Pigmented Skin Tips

Every girl dreams of blemish-free skin that glows and can remain youthful forever. However, this remains a dream for many. Most people are unhappy with their skin as they combat various common issues such as dark spots, hyperpigmentation, etc. 

The skin has a pigment known as melanin in the underlying layers, which gives our skin its color. Greater the amount of melanin, darker is a person’s complexion. Hyperpigmentation is when there are some areas of the skin that are darker than the other. This is not just an aesthetic issue but also an issue that can affect a person’s morale and self-esteem.

Read on to know some of the most common causes of hyperpigmentation and ways to manage them: 

1. Acne scars: While every girl has to go through teenage years with hormone surges and cheeks adorned with pimples, for some, the trauma does not seem to end with teenage. People who suffer from acne even in their 20s and 30s will have acne marks which can be darker than their natural skin tone. Acne scars can be treated by a combination of topical creams, laser, and changes in diet to reduce the further incidence of acne. 
2. Sun exposure: There is no escape from the sun; however, the exposure can be reduced as most skin problems are caused by excessive unprotected exposure to the sun. From sunburn to melasma to melanomas, hyperpigmentation is the first indication of sun damage and can even be cancerous. It is essential to adequately protect from the sun including the use of sunglasses, sunscreen, long sleeves, scarf, and a cap or hat. 
3. Dermatitis: Skin infection, most commonly caused by fungal infections, can also be present as darker areas on the skin that start off as small patches and then increase in size. Some dermatitis conditions are autoimmune but present as dark patches that gradually increase in size and shape and progress to cover various parts of the body. 
4. Skin cancers: Melanomas are more common in white skin and brown and black skin types are relatively protected from this particular type of cancer due to the presence of a pigment called 'melanin' which is responsible for the specific complexion. While acne is treatable, but starting a good skin care regimen early on in life has its benefits. Avoid excessive use of chemicals, eat healthy and fresh, avoid excessive oils and junk food, and see your skin change.
5. Freckles: These are caused by clusters of melanin. These get accumulated or concentrated in clusters on being exposed to sunrays.
6. Melasma: This is usually found in pregnant women. It occurs due to the over-activation of melanocytes as there is a hormonal imbalance.
7. Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation: This refers to inflammation as a result of inflammation caused by trauma.

Consult your dermatologist to know the exact reason for pigmentation and the best way to treat it.

Our skin gets its colour from melanin. This is a pigment that is produced by a special kind of skin cells. When these cells get impaired then melanin production is also affected. This leads to discolouration of the skin which is called pigmentation. Pigmentation can manifest in many ways. Production of excessive melanin, excessive exposure to the sun, pregnancy and Addison's disease - all these make the skin darker.

On the other hand, too little melanin production leads to the lightening of the skin. This condition is also called Vitiligo. Albinism is a medical condition where the skin colour is light because of genetic reasons.

How can Pigmentation be treated?

There are a few advanced skin care procedures that treat pigmentation. Please consult a dermatologist before you go in for one of these procedures.

1. Laser Facial Rejuvenation:

• ​Q Switched Laser: Q switched laser is a type of laser toning used for facial rejuvenation

​2. Laser Facial Resurfacing:

• YAG laser: YAG laser is used o improve the surface and texture of the skin and remove wrinkles, fine lines, acne, dark spots etc.

3. Chemical Peels: To exfoliate the dark skin, a special kind of chemical is applied to the skin which leads to the regeneration of new skin. The patient must be aware that the new skin is temporarily sensitive to the sun. Chemical peels are used to treat the same skin conditions that are treated by dermabrasion.

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

Kindler’s Syndrome is a rare skin blistering disease named after Theresa Kindler. It is a kind of skin complication which forms skin blisters and lesions on the mucous membranes. This can happen in any part of your body but mainly concentrates on the area where you have experienced any frictions, bruises or minor trauma, especially on the feet and the hands. In some rare occurrences of Kindler’s Syndrome, it can develop on the internal organs like the food pipe, stomach or the respiratory tract.

This disease generally occurs if you suffer from a disorder called autosomal recessive. It means that you may have inherited an anomalous gene from each parent. It usually happens during childhood and reduces as you age.

Symptoms:
Some of the symptoms of Kindler syndrome are:

1. Blisters occurring on the body in your infancy and periods of early childhood.
2. Slowly you will observe altered pigmentation and cutaneous atrophy (A severe dermal condition).
3. Blistering due to certain skin trauma appearing on the hands and feet.
4. Some observe abnormalities like dental or ophthalmic
5. The growth of actinic Keratoses

Treatment:
Kindler’s Syndrome requires a specialized dermatologist for the treatment. In some countries, diagnosis involves skin biopsy. It involves undergoing Immunofluorescence Antigen Mapping or transmission of Electron Microscopy. Blood testing of genes is slowly being developed as a diagnostic test.

Other treatments involve:

1. A healthy and nutritious diet to heal the disease from within.
2. Maintaining a good dental hygiene.
3. Use sunscreen with a high protein formula.
4. Avoid exposure to the sun as much as possible.

The colour of one's skin is determined by melanin that is made by special skin cells. Melanin gives the skin its colour without which our skin would be pale pink. Skin pigmentation is dependent on the amount of melanin that is being produced. Skin pigmentation conditions may plague many people when there is an imbalance in the melanin production within the skin, due to damage to these melanin-producing cells. Let us find out more about these conditions-

Melanin Production:

If there is too much melanin production in the body, the skin may give a dark hue or show up as patches of discolouration. On the other hand, if the melanin production is too low, then the skin may give light or white coloured patches.

Various Conditions:

The awry skin pigmentation can give rise to a number of conditions with depigmentation, hypopigmentation or hyperpigmentation. Albinism is a genetic skin condition giving rise to almost no colour. An abnormally low amount of pigmentation can create hypopigmentation, making the skin look much lighter than it actually is.

Finally, hyperpigmentation is a condition where there is increased pigmentation, either due to increased melanin production or due to other pigment creating substances in the skin. In such cases, the skin appears darker in colour than its original shade.

Causes:

• There can be many causes for the above conditions. Injuries, burns, inflammation causing disorders, drug abuse and increased exposure to the sun can cause such conditions.
• Rarely, some hereditary conditions may also cause a problem in pigmentation.
• Infections, autoimmune disorders and allergies may also cause skin discolouration and an irregular skin tone.
• Further, conditions like eczema, birthmarks, and hormonal changes can lead to irregular skin pigmentation too.

Diagnosis:

Dermatoscopy and woods lamp examination can help in understanding the cause of the pigmentation problem. Also, sometimes blood tests may be required for diagnosis.

Treatment:

The treatment of hyperpigmentation is done by the use of skin lightening preparations. Procedures like chemical peels, microdermabrasion and laser therapy can be done which target the top layer of the skin.

Over the past few years, the use of Q-switched laser technique for removing brown spots from the skin has gained popularity. This procedure is used for laser skin treatments like laser skin toning and photo facial and has been observed to offer dramatic results. Whether it’s the sun freckles or the unwanted brown spots on the facial skin, the billionths of seconds laser energy pulse that that is projected on the skin, known as the Q-switched laser, release the skin pigment in such a way that it gets naturally reabsorbed by the body, which leads to its natural disposal.

Q-switched laser for photo facial
The term photo facial refers to a skin treatment, where light-based technology is used in order to treat the brown spots on the skin, eliminate broken capillaries and boost the collagen production. And when the Q-switched laser is used for photo facial, it makes the laser treatment more ideal for people suffering from skin issues like discolored spots, freckles, fine lines, etc. Q-switched photo facial is considered to be effective against sun spots on areas like the legs, chest, arms and other broader skin areas as well.

Q-switched laser for laser toning
Laser toning is another light-based treatment procedure that is known for its effectiveness in correcting the most stubborn of acne spots, sun spots and skin conditions like melisma that interferes with the pigmentation of the skin. The Q-switched laser for laser toning refers to the use of Q-switched lasers for skin rejuvenation. In this procedure, multiple passes of the Q-Switched laser are passed through the large spotted skin areas, to remove the blemishes. The procedure also gives you brighter and tighter skin post the process. So, you get numerous benefits from one method.

Benefits of Q-switched laser
The significant advantage of Q-switched laser for photo facial as well as laser toning is that one single treatment can remove more than 75% of the dark and brown spots. Depending on the skin condition of the patient, one may need to opt for more than two or three Q-switched laser treatments in order to get the desired skin tone that is completely even and flawless.

One must remember, that Q-switched laser treatments may not be ideal for people who have recently taken any skin treatment medications such as Accutane or women who are pregnant. So, check if you are the ideal candidate for the procedure with your physician and seek expert assistance to proceed with the treatment to achieve the desired outcome without a glitch.
 

Pigmentation or hyperpigmentation is a skin condition that affects 80% of women in their lifetime. It is caused when patches of the skin turn dark. It is a relatively simple condition that occurs when there is excess melanin in the skin. There are different types of pigmentation, and one kind of treatment may not be effective on the others. Let us take a look at it in depth and understand the nature of pigmentation.

What is pigmentation?
Pigmentation is something that affects almost everyone irrespective of the race or the skin types. The trouble occurs when there is an excess of melanin deposits, which may happen due to various reasons. The different types of pigmentation can be freckles, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, solar lentigines, and melasma.

1. Freckles: These are the most common types of pigmentation. Also known as Ephelides, these mostly affect people with fairer skin. These happen due to repeated exposure to the sun. Naturally, freckles appear very less during winter months. In rare cases, heredity also can be a reason for freckles.
2. Hyperpigmentation: This is the skin's natural way of response when it is prone to injury or rashes. Acne, burns, and clinical treatments such as chemical peels and dermabrasion can lead to hyperpigmentation. They disappear over a period of time. However, there are chances that it might reoccur.
3. Solar lentigines: They are also known as liver spots or sunspots and as the name suggests, they occur due to exposure to the UV rays of the sun. They can occur anywhere in the human body. It depends on how much of the skin is exposed and how much melanin content is exposed to the sun. These are the most critical types of pigmentation, and they must be monitored. In rare cases, they can lead to skin cancer.
4. Melasma: This type of pigmentation is common among women and is usually caused as a result of hormonal imbalance. It can appear as a large brown patch on the skin and can blend into the skin around the borders. Usually, the symptoms increase during pregnancy and with the usage of certain stress medications.

Treatment plan
As stated, different types of treatments methods are available for treating the various types of pigmentation. These can range from topical creams to Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) and Photo Dynamic Therapy (PDT). Laser treatments are done in some cases to take care of the skin apprehensions. The experience of the dermatologist comes into effect when treating and finalizing the appropriate procedures. The treatments not only take care of the skin condition but are also very helpful in improving the overall tone of the skin. These procedures are undergone as a series of sessions, and the dermatologist will advise according to the skin condition.

Most of the pigmentation conditions can be countered with an effective sunscreen product. They have undergone many trials and are extremely safe. It all gets down to the experience and the professionalism of the dermatologist once again for getting the correct treatment plan. With just minimum care, the pigmentation factor can be kept under check.

Besides being a part of aging, skin pigmentation can also be caused due to the damaging effects of acne or even long-term exposure to UV rays of the sun. You can eliminate brown spots or scars by resorting to certain skin rejuvenation treatment. The more aggressive skin treatments are Laser Skin Resurfacing or Intense Pulsed Light (IPL). For treating moderately pigmented skin, Chemical Peels can also be used.

How do chemical peels work?
Chemical peels sink deeper into the layers of your skin and stimulate the cell’s turnover process. For exfoliation, the chemical peels are used to burn the top layer of your skin, thus reducing the pigmentation of your skin and also eliminating or reducing the external lines, blemishes and wrinkles. Different chemical peels have different penetrating powers into different layers of the skin. The chemical peels are customized according to the area and extent of damages caused to your skin.

Treatment by chemical peels
Such treatment is taken up by cosmetic dermatology centers and medical spas. Prior to the process, consult the dermatologist for a better evaluation of your skin type and needs. Also know about the potential risks and side effects such as burning, excessive scarring, permanent hypo-pigmentation or hyper-pigmentation

Types of chemical peels
The following are the commonly used chemical peels used for the treatment of pigmentation:

• Vi Peel: Considered to be a very powerful Gen Next peel, it involves minimum downtime and brings about effective results. It restores damaged skin and alleviates the visible signs of aging. Healing may take a maximum of 4 days and the peel has to be kept on the skin till it heals completely. It is particularly effective for Melasma and hyper-pigmentation.
• Melanage Peel: It is prepared with retinoic acid and hydroquinone. It can be suitably used for all types of skin. This along with medicated masque increases the skin cell turnover and breaks up the pigments. It also stimulates the production of collagen, thus making the skin smoother and toned after it heals.
• Trichloroacetic Acid (TCA): This has moderate penetration into the skin. Here, the downtime varies between seven to ten days, depending upon the sensitivity of your skin. It is particularly effective for those having pronounced pigmentation of the skin.
   

Hyperpigmentation is a medical condition which occurs when an area of the skin becomes much darker in comparison to the rest of the skin tone. This happens due to an excess of a pigment called melanin. Hyper-pigmentation is fairly common and many people have reported this condition at some point in their lives.

Types of Hyperpigmentation-

1. Lentigines or Freckled Skin – They are mainly freckles which arise on the skin.

2. Solar Lentigines – Although these are known as age spots, sun spots and liver spots they are caused primarily due to prolonged exposure to the sun.

3. Melasma – This condition mostly seen in pregnant women and is caused due to hormonal changes during pregnancy. Melasma typically manifests as pigmented and patchy areas of discoloration on the face except the eye area.

What causes hyperpigmentation?

• Hyper pigmentation can be hereditary i.e. passed on to children from parents

• Prolonged exposure to sun.

• Picking and poking at the skin can also cause hyper pigmentation.

• Medications such as hormone treatments, antibiotics and anti-seizure drugs may result in it as an unwanted side effect.

• Skin injuries due to bad forms of acne vulgaris and inflammation.

How Homeopathy Works on Hyperpigmentation -

Homoeopathy considers blemishes or pigmentation as a local expression of a systemic / internal disturbance. Homeopathy believes that skin disorders are a reflection of an internal imbalance and needs to be treated from within. The homeopathic medicines are selected after a full individualizing examination and case-analysis, which includes the medical history of the patient, physical and mental constitution, genetic predisposition and so on.

While choosing homeopathic remedies the cause of pigmentation is evaluated, for example, mental stress, hormonal imbalances, sun exposure, nutritional deficiency, poor immune system and so on.

Homeopathic treatment, which gets to the root of the problem will reinforce the immune system and gradually restore the pigmented spots to the normal skin color. Homeopathic medicines restore the hormonal imbalance and control the excessive production of melanin. Homeopathy will not inhibit the natural process of the skin's melanin production. It will act on melanocytes to produce less melanin naturally thus strengthening the skin cells to stay healthy and remove excessive melanin in the skin. This improves the quality (texture) of skin, blemishes disappear and further discoloration of skin stops.

For fast recovery and to maintain the skin texture and glow, homeopaths also use external creams which are purely prepared by homeopathic Mother tincture and low potency and are very safe and without any side effects. Homeopathy medicines cure pigmentation from the root cause and assuring the patient of not facing the similar problem in future. Some of the common homeopathic medicines for treating pigmentation are:

1. Medicines like Lycopodium Clavatum can be consumed if you experience grayish-yellow discolored face with blue circles around the eyes. It can also cure brown spots on the nose and face.

2. Sepia offincinalis can treat chloasma (Yellow spots on the face and a yellow mark across the upper region of the nose and cheeks). This medicine also treats ailments during pregnancy and is best suited for patients who have dark hair.

3. Thuja occidentalis should be consumed to treat dry skin with uneven brown spots. People who have waxy faces with dark under eyes should consume this medicine.

4. Argenticum nitricum can also be consumed if your face looks pale, old and bluish. It is best suited for people who have tense, hard and brown skin with irregular brown blotches.

5. Cadmium sulphuratum can treat yellow stains on the cheeks and nose. This usually worsens due to prolonged exposure to the wind and sun.

6. Copaiva offincinalis reduces brown lenticular spots. These spots give a mottled appearance and can itch at times.

7. Caulophyllum thalictroides can be consumed by women who experience discoloration of the skin due to uterine and menstrual disorders.

8. Plumbum melallicum usually treat liver spots, hyper pigmentation and reduces the oil content of the face.

These remedies treat discoloration of the face along with liver spots, brown spots and excess oil formation of the face which is accompanied by hyperpigmentation.

However, the correct choice and the resulting relief is a matter of experience and right judgment on the part of the homeopathy doctor. The treatment is decided after thorough case taking of the patient. Thus homeopathic remedies of pigmentation are tailor-made and should be taken after consulting a specialized homeopath.

Vitiligo or White patches is medically referred as Leucoderma. It is a disease that causes loss of skin colour resulting in white patches. It can affect the skin on any part of the human body. It occurs when the melanin-forming cells called melanocytes which produce melanin die or stop functioning. The condition is not life-threatening or contagious, but it is stressful and makes one feel bad about oneself.

The main sign of vitiligo is the loss of skin pigment which produces light or white patches on the skin. The discoloration is first visible on sun-exposed areas like the hands, feet, arms, face and lips. It can also be coupled with premature greying of hair below the age of mid-thirties, colour loss of retina and inner lining of the mouth.

Vitiligo has no cure, but homeopathic treatment help to stop or slow the process of colour loss and brings back some colour to the skin. The failure of melanocytes can be attributed to the disorder in which immune system attacks and destroys them. It can also be triggered by sunburn, stress or exposure to industrial chemicals. People with vitiligo are at risk of Social or psychological distress, loss of hearing, sunburn and skin cancer, inflammation of the iris and dry skin.

Homoeopathic treatment enhances the natural production of pigments and Vitiligo is considered as a manifestation of an inner disturbed state of the body. The patient is analysed on mental, physical and familial attributes. The medication is then based on the results. Arsenic Sulph Falvus, Arsenic Album, Baryta Mur and Baryta Carb are known to give good results in Vitiligo. Vitiligo is a chronic disorder and it takes a long time even with the best of the homoeopathic treatment.

1. Calcarea Carb is prescribed to patients of Vitiligo with milky white spots on the skin. It is prescribed to free perspiration over the head, neck and chest and persons with intolerance to cold weather.
2. Arsenic Album is a useful remedy for vitiligo in persons prone to dry, rough skin. The skin complaint coupled with asthma is a strong contender for using homeopathic medicine Arsenic Album.
3. Sepia is prescribed for vitiligo in persons showing unresponsive attitude towards family and life
4. Silicea is prescribed for vitiligo in patients with pale and waxy skin, tendency to excessive perspiration. If the main mind symptom are timidity and an under-confident nature, then Silicea is a good choice. It is known to work on patients who seem under-confident, fear public speaking.
5. Sulphur is considered the best for vitiligo treatment as it goes deep inside the basic root cause to exterminate the disease. The persons requiring homeopathic medicine Sulphur show a mind constantly occupied with various theories and plans due to which they suffer from mental fatigue and absent-mindedness.