All You Need to Know About The Causes And Treatments of Dark Spots

What Causes Hyperpigmentation?

The pigment melanin gives our skin its color. It is produced to shield the skin and protect it from the sun. When skin is exposed to the sun, melanin production increases and causes a tanning effect. This tanning process is the skin's natural defense mechanism against sunburns.

Hyperpigmentation can be caused by several things, such as genetic makeup, hormones, inflammation, post-inflammatory processes in the skin, and sun (UV) exposure. The biggest culprit, which is also the most avoidable, is the sun.

UVA and UVB Rays

The skin is continuously bombarded with ultraviolet radiation from the sun. Ultraviolet rays are made up of long wave UVA and short wave UVB. UVA rays tend to penetrate deep into the dermis layer, resulting in damage to the skin and is the main reason skin wrinkles prematurely. This is called photoaging. UVB rays cause the skin to tan. Extended exposure to UVB rays – especially between 10 am and 4 pm - also causes sunburns. On the other hand, our body needs the sun for the absorption of vitamin D because without vitamin D, calcium would not be absorbed, leading to osteoporosis.

Inflammation

Unfortunately, hyperpigmentation is not caused only by the sun. Although sun exposure is the largest contributor to age spots later in life, antibiotics and contraceptives can induce inflammation in the skin that can lead to hyperpigmentation. For those suffering from acne, the long-term use of strong oral prescription medication can sometimes increase the skin's sensitivity to sunlight and cause inflammation.

If prescription retinoids are overused and sunscreens are not applied regularly, sensitivity and inflammation can be triggered.

Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation

Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation causes the skin around a wound, typically an acneic pimple, to darken and discolor. Although post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation can occur in all skin types, it is seen most often in ethnic skin. It also affects men and women equally.

Hormones

Melasma is caused by a hormonal imbalance between estrogen and progesterone. This type of hyperpigmentation is frequently seen in pregnant women. While other dark spots can be permanently lightened, unfortunately this form of hyperpigmentation cannot. It can be controlled by a strict daily skin lightening regimen but any UV exposure, or even heat exposure can trigger melisma, and the dark spots are back again to start the process all over.

Treating Hyperpigmentation

The best treatments you can seek are performed by skin care professionals at spas, such as microdermabrasion, chemical peels or laser treatments; however as hyperpigmentation did not occur overnight, a few treatments will not erase all those spots either. Even if you seek professional help, you must do your homework, and you need to apply brightening skin care products twice a day for weeks or even months to achieve an optimal result.

Daily - twice a day apply the following ilike organic skin care products:

• Lemon Cleansing Milk
• Nettle Exfoliating Wash
• Brightening Serum (on hyperpigmentation areas)
• Brightening Moisturizer for Face, Hands and Body (on hyperpigmentation areas)

Weekly – once a week incorporate these products to your daily regimen:

• Fibrous Stonecrop Gel Mask – for normal to aging skin OR ...
• ... Apple & Lemon Gel Mask – for combination to oily, acne prone skin, or post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation

Monthly or biweekly (if your skin is more resilient):

• Yogurt Power Peel OR ...
• ... Rosehip Exfoliator

If your skin is resilient and you have large spots or stubborn hyperpigmentation, you may alternate these products weekly.

While it is essential that you keep your daily and weekly skin lightening regimen – including frequent exfoliation - until you see the expected results, you should always use minimum SPF30 even on cloudy days. Remember, a relatively short sun exposure can erase all the results you have put in to lighten your spots, and you can start all over again...