When it comes to skin, one of the most difficult conditions to resolve is hyper pigmentation. When skin that was previously even-coloured suddenly develops darker patches than the surrounding areas, we consider that skin to be hyper pigmented.
The thing about hyper pigmentation (HP) is that once it’s present, it’s almost impossible to completely resolve. With the right treatments, and over a long period of time, it can be reduced significantly, but the moment the skin is exposed to whatever triggered the HP in the first place again, it is extremely likely to recur. Currently, there is no treatment available that can get rid of HP fully and permanently.
This is why in the case of HP, prevention is key.

What is Hyper Pigmentation?

In the bottom layer of your skin’s epidermis are cells called Melanocytes. These cells are responsible for producing melanin, the pigment responsible for skin colour. Certain triggers can cause these melanocytes to go into overdrive and start to produce excess pigment, resulting in hyper pigmentation.
Triggers that might cause this to happen include hormonal changes (e.g. pregnancy, menopause), sun exposure, inflammation, and skin trauma (e.g. acne, burns). If, for example, pregnancy triggers HP on the belly, treatment after birth may greatly reduce it. But if another pregnancy occurs down the track, it will almost certainly retrigger the HP all over again.

How do I Prevent Hyper Pigmentation?

Okay, so you want to do what you can to prevent HP and avoid a long, expensive process trying to resolve it down the track. How do you do that? What steps can you take to protect your skin from developing HP in the first place?
There are several places in your life where you can make changes to reduce your chances of triggering HP.

UV Light Exposure

One of the biggest culprits is the amount of UV light our skin is exposed to. And this doesn’t just mean sunlight; it includes the light from your phone, PC, and TV as well. Most of us don’t realise that this blue light is actually more damaging than sunlight, and we don’t think to protect ourselves against it.
Sunscreen — SPF30+ — should be a part of your daily skin routine, regardless of the weather or even if you plan to leave the house or not. And did you know you need to reapply it every three hours? Slapping it on in the morning and forgetting about it isn’t enough when its protection wears off after a few hours, and you’re exposed to your laptop and phone screens for another 10 or so hours after it does.
We recommend a sunscreen that filters blue light, such as Nimue SPF50+, which filters UV, HEV, and pollution.
You should also wear a hat anytime you’re outside, especially on sunny days, to cut a good portion of your sun exposure.

Overhaul Your Diet

Did you know that certain foods can cause inflammation in the body? And inflammation is linked to many diseases, including heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and cancer, as well as hyper pigmentation.
Foods to limit or eliminate completely are:
• Sugar. This includes the oft-used sugar alternative, high fructose corn syrup. There’s a plethora of evidence gained from research that sugar causes inflammation in the body; our bodies simply weren’t designed to process it in the kinds of high doses we consume it in today’s world. Low doses (such as what you’ll find in fruits and vegetables) are fine, but it’s important to avoid it in greater quantities.
• Fried foods. Foods cooked at high temperatures, especially meats, increase the production of something called advanced glycation end products (AGEs) within the food, which can cause inflammation and lead to disease. Processed meats such as ham, salami, bacon, and sausage, are all processed at high temperatures, and should be avoided. High temperature cooking methods include frying, but also barbecuing, roasting, grilling, and toasting. Opt for other cooking methods wherever possible.
• Excessive alcohol. Alcohol in moderation is fine. But drinking regularly can cause serious health problems, and lead to severe inflammation in the body – which, in turn, can trigger HP. Stick to the occasional glass to avoid this particular risk.
• Refined carbs. Carbohydrates are an important part of your diet, but all carbs are not created equal. Refined carbs are foods that have had the majority of their fiber removed; as a result, they spike your blood sugar rapidly when you eat them, which can cause inflammation in the body. Examples of refined carb foods include pastries, breads, pasta, candy, certain cereals, cakes, soft drinks, and pretty much all sugar- or flour-containing processed foods.

Check Your Stress Levels

We know stress is pretty much unavoidable in today’s world. But it’s vitally important to reduce it as much as you can.
Stress causes your body to produce higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol, as well as adrenaline. Our bodies are designed to cope with high stress levels in short bursts, but when the stress becomes chronic, it causes inflammation.
Take a long, hard look at your life and ask yourself: where are you under stress, and how can you reduce it? Are you giving yourself breaks during your workday? Do you take walks and spend time in nature? Do you meditate or exercise? Get enough sleep? Do you need to reduce your caffeine intake?
Every small adjustment you can make to reduce your stress levels helps.

Are You Looking After Your Skin?

Looking after your skin goes beyond using sunscreen; your skincare products are important, too.
While your run-of-the-mill skincare products might seem better value for money, there is a major difference between them and salon-only products. Over-the-counter products are only allowed to have very low percentages of active ingredients, as they need to be safe to use for even the most sensitive person. This means that in most cases, over-the-counter products are largely ineffective.
Salon products, however, are prescribed by professionals after detailed skin assessment, and as such, are allowed to contain up to 70% active ingredients. This makes salon-only products many times more effective at achieving whatever the label says they are designed to do.
For HP prevention specifically, you need products containing tyrosinase inhibitors. Tyrosinase is an enzyme that’s key in the formation of melanin in the skin, therefore inhibitors play a role in preventing melanin over production, and can prevent HP. You’ll need to visit a salon to find products with the necessary doses of tyrosinase inhibitors.

When it comes to hyper pigmentation, prevention is better than treatment, and hopefully this post has given you some good ideas on what you can do to look after your skin.
If you’ve already developed patches of HP on your skin, we can still help with treatment; simply give us a call or book a session with one of our skin experts through the Booking page on our website.