Hyperpigmentation is the darkening of an area of skin or nails caused by increased melanin.
Causes:
Hyperpigmentation can be caused by sun damage, inflammation, or other skin injuries including those related to acne. People with darker skin tones are more prone to hyperpigmentation especially with excess sun exposure, many forms of hyperpigmentation are caused by an excess production of melanin. Hyperpigmentation can be spread out or centred in the area that it appears, affecting areas such as the face and back of hands. Melanin is produced by melanocytes which are located in the lower layer of the epidermis. Melanin is a class of pigment responsible for producing colour in the body in places such as the eyes, skin and hair. As the body ages melanocyte distribution becomes less spread out and its regulation less controlled by the body. UV light stimulates melanocyte activity and where concentration of the cells is greater hyperpigmentation occurs.
Another form of hyperpigmentation is post inflammatory hyperpigmentation where dark/discoloured spots appear on the skin following acne that has healed.
Hyperpigmentation can be diagnosed by having a simple skin consultation with a skin care professional.
Treatment:
There are a wide range of treatments available which can help successfully treat hyperpigmentation including:
- Medical Grade Skin Care
- Chemical Peels and other Exfoliating treatments
- IPL/Laser Therapy
- Cryotherapy
- LED Phototherapy
- Microneedling
The truth is there is no quick fix when it comes to hyperpigmentation and it usually requires various products containing certain ingredients and professional in clinic treatments carried out by a skin specialist who has the knowledge and experience to deal with it.
Here at Aeternum Aesthetics, we pride ourselves on having the best scientifically evidenced and medically backed products and treatments available so that we can not only give you the best solution to your concerns but also give you the peace of mind knowing that you are in safe hands. Our Skin Specialists have had extensive training, years of experience and advanced knowledge.
In addition to our in-clinic treatments, we have a medical skin care range, AlumierMD which is used in professional treatments as well as at home …. so you can continue the good work at home in between your visits to the clinic. This is a priority when treating hyperpigmentation – you must be prepared to make changes outside of the clinic environment. Treating hyperpigmentation is a long journey and often an ongoing one. You must be committed to an at home and professional treatment plan in order to achieve the results you want.
Professional Pigmentation In-Clinic treatments that we offer include:
At consultation we start by performing an Observ520x Skin Analysis to show you exactly what is going on under the skin and so that you can see how much pigmentation you have, particularly deep down under the skins surface. The outermost layer of the epidermis is the only layer that is visible to the eyes. Having a skin analysis enables us to identify the areas of pigmentation that are underneath the skin surface too. This is an extremely useful tool as it allows us to see the extent of the damage and the potential for further pigmentation to reach to surface in the future.
AlumierMD Chemical Peels – non-invasive naturally derived acids such as Lactic acid (from milk) and Salicylic acid (bark of willow trees).
IPL Photo-rejuvenation (Intense Pulsed Light)
Cryotherapy
Observ520x Skin Analysis to show you exactly what is going on under the skin and show you how much pigmentation you have.
Medical Microneedling
Dermalux LED Phototherapy
AlumierMD Professional Treatments:
AlumierMD Chemical Peel treatments are light to medium depth peels which means that you have little to no downtime after treatment. Rather than offering you an aggressive peel solution, AlumierMD treatments are progressive meaning that you don’t have to hide away after treatment! A course of AlumierMD peels will give you the same benefits as a harsher treatment they just work progressively instead of aggressively. The Chemical solutions applied encourage a chemical sloughing of the skin. This exfoliation helps to lift the older skin away revealing a brighter, more even and youthful skin underneath.
For optimum benefit, we recommend a course of treatments combined with medical grade skincare use at home.
IPL Photo-rejuvenation (Intense Pulsed Light):
An intense light is applied in a series of gentle pulses across the treatment area. Without damaging the skin, the light penetrates through the skin and is absorbed by the pigmentation. The heat causes damaged to the pigmentation and, thereafter, the body begins its natural healing process in creating new fresh skin. A course of treatments is recommended and we do suggest combining these with other treatments that we offer.
Cryotherapy:
We use a device called Cryopen. It releases nitrous oxide onto the pigmented area od skin and destroys the tissue by freezing the intercellular fluid within seconds. Cryopen is best suited to smaller areas of pigment such as age spots. Usually one or two treatments are enough to remove the small pigmented area successfully.
Medical Microneedling:
Microneedling involves piercing the skin with small, sterile needles to create tiny microscopic wounds. This triggers the skins wound healing response and, in turn, new healthy skin is formed. Over time and following a course of treatments darkened areas of pigmentation reduce/disappear.
Dermalux LED Phototherapy:
Dermalux LED Phototherapy is a non-invasive treatment that uses clinically proven therapeutic light energy to trigger the skins natural rejuvenation and repair processes. The 633nm Rejuvenating Red light energises cells to accelerate renewal, boost collagen and elastin production and increase hydration. The 830nm Regenerating Near Infrared light offers advanced rejuvenation benefits which helps to reduce pigmentation. We combine both light therapies together. It’s a great standalone treatment but we also combine it with many of our other treatments as standard.
Although all of these treatments will help to treat hyperpigmentation in their own right, to really pack a punch and get the best possible results we recommend that you combine a few if not all of them to achieve the results you desire. As mentioned at the start of this blog there is no “quick fix” where pigmentation is concerned. Hyperpigmentation will require a commitment from you and a course of treatments. We can offer many options for you to consider and we discuss this in full detail when attending consultation. We also have a bespoke medical grade treatment plan called SkinFit which has been designed specifically to treat pigmentation with a combination of ‘at home’ medical grade skincare and our in clinic treatments as part of a 6 month treatment plan. For further information in relation to SkinFit or any of our individual treatments please contact us by clicking here or call us on 01530 417 897.
