Pigmentation Tips

Acupuncture is a very effective remedy for the treatment of facial hyperpigmentation, uneven skin tone, dark circles, fine lines.

Most skin problems develop due to external damage. However, skin problems may also occur due to internal problems, such as an unhealthy diet and lifestyle issues. One of the fairly common problems is skin pigmentation.

What is skin pigmentation?
Skin pigmentation primarily refers to the change in skin color in patches across the body. These could occur all over the body including your face. Skin pigmentation problems primarily include:

• Hyperpigmentation: The darkening of the skin in specific areas
• Hypopigmentation: The lightening or development of paler spots on the skin.

Both of these disorders are caused by anomalies in the levels of melanin (the pigment that imparts color to the skin, hair) with either overproduction or underproduction of the pigment.

Primary causes of hyperpigmentation:
Although both problems affect the skin in a multitude of ways, the excess deposition of melanin causing skin darkening is much more common than the hypo-pigmentation variety. Some of the causes of hyperpigmentation are described as follows:

1. Sun damage: This is one of the obvious factors that will cause skin pigmentation as sun exposure causes melanocytes or melanin-producing cells within the skin to become hyperactive and thus cause dark patches.
2. Hormonal issues: Another common issues which results in patches are hormonal changes or issues within the body such as spikes in estrogen or progesterone levels or even problems with insulin.
3. Other factors: Diet and lifestyle are also other factors which may cause internal changes that reflect on your skin. Even using certain skin care products and using certain medications can result in skin hyperpigmentation.

Skin brightening techniques:
Some of the common skin brightening techniques that are used to deal with skin hyperpigmentation are:

1. Chemical methods to brighten skin: Chemicals such as peels, exfoliates and other brightening products change the skin color by affecting the epidermis or the top layer of the skin. Some of these medications and products are made with retinol and tretinoin and other chemicals which push vitamin A into the skin to lighten the tone.
2. Prevention of pigmentation: The best method to fight pigmentation is to not let it happen in the first place and sunscreen is a great way to go about it. Sun damage is by far the most common cause for pigmentation issues. Also dietary and other lifestyle changes, such as excessive alcohol consumption may cause skin pigmentation. Keep off tobacco and limit your alcohol consumption.
3. Use of Mechanical means: Mechanical means, such as dermabrasion (cosmetically removing the skin’s superficial layers), microdermabrasion (removal of dead skin cells from the face) and lasers and other means actually skim away a thin layer of skin to allow for new skin to grow back which results in the elimination of pigmentation.

It is, however, advisable that you visit your dermatologist first and then decide on the best course of action to deal with skin pigmentation problems as well as devise a strategy to halt further skin darkening.

For long, people have had a tough time dealing with hair fall and baldness. In some people, especially men, the baldness may appear in patches, affecting their overall appearance, with people looking way older than their age. Scalp Micro Pigmentation has been a revelation in the truest sense, taking the market by storm. It is a natural and non-surgical procedure to deal with hair fall and the associated problems.

Scalp Micro Pigmentation can be used to treat a host of hair problems including

• Alopecia (hair loss which is genetically triggered), crown balding, partial or complete baldness in men, as well as diffused hair loss.
• Women, too, can benefit from the Scalp Micro Pigmentation.
• Scars (in the scalp), resulting from an injury or an accident can be successfully camouflaged using SMP.
• Also termed as the Medical Hairline Tattoo, Scalp MicroPigmentation is much more than any ordinary hair tattoo. It is a scientifically approved procedure which uses natural and hypoallergenic (thereby eliminating the chances of any allergic reactions) pigments.

Unlike Hair transplant, Scalp MicroPigmentation (SMP), does not help in hair regrowth. However, the bald patches (partial or complete) can be perfectly camouflaged using SMP. In SMP, natural pigments are applied to the scalp (the 2nd dermal layer). These pigments give the impression of natural hair follicles. In the case of complete baldness, your scalp will appear to be clean shaved (due to the pigments that mimic the natural hair follicles).

It takes 3 sessions (each lasting for 3-4 hours) for a complete Scalp MicroPigmentation, performed by highly skilled and experienced practitioners. For better results, the practitioner maintains at least a week's gap between the sessions. The procedure usually needs a touch-up every 2-3 years.

Merits and Demerits of Scalp MicroPigmentation (SMP)

• Scalp MicroPigmentation comes as a blessing for people who have made desperate and all possible attempts to deal with the hair loss and the associated stigma that comes with it.
• Being a non-surgical procedure, SMP involves no incision (unlike hair transplantation).
• SMP is not very expensive and leaves only a small pinch in the pocket.
• The use of natural and hypoallergenic pigments minimize the chances of infections or associated complications.
• Side-effects are seldom observed in SMP.
• It has a quick healing time of about 2-4 days.

Like most of the surgeries and procedures, the Scalp MicroPigmentation too comes with its share of demerits.

• The biggest drawback of SMP is that it does not cause any hair growth. All it does is to hide the bald patches or the receding hairline with the natural pigments.
• The procedure will only give the scalp a fuller look. It can do nothing about the length of the hair, unlike a hair transplant, where you have a hair growth of the desired length.
• If you intend to go for hair transplant at a later period, do not opt for SMP, as it will leave a disparity in the hair color.
• In spite of the few demerits, SMP is still widely recommended, although the ultimate decision will always be yours.

Micro Scalp Pigmentation is also known as Scalp Micro Pigmentation is a great new solution for anyone who suffers from baldness. This procedure is ideal for people wanting a long term hair loss solution without any surgery or scars.

MSP is a method of depositing pigment into the dermal layer of the skin on the scalp, which replicates hair follicles. When viewed from a few inches or further away, the pigment dots appear as hair follicles and the client has the appearance of a full head of recently shaved hair. MSP is colour matched on a grayscale for most clients and can be used to treat clients of very pale complexion to extremely dark skin tones. Pigment changes also allow treatment for clients with red hair, blonde hair or older clients who have much grey or white hair. A Scalp Micro Pigmentation procedure is also much more cost-effective than normal hair transplant procedures. SMP companies or MSP companies offer there same services and professionalism even though the prices are lower for the procedure.

I am well aware that many people are a bit sceptical about having this Scalp Micro Pigmentation procedure done as it's a fairly new hair restoration solution/procedure on the market and one must be sure that the procedure is going to be done properly and professionally by people who know really what they are doing. This is why you need to be sure about the company that you choose for this procedure. Usually, a Scalp Pigmentation test procedure is done before the main procedure which will be applied to a very small area of your scalp. After this test procedure, you can see a photograph of this area and have it magnified many times so that you can see exactly how good the results really are with your own eyes. Please note that this process is nothing like a hair tattoo.

The Scalp micro pigmentation procedure has a very natural-looking effect due to the fact that smaller specialized needles and specialized pigment inks are used. This enables the matching of human hair pigments and doesn't change colour over time. You will also be able to see how your natural hair colour matches with the pigment colour which is applied for the Scalp Micro Pigmentation. Also the chosen Micro Scalp Pigment colour is as close a match as possible to your natural hair colour which will, as a result, be almost undetectable and look very natural. You have nothing to lose by trying this out.

The complexion of a person is determined by a pigment known as melanin. More the amount of melanin in a person, darker the complexion. The benefit of melanin is effective sun protection, and it prevents damage from sun exposure.

We have noticed people with dark (brown/black) spots that are darker than the surroundings skin. Commonly affected areas are the face, neck, hands, back, etc. These are melanin concentrated areas and become more visible in fair complexioned people. They are caused due to overproduction of melanin by the melanocytes, which are responsible for the production of melanin.

Now, what causes freckles is not clearly established, though the following are proposed.

1. Exposure to sunlight: The cells responsible for melanin production absorb the sun and therefore produce excessive melanin. This is a natural defence mechanism of the skin.
2. Ethnicity: Races with white skin are more likely to have freckles than races with darker skin.
3. Weather: Some people tend to have freckles only in the summer with fairly clear skin during the winter.
4. Genetics: If your parents or siblings have freckles, the chances of you having it are quite high.
5. Tanning: Whether by natural means of greater exposure to the sun or artificially done if the salon, increases the chances of developing freckles.

Treatment: There are rumours stating that freckles are “angel kisses,” and “good night charms” and should not be removed as it would bring bad fortune. This is, however, not true and for purely cosmetic reasons, they need to be removed. The commonly affected age group (<30) also is cosmetically sensitive, and therefore the need to treat these.

Prevention is the best and the first solution. Whether by race, heredity, or lifestyle, if you are prone to develop freckles, ensure you are taking the necessary steps to avoid getting freckles in the first place. Avoid sun exposure without sun protection, avoid tanning, and you will be surprised how you can actually prevent freckles. Watch out for weather changes and avoid sun exposure. Reducing the amount of sun exposure can also help in keeping the freckles light, thereby not making too much of a cosmetic concern.

If prevention is not possible, some of the effective treatment measures include:

1. Topical creams: These contain bleaching agents like Retin-A. One disadvantage though is that it acts on the entire skin and not just the freckles.
2. Laser: A beam of the laser is used to get rid of the unwanted melanocytes which produce melanin. It also improves skin tone and colour.
3. Cryotherapy: Liquid nitrogen is used to freeze the melanin-producing cells, thereby removing freckles.

After treating freckles, preventing freckle formation with limiting sun exposure and sun protection is extremely essential.

Pigmentation or the colour of your skin can be a sign of the state of your health. The skin colour can become lighter (hypopigmentation) or darker (hyperpigmentation) when you go through some physical illness or sustain an injury. Melanin is the agent which is responsible for the colour of our skin. When the cells responsible for melanin production get damaged, pigmentation disorders start to appear. When the body produces excessive melanin, the skin tends to get darker.

Excessive exposure to sun, Addison’s disease and pregnancy are some of the factors which might make the skin look darker. On the other hand, limited production of melanin makes the skin lighter and creates light patches. The condition in which your skin develops light patches is known as Vitiligo.

1. People with darker skin tone are more susceptible to changes in pigmentation. Since dark skin contains more melanin, individuals with dark skin are more prone to ‘melasma’. Melasma is a condition wherein dark patches appear on the surface of the skin and are generally triggered by a change in the level of hormones. Though pregnant women are susceptible to this condition, it can also appear in men.
2. Pigmentation around the neck could imply a kind of diabetes which is resistant to insulin. Whenever you find that the dark patches around the neck aren’t remedied by regular scrubbing, you need to see a doctor.
3. Changes in skin pigmentation are also indicative of thyroid problems. Carotenemia is a condition wherein the skin colour turns more yellowish. It could be the result of hypothyroidism where there is an increased production of an antioxidant called beta-carotene in the blood. The beta-carotene, which is found in a number of fruits and vegetables, is generally processed by our thyroid gland. However, when the individual is suffering from hypothyroidism, the vitamins aren’t easily metabolized and thus get accumulated. This leads to orange and yellow skin hues which is indicative of thyroid issues.
4. People with diabetes often experience bronzing of skin which is generally linked with iron metabolism. Yellowish skin pigmentation, on the other hand, is usually indicative of liver problems. Yellowing of skin along with yellowish tinges on the whites of the eyes is surely indicative of liver failure. Extreme cases of skin darkening or hyperpigmentation in areas around the joints (knees and elbows) could signal some kind of hormonal problem like Addison’s disease. It is always suggested that you consult with your physician whenever you notice a drastic change in your skin tone.

Pigmentation or the colour of your skin can be a sign of the state of your health. The skin colour can become lighter (hypopigmentation) or darker (hyperpigmentation) when you go through some physical illness or sustain an injury. Melanin is the agent which is responsible for the colour of our skin. When the cells responsible for melanin production get damaged, pigmentation disorders start to appear. When the body produces excessive melanin, the skin tends to get darker.

Excessive exposure to sun, Addison’s disease and pregnancy are some of the factors which might make the skin look darker. On the other hand, limited production of melanin makes the skin lighter and creates light patches. The condition in which your skin develops light patches is known as Vitiligo.

1. People with darker skin tone are more susceptible to changes in pigmentation. Since dark skin contains more melanin, individuals with dark skin are more prone to ‘melasma’. Melasma is a condition wherein dark patches appear on the surface of the skin and are generally triggered by a change in the level of hormones. Though pregnant women are susceptible to this condition, it can also appear in men.
2. Pigmentation around the neck could imply a kind of diabetes which is resistant to insulin. Whenever you find that the dark patches around the neck aren’t remedied by regular scrubbing, you need to see a doctor.
3. Changes in skin pigmentation are also indicative of thyroid problems. Carotenemia is a condition wherein the skin colour turns more yellowish. It could be the result of hypothyroidism where there is an increased production of an antioxidant called beta-carotene in the blood. The beta-carotene, which is found in a number of fruits and vegetables, is generally processed by our thyroid gland. However, when the individual is suffering from hypothyroidism, the vitamins aren’t easily metabolized and thus get accumulated. This leads to orange and yellow skin hues which is indicative of thyroid issues.
4. People with diabetes often experience bronzing of skin which is generally linked with iron metabolism. Yellowish skin pigmentation, on the other hand, is usually indicative of liver problems. Yellowing of skin along with yellowish tinges on the whites of the eyes is surely indicative of liver failure. Extreme cases of skin darkening or hyperpigmentation in areas around the joints (knees and elbows) could signal some kind of hormonal problem like Addison’s disease. It is always suggested that you consult with your physician whenever you notice a drastic change in your skin tone.

Hyperpigmentation is a medical condition in which there is too much melanin in your skin. Melanin is a pigment that lends colour to our skin. It is a natural substance but its concentration in our skin may increase beyond acceptable levels because of many factors like emotional stress, over-exposure to the sun or trauma to the skin. People with darker skin get affected more by hyperpigmentation. While hyperpigmentation is not a medical disease, many people affected by it want to get it treated because of cosmetic reasons. One line of treatment of hyperpigmentation is laser treatment.

History of laser treatment

Laser treatments for skin disorders are not new. They have been in vogue since 1964 for the removal of vascular birthmarks etc. Hyperpigmentation was also treated with lasers but the aftermath of this treatment was a scarred skin area.

Benefits of laser treatment

There are more benefits than risks when it comes to using lasers for treating this medical condition. Today, concentrated bursts of laser energy are used to target the affected areas of your skin. There are lesser chances of the skin getting scarred. An important side-benefit is boosting the growth of collagen production within your skin. Collagen is a protein and forms an important part of the connective tissue that holds the skin together and is also responsible for the skin glow.

Types of laser treatment

1. CW lasers - Also known as Argon and Carbon dioxide lasers are used to treat large areas of the affected skin. Exposure to the laser is long and continuous.
2. Quasi-CW - Unlike the earlier treatment, this one emits short bursts of laser energy. There is little chance of your skin getting scarred which is a significant risk in the case of CW lasers.
3. Pulsed lasers - In this type of laser treatment, there are longer rest periods between bursts of energy. The intention is to give time to the skin to recover and heal from its exposure to laser energy.

Please consult your dermatologist before undergoing one of these kinds of laser treatments.

Aftercare

Laser hyperpigmentation treatment can take as much as 35-40 minutes, maybe longer if the affected skin area is larger. Post the exposure of your skin to the laser bursts, it may become sensitive and develop a stinging sensation. It may also become swollen. Doctors advise the patients in such cases to avoid exposure to the sun, avoid application of sunscreen of 30 SPF and more and also to stay away from fragranced skin products.

Avoid any further treatment for the next four weeks after the first laser exposure. Generally, treatment for hyperpigmentation calls for multiple exposures to laser and these may last for several months until you have achieved your desired skin complexion.
 

Everybody dreams of perfect flawless skin that will complement their personality and boost confidence. But owing to an unhealthy lifestyle and polluted environment, our skin gradually goes through wear and tear, and as a result gets damaged. Skin pigmentation can be embarrassing and annoying. Pigmentation refers to the lightening or darkening of your skin, appearance of brown pigments and dark spots. People who are exposed to the sun frequently are more likely to develop these spots on the face. These spots don’t fade easily and require professional aesthetic treatment. Skin pigmentation occurs due to excess production of melanin. The usual causes involve genetic disorders, ageing, overexposure to the sun, nutritional deficiencies and hormonal changes among others. As you age the texture of your skin changes and leaves you with dull, lifeless skin. 

Laser Pigmentation reduction – How it works? 
Laser Pigment Reduction produces waves of laser beams (heat energy) to target specific pigmented areas. The laser is absorbed by the cells that have a higher concentration of melanin pigment. As a result, only the targeted cells are damaged, and not the surrounding tissues. The main objectives of laser treatment for pigmentation are- To reduce existing pigmentation To give your skin a smooth and even-toned texture The treatment depends on the type of pigmentation and area affected. Any area on the body or face can be treated- face, neck, back, shoulder. These are the areas that are usually exposed to sun rays. For deep melasma pigmentation, laser treatment is the most preferred choice of treatment. 

Laser treatment for pigmentation is a very safe procedure to have your skin rejuvenated, so you need not worry about the side effects or complications. It is advisable to refrain from parkour activities and using makeup immediately after the treatment for few days. To know how you can benefit from this procedure, consult a dermatologist

Laser lightning is good for dark colors, scars and pigmentation.
Laser effect melanin hormone. Depress this hormone. Secrets less then the color is bright fair and pigmentation is gone. 
Fine line wrinkles, dull and pigmentation is also gone.