Pigmentation is deposition of excess melanin, resulting in darkening of that particular area of skin. These darker patches appear against the surrounding normal skin giving a uneven tone. It can be a consequence of a few internal factors such as ageing, hormonal changes, local skin disturbances or external factors such as sun exposure, trauma and a few medications.
Pigmentation can be of epidermal(superficial) or dermal(deep) or mixed.
A few most common pigmentation problems are
Post inflammatory hyperpigmentation – this is a result of skin response to local disturbances, for example acne leaving a darker spot
Melasma – this is usually a mixed type of pigmentation affecting cheeks, nose, area above eyebrows. It runs in families, starts during pregnancy or hormonal medication.
Freckles – these are spots with clusters of pigment causing cells and can become darker with sun exposure.
How to minimise
- The most important way is using a broad spectrum sunscreen which helps in minimising different forms of pigmentation.
- It’s easier to control and treat pigmentation in the initial days.
- Following a routine skin care and avoiding products or remedies that can irritate the skin.
Treatment
During the consultation your Dermatologist will evaluate your skin type, cause of pigmentation and design a treatment plan. It usually starts with combination of the following
- Medication – as a part of home care
- Chemical Peels – this procedure involves usage of agents which result in controlled damage of skin helping in getting rid of dead skin, clearing the pores, improving pigmentation
- LASER – Q-switched NdYAG is the most commonly used laser for the concerns of pigmentation. It’s a painless, safe and effective procedure with nearly nil downtime.