Have you been noticing dark spots or areas of discoloration appearing on your face?
This is known as hyperpigmentation, and there are a few different causes. From sun damage to hormonal changes to inflammation, these triggers cause an increase in the amount of pigment produced by the skin, leading to the affected areas of skin taking on a darker appearance.
What can you do about it? Read on as Introlift shares the best ways to treat hyperpigmentation.
Use the Right Skincare Ingredients
Let’s start with what you can do at home to reduce the appearance of hyperpigmentation…
A good skincare routine is essential and, ideally, this should be filled with ingredients that have been proven to fade the visibility of discoloration. Keep in mind that these will only work to a certain extent. If your hyperpigmentation is light and doesn’t run deep into your skin, then topical products may be all you need, so long as you pick the right ones. However, if your hyperpigmentation is severe, then topical products on their own will help, but may not completely banish those dark spots.
Avoid products that are filled with harsh skin-lightening chemicals. Ingredients such as hydroquinone may work, but they can also cause some serious side effects. Considering the many alternatives out there that are just as effective, there’s no need to put your skin at risk.
Instead, look to ingredients like vitamin C, kojic acid, and vitamin A. This combination is particularly beneficial for hyperpigmented skin. Vitamin A will help to speed up cell turnover to encourage the shedding of discolored skin cells, while vitamin C and kojic acid will reduce the excess melanin that causes dark spots.
In fact, this trifecta is so effective that we’ve made use of it in our Brightening Facial for Hyperpigmented Skin. With kojic acid, vitamin A, and vitamin C as actives, along with a light chemical peel, LED therapy, and radiofrequency skin tightening, this facial will leave your skin looking beautifully bright and even.
Weekly Exfoliation & Monthly Chemical Peels
If you’re trying to get rid of hyperpigmentation, exfoliation is essential. It breaks up the excess pigment in skin cells while also speeding up cell turnover. This increases the rate at which the skin naturally exfoliates itself, meaning that discoloration will fade at a much faster rate.
Ideally, you should be exfoliating your skin weekly. An acid-based exfoliant would be the way to go since face scrubs can sometimes trigger irritation and inflammation, which will only make hyperpigmentation worse.
So, where do chemical peels come in? They’re essentially an intense form of exfoliation. Just like at-home exfoliants, they remove dead skin cells, but they penetrate deeper into the skin to provide results that are far more dramatic.
Again, just like chemical exfoliants, chemical peels are available in various strengths. At the Introlift Medical Spa, we have a few for you to choose from.
The Jessner Peel is always a popular option. Suitable for all skin types, this peel contains a variety of clinical-grade acids that each target hyperpigmentation. That said, it’s a superficial peel, meaning that you won’t have to deal with a long recovery time.
If the majority of your hyperpigmentation has been caused by acne breakouts, then our Micropeel Plus 20 Solution may appeal to you more. This peel contains a 20% concentration of salicylic acid. This beta-hydroxy acid is well-suited to people with oily skin. Not only will it remove hyperpigmented skin cells on the surface of your skin, but it will also dive deep into your pores to clear out any clogs, therefore preventing new breakouts from forming.
Nanoneedling & Microneedling
In some ways, microneedling and nanoneedling are pretty similar treatments. They’re both fantastic for targeting hyperpigmentation and are often favored by those who prefer to go down a chemical-free route.
However, there are, of course, a few features that differentiate these treatments. The main one is the depth at which each treatment functions. Nanoneedling focuses on the epidermis (the outermost layer of skin), while microneedling penetrates a little deeper, with the needles puncturing the dermis.
So, which one should you pick for treating hyperpigmentation?
Both treatments will work well, so your decision should be based on how severe your hyperpigmentation is. If your issues are simply surface discoloration, then nanoneedling is all you need. There’s no pain involved, even without a numbing cream, and no downtime.
On the other hand, if your hyperpigmentation runs deeper in your skin, then microneedling would be the better option. You still won’t have to worry about pain since a numbing cream will be used, and you’ll also be able to enjoy more significant improvements when it comes to the texture and elasticity of your skin.
If you want to boost the results of your microneedling session even further, we also offer a Microneedling With PRP procedure. Before you undergo your microneedling session, we’ll draw a small amount of blood and then process this to separate out the platelet-rich plasma (PRP). This will then be inserted into your skin during your microneedling treatment, which will essentially speed up the rate at which you see results.
Laser Treatments
There are a number of different laser treatments available that can help to fade the look of hyperpigmentation. They each work in their own way, although those with a dark skin tone will need to be careful about which laser procedure they choose. Some are notorious for making hyperpigmentation even worse when used on dark skin.
One procedure that works well for all skin tones is Introlift’s Laser Skin Rejuvenation. It makes use of a Q-Switched laser that hones in on very specific areas of skin without causing damage to the surrounding tissue. The laser emits its energy into the epidermis, breaking up the clumps of excess pigmentation that have caused your hyperpigmentation. The pigment is then absorbed by the lymphatic system, after which it’s eliminated from the body.
You’ll notice a slight improvement in your dark spots after your initial session, with these continuing to lighten with subsequent treatments. The total number of treatments that you’ll need will depend on the severity of your hyperpigmentation.
eMatrix Sublative Rejuvenation
eMatrix Sublative Rejuvenation is another laser treatment that effectively diminishes hyperpigmentation. Unlike many of the other procedures out there, this one doesn’t make use of lasers or light. Instead, it harnesses radio frequency energy, sending this into the skin in the form of a matrix. Once there, this energy stimulates deep tissue repair, which includes the treatment of hyperpigmentation.
Since this procedure has minimal impact on the epidermis, it’s a great option for every skin type and skin tone. It doesn’t take much time either – most treatments are completed in under an hour, with some taking just ten minutes. It all depends on the size of the area that you’re treating.
However, just like with laser treatments, you’ll need a few sessions for deep improvements to take place. Three treatments will usually get the job done, after which you’ll only require a couple of top-up sessions each year to maintain your results.
LED Light Therapy
LED light therapy has been a game-changer for people with hyperpigmentation. This treatment encompasses the use of different wavelengths of LED light, which we see as various colors. Each wavelength penetrates into the skin at different levels, meaning that they each trigger different results.
Red light therapy tends to be the go-to for people looking to reduce the visible signs of aging. However, it can help with hyperpigmentation too. The way in which skin cells absorb the red light helps to stimulate cell repair, enabling your skin cells to re-establish their normal pigmentation levels in the long run.
Green light therapy is also useful for hyperpigmentation. It delves into the dermis and directly slows down excess melanin production. This prevents new dark spots from forming while allowing your existing areas of discoloration to fade.
If you’d like to give LED light therapy a try, we have a few options available at Introlift. You can either opt for the treatment as a standalone, or you can pick one of our facials that include the use of LED light therapy. For example, our Cryogenic Correction treatment combines LED light therapy with a skin-restoring facial, a chemical peel, and radio frequency treatment, giving your complexion a flawless radiance post-treatment.
Hydradermabrasion
Microdermabrasion is often recommended for hyperpigmentation. However, the downside to this procedure is that it can cause inflammation in the skin. If you have a darker skin tone, then this could lead to your hyperpigmentation worsening.
This is where hydradermabrasion comes in. Instead of blasting the skin with crystals or sand, it makes use of a water-based solution. This makes it much less abrasive, and therefore far less likely to cause inflammation.
What does this treatment actually do? It basically exfoliates the skin. It also includes extractions and hydration, which microdermabrasion treatments lack. The result is skin that looks clear, bright, and balanced, from a treatment that doesn’t require any downtime at all.
At Introlift, we offer hydradermabrasion in our RF Aqua Facial Lift. Not only will this procedure help to treat hyperpigmentation, but it’s also a great one for slowing down the skin aging process.
Protect Your Skin From the Sun
The sun is one of the primary causes of hyperpigmentation. Excess sun exposure causes the skin to produce too much melanin. Since the skin isn’t able to distribute this evenly, the melanin ends up clustering under certain parts of the skin, giving those areas a darker color.
While all of the treatments featured above are extremely effective at treating hyperpigmentation, they’ll only be able to work to a certain extent if your skin is continually being damaged by UV rays.
So, if you really want to banish those dark spots for good, make sure that you’re protecting your skin from the sun. Keep your skin covered with a broad-spectrum sunscreen and stay in the shade whenever possible.
Even once you’ve managed to lighten your dark spots, sun protection is still vital in order to keep your skin looking clear and unblemished.
Treating Hyperpigmentation at Introlift
It can take a while to treat hyperpigmentation if you’re relying solely on topical products, which is why it’s always a good idea to combine a solid skincare routine with professional treatments. At Introlift, we have plenty for you to choose from, with each one targeting hyperpigmentation in its own way.
Not sure which treatment to pick? Get in touch with Introlift today and book yourself in for a consultation, so that we can advise you on the procedures that would be best suited for your skin.