5 Ways to Get Rid of Hyperpigmentation

Hyperpigmentation is quite common, especially on colored skin, since darker tones have high melanin content. Sun exposure, specific health conditions, and medications may also result in hyperpigmentation. Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, melisma, and age spots are all types of hyperpigmentation.

Some signs of hyperpigmentation may include black, tan, or brown spots on the skin due to sun exposure, large darkened skin patches, and darkened skin patches or spots that appear after inflammatory skin conditions, like eczema and acne. While hyperpigmentation might be harmless, you might want to remove it. This article outlines five ways to get rid of hyperpigmentation.

Table of Contents

1. Get help from a skin discoloration specialist
2. Laser treatment
3. Retinoids
4. Lightening creams
5. Chemical peel
Endnote

1. Get help from a skin discoloration specialist

Skin discoloration is a common issue for most people as they age. Concerns such as melasma, vascular lesions, and rosacea can make you self-conscious concerning your appearance and may be hard to conceal or hide. With the help of a skin discoloration expert, you can find various solutions for your specific skin discoloration issues. They’ll help you find appropriate treatment for your skin and customize it to suit your unique goals. The treatment a skin discoloration specialist provides will differ based on the procedure being offered, and could be covered under insurance.

2. Laser treatment

Laser treatments, also called resurfacing treatments, use targeted light beams to reduce hyperpigmentation. They can be non-ablative or ablative. Non-ablative lasers focus on the dermis to enhance tightening effects and collagen growth. Ablative resurfacing is more intense and involves removing skin layers. It’s more intense and could have more side effects. Laser peel treatment destroys some of your skin elements to promote the growth of new, more toned, and tighter cells.

Ablative lasers are ideal for fair skin people. The non-ablative treatment might darken the skin in some patients instead of whitening it. Consider working with a dermatologist to examine your skin tone and discoloration to suggest the best laser treatment option.

3. Retinoids

Retinoids have a small molecular structure that lets it infiltrate deep into your skin to treat the layers under your epidermis. Retinoids can be prescribed or bought over the counter. While over-the-counter (OTC) retinoids can be safe for nearly all skin tones, consult a dermatologist if you have a dark tone and would like to use this treatment over the long term. If there aren’t visible changes after a few months of use, consult a dermatologist for assistance.

4. Lightening creams

Lightening creams are OTC treatments that utilize specific ingredients, including licorice extract, vitamin B3 and N-acetyl glucosamine, to reduce hyperpigmentation. Topical lightening creams can also be in gel form. Lightening gels or creams are ideal for flat spots like age spots or melasma. They can treat discoloration patches on most skin types. While OTC products may be easily accessible and more affordable hyperpigmentation options, they might take longer than prescribed treatments.

5. Chemical peel

A chemical peel utilizes highly concentrated acids to cure the desired skin area. They decrease hyperpigmentation appearance by eliminating the epidermis. A professionally graded chemical peel from a dermatologist could be more effective and powerful, yielding faster results. If you go out in the sun regularly, chemical peels might not be the best treatment alternative as it makes you more sensitive to UV rays.