation, each of which is categorized by their cause.

Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH): This occurs following skin injury from acne lesions, psoriasis, burns, friction and even certain professional skin care treatments. It begins to fade as the skin regenerates itself—a process that can take months or more. On the positive side, PIH generally responds well to treatment.

Lentigines: These are commonly known as liver spots or age spots. Although they do become more prevalent with age—they are found on 90% of light-skinned individuals over the age of 60—they are not directly caused by the aging process. Rather, lentigines are related to UV exposure.

Melasma: This is caused by hormonal fluctuations, common, for example, during pregnancy, with thyroid dysfunction, and through use of birth control pills and hormone replacement therapy. It affects an estimated five to six million women in the United States alone and can often be difficult to treat. Although not considered a main cause, certain illnesses, as well as the use of certain prescription medications, may cause.

Skin analysis: To increase the likelihood of successful treatment, a detailed skin analysis is crucial. Not only should skin care professionals investigate the severity of the condition they also should look for clues as to the origin of the problem to determine if a separate issue must first be treated.