6 Recommended Ways to Treat Pigmentation

Pigmentation is a common problem around the world and many people suffer from it, but there are ways to treat it. To treat pigmentation, it is important to understand its type and cause. It is highly recommended to consult a doctor for diagnosis and then follow the prescribed treatment. 

In this blog, you will learn about various types of pigmentation, their causes, and 6 effective and doctor-approved ways to treat it. Dive into this article to learn about ways to treat pigmentation. 

What Causes Pigmentation?

A chemical called melanin is a natural pigment responsible for an individual’s complexion. Special cells in the outer layer of skin produce melanin. For any reason, if the melanin production increases or decreases to abnormal levels, the result is pigmentation. 

Lack of melanin causes hypopigmentation and excess of this chemical causes hyperpigmentation. In the former, patches of skin become lighter colored compared to the normal complexion. In contrast, hyperpigmentation causes dark spots to appear on the skin. These are the two main types of pigmentation which are further divided into other types. 

6 Ways Approved by a Doctor to Treat Pigmentation

The following are 5 methods approved by a doctor to treat pigmentation: 

1. Moisturization for Better Cell Turnover

Both hyperpigmentation and hypopigmentation happen because of damaged or unhealthy cells. Moisturization can help with better cell turnover. Production of healthier cells to replace existing ones can significantly help in lowering pigmentation. Over the counter topical creams or lotions that help with pigmentation and also have moisturizing qualities like products with retinol can be quite an effective treatment. 

2. Stop Picking Your Injuries

For many people, pigmentation is not triggered by an autoimmune disease like vitiligo or conditions linked to aging like liver spots. It is because of inflammation and people simply picking on their injuries. Scratching wounds and forceful removal of stubborn blackheads can often result in light or dark marks on skin. Persistently picking skin from injuries can result in permanent scars. Letting your injuries heal and waiting for the darkened spots to disappear on their own is better than scratching a wound and making it worse. 

3. Apply Over the Counter Whitening Options

Spots of hyperpigmentation are easier to treat and erase when they are new. As the spots get old, they get deeper into the skin and become harder to remove. Azelaic acids, glycolic acids, vitamin C, kojic acids, and retinoids. These ingredients are known to inhibit the enzyme responsible for creating melanin called tyrosinase. 

However, it has been revealed that some whitening products may contain steroids, mercury, and harmful ingredients. The use of such products can do more harm than good. So, it is best not to go for a product with shady or unknown ingredients. 

4. Prescribed Topical Medication 

For hyperpigmentation that is too stubborn for home remedies and whitening creams, it is best to move towards stronger topicals prescribed by a dermatologist. Such medications include hydroquinone and cortisone. Hydroquinone is known to show great results for spots of hyperpigmentation.

But the use of these strong topical medications for hyperpigmentation should be administered by a dermatologist. The use of hydroquinone can have side effects like hypersensitivity to the sun or bleaching effects. Products like cortisone on the other hand are steroids and their continuous use can result in side effects like irritation and skin thinning. Therefore, these products should only be used when prescribed by your doctor. Upon using these products, if you face any inconvenience, it is important to bring it to your doctor’s notice before it gets worse. 

5. Chemical Peels

For maximized effects of the chemicals on skin to treat pigmentation, peels with stronger chemicals can be quite effective. These chemicals remove the top layer of the skin (epidermis) and some can even penetrate into the middle layer (dermis) for better results.

Chemical peels are often either called in-office and at-home peels. At-home peels are mild peels compared to much stronger in-office peels. Therefore, the latter has more lasting effects. However, there are risks involved with both types of peels like irritation, redness, itching, and even infections. It is best to only use chemical peels under the supervision of a dermatologist. 

6. Laser Removal 

In laser removal, laser beams are focused on the site of spots of pigmentation. This process heats and breaks the pigment without damaging tissues. Laser for pigmentation have been very effective for a lot of people in removing stubborn pigments. 

The process is generally safe as modern lasers do not damage the skin. But the risks involved include redness, swelling, and even pain. 

So, these are the effective doctor approved ways to treat pigmentation. Which method will best suit you depends on the type of pigmentation, your skin type, and most importantly your dermatologist’s advice.