What causes hyperpigmentation on the skin and how to get rid of it.

It's safe to say that almost every one of us has faced the problem of unattractive brown spots on the skin in the summer. Most often, these spots appear on exposed areas of the skin that are more exposed to ultraviolet light than others: shoulders, face, neck, arms. Although it is possible to hide many skin defects, in particular rosacea, with the help of sun exposure, at the same time, the sun's rays are the main cause of age spots, which are very difficult to get rid of.

Hyperpigmentation is the real scourge of our time. Although dark spots on the skin do not affect our health and lifestyle, their unaesthetic appearance can cause some discomfort. In addition, pigmented areas on the skin can be caused by a number of very serious diseases.

Today we will tell you what are the causes of hyperpigmentation, what are the types and how to get rid of it.

Causes of hyperpigmentation

Excess melanin in certain areas of the skin can be caused by many things, including the following:

• excessive sunbathing or excessive use of a solarium;
• hormonal and age-related changes in the body;
• some diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
• disorders in the endocrine system caused by a change in the endocrine system of a woman during pregnancy or menopause;
• malnutrition, as well as a lack of vitamins and minerals in the body;
• genetic predisposition;
• some cosmetic procedures (dermabrasion, injections, hair removal).

Types of hyperpigmentation

If you want to tackle unsightly brown spots, you first need to categorize your problem. There are two types of hyperpigmentation.

Primary hyperpigmentation: This includes freckles, melasma, lentigo, Becker's mole, and photodermatosis.

Secondary hyperpigmentation usually occurs after:

• chronic types of acne;
• yellow skin tone caused by liver disease;
• hypermelanosis (accompanied by hair loss);
• laser ablation.

In addition, hyperpigmentation can be caused by some common diseases , namely:

• Addison's disease, which gives the skin a bronze tone;
• hypermelanosis around the joints of the hand (accompanied by graying of the hair);
• liver disease leading to yellow skin tone;
• chronic vitamin B12 deficiency and chronic intoxication, manifested by dark brown spots.

Let's take a look at the most common types of hyperpigmentation .

Freckles are most common in people with fair skin and sensitive to the sun. Since they appear on all exposed areas of the skin exposed to ultraviolet light, there is only one way to prevent them: sunscreens.

Melasma ,  or chloasma, or as cosmetologists call it “pregnancy mask”, is usually strictly localized: on the cheeks, forehead and neck in the form of dark brown spots. Most often, this type of pigmentation occurs due to hormonal disorders during pregnancy, menopause, or while taking hormonal drugs. This is exacerbated by regular exposure to UV light without sunscreen.

Lentigo is characterized by light or dark brown irregular patches that appear on the skin after the age of 50. They occur due to excessive use of the solarium at a younger age, they also arise from drugs in the form of side effects, as well as the consequences of sunburn.

Methods for the treatment of hyperpigmentation

This problem is facing millions of women around the world, so the list of ways to treat and prevent it is very impressive. We will tell you about the most reliable and effective.

Chemical peel

It aims to remove the outermost layer of pigmented skin. It not only removes age spots, but also prevents the appearance of new ones. The main thing is to make sure that the drug contains tretinoin - this substance has a whitening property.

Phototherapy

These procedures reduce skin pigmentation and also stimulate the production of elastin and collagen, thereby helping to get rid of fine lines.

laser resurfacing

This method is based on the destruction of skin cells with a high content of melanin. Cosmetic laser skin resurfacing is especially effective in treating melasma and freckles. However, after such procedures, the skin needs special care for a week.

cosmetic product

A good whitening effect is achieved with products containing plant substances based on thymol, arbutin, phenol, eugenol and chinol, as well as salicylic acid. In addition, your skin will benefit from products with extracts of lemon, aloe, cucumber and other plants.

At the same time, it should be borne in mind that so far there is no universal method for the complete elimination of hyperpigmentation. You can solve this problem only with the help of a professionally selected course of treatment, taking into account your individual characteristics. Trying to get rid of age spots with dubious life hacks and unreliable methods can lead to disastrous consequences. Do not risk your health, youth and beauty, consult a specialist.

Women's magazine