What is Hyper and Hypopigmentation?
Melanin is an amino acid found in the body responsible for creating pigment in the hair, eyes and skin. The natural amount of melanin produced in each person is dependent on many factors such as genetics and sun exposure. Read about our skin pigmentation treatments below.
Hyperpigmentation is the overproduction of melanin which causes certain areas of skin to be darker than the surrounding areas, whilst Hypopigmentation is the underproduction of melanin, causing certain areas of the skin to be lighter than the surrounding areas.
What are the different types of pigmentation?
Pigmentation is a common skin condition that commonly affects the face, hands, and body. It can occur anywhere on the skin and appears as brown patches or freckles. The colour can range from light brown to black depending on the severity of the pigmentation and the client’s natural skin tone. Different types of pigmentation will require different treatment plans for effective results.
Melasma
Melasma is a harmless skin condition mainly present in women. It can appear as brown freckle sized spots or patches, commonly found on the facial and forearm region. Although the cause of melasma is unknown, many women may develop melasma after hormonal changes such as during pregnancy, as oestrogen and progesterone levels dramatically increase. These hormones are thought to contribute to melasma, and the colour of the pigmentation usually fades after pregnancy. In addition, taking photosensitive medication and unprotected sun exposure can put you at a higher risk of developing melasma, and unprotected sun exposure can darken existing melasma.
Freckles
Freckles are the most common type of skin pigmentation. Freckles are normally determined by genetics, but can also be an initial sign of unprotected sun exposure.
It is very common for freckles to fade as you age, and for them to appear darker in sunnier months.
Post-Inflammatory HyperPigmentation/ Hypopigmentation (PIH)
PIH is an acquired skin condition that develops after skin inflammation or skin injury. This can be caused by acne, burns, skin infections, allergies and harsher skin treatments such as chemical peels.
Solar lentigines
Solar lentigines are also known liver spots or sun-induced freckles. They can vary in colour from brown to black and are caused by either natural or artificial UV rays. Repeated unprotected sun exposure can increase the appearance of solar lentigines.
This is more common in older adults, particularly those who are fair skinned and those who have a harder time tanning and are sunburnt easily. As solar lentigines are a symptom of UV ray exposure, we recommend that you have medical checkups as UV rays are one of the biggest causes of skin cancer.
The top 3 treatments we recommend! Skin Pigmentation Treatments…
Pre-Treatment Planning
Before any treatment, a consultation is required where we will analyse your skin with our innovative skin analysis machine. This will allow us to see what kind of pigmentation you have and will help us create a specific treatment plan for you in order to provide the most expert care and give you the best results.
Cosmelan Peel
Cosmelan Peel, also known as the depigmentation peel, is suitable for all skin types, making it a universal treatment for everyone. It is considered the ‘gold standard’ for treating melasma, but it can effectively treat all types of pigmentation.
Cosmelan Peel is a 12 month treatment and there is a need for both in-clinic treatments and home care. It consists of 4 stages that allow the active ingredients in the Cosmelan peel to regulate and correct pigmentation by decreasing the production of melanin and removing pre-existing melanin deposits from the skin.
Stage 1: Skin preparation (At home)
After a consultation with our practitioners, you will be given a set of products to use for a minimum of 2 weeks. This is to quicken recovery and limit your skin’s reactions to the active ingredients to reduce downtime after the treatment.
Stage 2: Melanostop Peel (In clinic)
Melanostop peel is a preparation peel. It is another precaution to suppress any unwanted pigmentary changes when performing the cosmelan mask.
Stage 3: Cosmelan 1 Mask (In clinic)
The Cosmelan 1 mask is for removing any pre-existing pigmentation deposits on the skin. Depending on your skin type, the mask should be left on for 8-12 hours.
If the mask becomes too dry, you can use a spray bottle to spray a little bit of water to hydrate the mask.
Stage 4: Homecare
Cosmelan 2 is to be used at home for the remaining 12 months. This step is extremely important in regulating the amount of melanin being produced by your cells to prevent any new pigmentation from forming.
During the 1st month, a pea sized amount of cosmelan 2 should be used 3 times a day. During the 2nd and 3rd months, this becomes twice daily. The 4th month onwards, only use once a day.
After the Cosmelan 1 mask, your skin may be sensitive and red. You can reduce redness by using products such as ‘Fast Skin Repair Cream’ or ‘Couperend Maintenance Cream’ which are all available in our clinics.
Laser
M22 – Q switch Nd:YAG laser
For Hyperpigmentation: M22 laser is able to target these darker regions of the skin. Pulses of high energy are absorbed by the pigmentation, causing the targeted pigment to break down into smaller particles which are removed by the body’s lymphatic system.
Treatment is suitable for skin types 1-5.
Harmony XL Pro- Clearlift
Clearlift by Harmony is a much gentler treatment, so we would recommend this treatment for those with a more superficial condition or sensitive skin. It removes pigmentation through a photo-thermal process; laser heats the pigmentation which breaks it down allowing the lymphatic system to remove the pigments.
The treatment is suitable for skin types 1-4.
Which skin pigmentation treatments are best for me?
The best way to know which treatment is most suitable for you is to come in for a free consultation. During this time, our expert practitioners will use our advanced skin analysis machine to ascertain your type of pigmentation and assess your skin to create the best treatment plan for you. You will also have a chance to discuss the amount of sessions needed for best results and the spacing between sessions for recovery, as well as any personal questions you may have.