Hyperpigmentation - When melanin stimuli need correction

Hyperpigmentation is a skin problem in which areas with uneven pigmentation appear, due to the increased amount of melanin.

In hyperpigmentation, spots or darker areas appear on the skin that may be due to sun exposure, age or associated with skin problems such as melasma and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.

What is melanin?

Melanin is a pigment that gives colour to our skin, hair, and eyes. However, its main function is to protect our skin from solar radiation. That is why our skin gets tanned when we get sun. When we get sun, our skin is stimulated to produce melanin, which acts as a defence mechanism against ultraviolet radiation.

Factors that cause melanin increase

• Excessive exposure to the sun
• Hormonal changes
• Age
• Skin lesions
• Medicines

Sun exposure is the main factor in the appearance of hyperpigmentation; that is why the spots usually appear in areas that are more exposed to the sun, such as face, neck, arms, and hands. 

As we age, hormonal production decreases and so does the number of skin cells that produce melanin, but those that remain increase in size and are not so uniformly distributed, leading to the appearance of large patches.

Melasma is a skin disorder  commonly associated with pregnancy and the use of oral contraceptives. The patches usually appear on the cheekbones, forehead, nose, and upper lip. It can also appear on the neck and arms.

Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation appears after the healing of skin injury, leaving a darker area in its place, due to the release of melanin. It is common in acne, lupus, and cosmetic procedures such as laser and chemical peels.

Prevention and Treatment of Hyperpigmentation

• Photo protection
• Reduction of sun exposure
• Pigmentation corrector creams - complex creams based on anti-blemish and antioxidant solutions
• Chemical peel - renews the skin in depth
• Laser treatment - application of pulsed light that helps to renew the skin

If the blemishes affect your self-esteem a lot, the use of makeup, such as corrector or foundation products, helps to camouflage the blemishes and even out the skin.

Sources
iSaúde
Farmácia Distribuição Magazine

1x

1x

0x

3x