Did you know that hyperpigmentation is the number one skin concern of Australians?

It doesn’t help that we experience some of the harshest environmental conditions in the world, but ahead of acne and even fine lines and wrinkles, it’s hyperpigmentation that has people looking for their nearest skin clinic.

What people may not realise is that many different types of hyperpigmentation can present on the skin which all require different treatments and approaches.

Today, we’re going to explore the three most common types of hyperpigmentation you may experience and insight into how you can treat them.

Before we get into the nitty gritty, what actually is pigmentation?

Pigmentation refers to the colour in our skin, created by melanocytes, the pigment-producing cells in our body. When there is an excess of melanin production, causing that area of the skin to be darker and more pronounced than others, it’s known as hyperpigmentation.

The most common causes of hyperpigmentation include sun damage and UV exposure, our genetics, hormones, trauma to the skin, and even medications and therapies used to treat certain conditions. As you can see, some of these contributing factors are out of our control whilst others are directly caused by our behaviour towards our skin.

Before treating any form of pigmentation, we always begin your skin journey with a thorough skin consultation. This includes our industry-leading imaging technology to discover what’s truly going on beyond the skin’s surface which is particularly eye-opening when it comes to pigmentation! From here, we can curate a personalised treatment plan to achieve your individual goals.

UV-Driven Hyperpigmentation

In Australia, our sun is so incredibly harsh that by lunchtime in Summer, our UV rating can be as extreme as 13 on a scale that generally stops at 11. Pretty mind-blowing, right?

 Therefore, the most common contributor to hyperpigmentation in Australia is sun damage and excess exposure to UV. This is where we see the likes of freckles and uneven skin tone present on the skin, most commonly the face, décolletage, and arms/hands.

UV exposure comprises of two forms – UVA and UVB. You may have heard of these before when seeing sunscreens described as “broad spectrum protection”. A simple way of remembering the damage caused by both spectrums is the A in UVA is for ageing, and the B in UVB is for burning.

This exemplifies that UV damage can occur even when it’s not sunny outside and therefore, so can hyperpigmentation. The more sun damage you experience, the more melanin your skin is delivered and therefore, the more hyperpigmentation you will see on your skin. This cycle will continue without intervention and can lead to skin cancers.

When it comes to treating hyperpigmentation caused by UV exposure, the number one course of action is religiously applying SPF. We firmly believe that there is no point investing in advanced skin treatments and professional skincare routines if you’re not covering the absolute necessities, particularly sunscreen, every single day.

In the clinic, we may recommend a course of clinical peels to address this type of hyperpigmentation in conjunction with laser toning or even skin needling. These treatments will be supported with a strict at-home skincare routine to prevent further hyperpigmentation including sunscreen and a Vitamin C serum to enhance your protection against sun damage.

 Hormonal Pigmentation – Melasma

Melasma is a hormonally driven form of hyperpigmentation that is exacerbated by excess oestrogen during pregnancy, hormone replacement therapy or forms of oral contraception.

A difficult form of hyperpigmentation to treat, melasma presents in dark patches or splotches rather than small freckle-like spots and is most commonly seen on the face.

Whilst hormones are to blame for the melasma in the first place, it’s important to ensure there are no other contributing factors. Like all forms of hyperpigmentation, UV exposure aggravates pigmentation, but for melasma, it is even more significant as heat can be a key driver of worsening the condition. This is why many laser treatments are not suitable for treating melasma as the heat the technology produces could do the opposite of what we’re trying to achieve.

As this treatment requires a profoundly bespoke approach with every client, a consultation would be the first step to addressing melasma. This will help us understand your specific concerns on a deeper level and design a plan of attack.

Pigment inhibitors, found in advanced chemical peels like our Aspect Dr Power Peel, will likely feature in your treatment of melasma, as well as a supportive at-home skincare routine. We will also look inwards to ensure your gut health is firmly supported when treating a hormonal condition.

Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation

This form is hyperpigmentation is caused by an overproduction of melanin when the skin has experienced trauma, inflammation, or injury. These factors disrupt the epidermis, causing our melanocytes to go into “protective mode” and produce melanin which can become trapped deep within the skin. It presents as brown patches on the skin, larger than a freckle. It is commonly associated with those that have experienced severe acne, but post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation can be caused by physical trauma (such as an accident), misuse of active skincare products or peels and poorly performed laser treatments.

Like melasma, this type of hyperpigmentation can be aggravated by heat so a carefully considered approach to treatment is required.

Firstly, you guessed it, this is yet another type of hyperpigmentation that requires committed sun protection from you at home to not worsen the condition. Additionally, those suffering from acne are encouraged not to pick at their condition as this is a leading contributor to this condition and scarring.

Tyrosinase inhibitors are fantastic for treating this condition as they work to slow the overproduction of pigment in your skin. Additionally, pigment-inhibiting chemical peels will be an ideal treatment choice to further support a reduction in appearance.

Committed to bringing you the industry’s best, our laser toning facial harnesses the power of our TRI-BEAM laser technology. What makes this laser unique is that it can treat deep hyperpigmentation without the requirement of excess heat, therefore, reducing the risk of exacerbation. As always, we recommend booking a consultation to kickstart your hyperpigmentation treatment journey to ensure we can match you with the best treatment plan possible.

If you have any questions about hyperpigmentation or how you can start your own journey to a brighter and more even complexion, book your skin consultation online today.