Hyperpigmentation Treatment & How to Even Skin Tone

A top skin goal for most of our clients is to be able to run out the door without an ounce of makeup and still look (and feel) flawless. One of the most common skin conditions that prevent us from going makeup free is hyperpigmentation and uneven skin tone. Though these conditions mysteriously appear, they don’t disappear in the same effortless manner. Thankfully there are solutions that will minimize and perhaps even erase those dark and uneven patches. Here are some of our pro tips to get you going makeup-free fast.

The Approach: A multi pronged approach consisting of skincare, in clinic treatments and healthy habits are your treatment for hyperpigmentation, dark spots and uneven skin tone for good.

SKINCARE

Hyperpigmentation patch

Read Labels Closely: Hyperpigmentation is a result of overproduction of melanin in the skin by melanocytes. This extra melanin can be triggered by a lot of different factors including hormones, sun exposure, medication, acne, strong topical skin products and even heat. There is no shortage of skin lighteners on the market, but read the label and avoid ingredients such as hydroquinone and glycolic acid. While these may work at first to get rid of hyperpigmentation, they will actually have a boomerang effect on your skin by thinning it out and making it MUCH more photosensitive and susceptible to dark spots and skin pigmentation. Not all skin lighteners are safe for your skin. Look for high powered actives- that are skin-friendly such as kojic acid and beledes (daisy flower) to fully eradicate skin pigmentation on the surface.

Sonya’s Uneven Skin Tone and Hyperpigmentation Product Picks:

Super Clear: salicylic acid, niacinamide and 11 botanical super-actives target existing breakouts, calm inflammation, clear pores and minimize acne spots.
Retinu: advanced time release delivery system of retinoic acid speeds up cellular turnover to revel fresher, brighter, more evenly-toned skin.
Fade Away: brimming with potent botanical actives to diminish visibility of scarring, sun spots and brown patches.
Nano Peel: reveals fresh, flawless skin – eliminating the accumulation of dulling dead cells without leaving your face feeling tight or uncomfortable.

IN-CLINIC TREATMENTS

Skin discoloration in various shades

Chemical Peels: powerful at speeding up results and removing deeper skin pigmentation. Professional strength peels remove the upper layers of dead skin helping to reduce the dull appearance of the skin, revealing a fresher, more even and brighter complexion. Over time, these treatments can stimulate collagen production, enhance cellular turnover, and reduce the appearance of dark spots. Common active ingredients in pro-grade peels include, salicylic, and lactic acids, along with trichloroacetic acid.

Diamond Peel: Particle-free microdermabrasion is another effective exfoliating treatment for hyperpigmentation that uses diamond encrusted wands and suction to buff away dead skin that does not destroy skin tissue, and therefore does not require significant recovery time.

HEALTHY HABITS

Sun exposure is enemy number one for your dark spots, uneven skin tone and skin pigmentation. When your love affair with the sun gets too intense, your skin produces excessive melanin. These pigments absorb UV rays, which ultimately damage your skin cells, making the exposed areas darker than the rest. This also causes hyperpigmentation. What can you do?

Cloasma also know as "pregnancy mask"

Wear sunscreen SPF30 every single day rain or shine. Stay in the shade, literally. Wear hats, sit under an umbrella, and avoid heat that can stimulate and trigger hyperpigmentation. If you are pregnant or take contraceptives, the imbalance in hormones may cause high melanin production. This condition is called melasma, and it can give you an uneven skin tone. You may get melasma if your skin reacts to certain cosmetic products or drugs. So make sure to be extra diligent and re-apply sunscreen every few hours.

Sonya’s Product Pick: Daily Shield SPF 30