Hyperpigmentation is not painful but may take a toll on your confidence and self-esteem. If you feel unattractive due to hyperpigmentation in Glen Allen, there are several ways to deal with the dark patches and boost your self-consciousness. Understanding the cause of your condition is crucial to determining the best approach to achieve an even skin tone and a radiant complexion. Generally, hyperpigmentation results from too much melanin in your skin. It can be caused by sun exposure, a side effect of certain medications, a medical condition, or a trauma to your skin. Here is what you can do when hyperpigmentation is a concern to you.
Know Your Type of Hyperpigmentation
Getting to the root of your condition is crucial as it guides you on the right approach to managing your situation. As you think about hyperpigmentation treatment, get familiar with different types of the condition to understand the lifestyle changes you can make to lessen your symptoms. Melasma is atypical hyperpigmentation due to hormonal fluctuations and mainly occurs during pregnancy. Drug-induced hyperpigmentation is associated with certain drugs and is not contagious. You could have post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation when you had a skin injury like acne and burns. You can also have lentigines which mainly occur after age 60 due to sunlight exposure.
Seek an Expert Diagnosis
No matter how well you understand your hyperpigmentation, you will need to see your dermatologist for an expert diagnosis of your condition. Expect your doctor to ask you about your lifestyle choices and medical history. Your provider can also perform physical therapy on your skin to examine the condition through a magnifying lamp. When your doctors understand the nature of your hyperpigmentation, they will recommend the best treatments to manage your symptoms.
Try a Topical Application
Some topical applications like hydroquinone, kojic acid, azelaic acid, and mandelic acid can help manage hyperpigmentation. They contain retinoids and alpha hydroxy acids that exfoliate your skin to give you a rejuvenated appearance. But remember only to begin treatment with such products after an expert diagnosis. Your provider will give you special instructions to use the products.
Consider Non Ablative Procedures
Topical treatments may fail to offer your desired results. You can consult your doctor about a non-ablative procedure to target your hyperpigmentation. This might include a skin peel to treat the darkened areas in your skin. Your provider might also recommend intense pulsed light therapy to address targeted dark skin spots. Additionally, you can consult your doctor about laser resurfacing.
Ask About Microdermabrasion
This is one of the popular treatments for hyperpigmentation. But you must ensure your provider is highly skilled to perform the procedure since it can result in irritation or make your skin discoloration worsen when poorly done. For this treatment, you might require several treatments and some time between every session to allow your skin to heal.
Prevent Further Pigmentation
No matter the treatment option that works for you, you must ensure you avoid the condition from reoccurring. Ensure you limit your exposure to sunlight by using protection whenever outside for long. Also, you can consider consulting your doctor for different medications if your drugs are contributing to hyperpigmentation. Also, ensure you carefully follow your doctor’s advice after treatment.
Hyperpigmentation might not be a serious condition, but it might need to be managed for cosmetic reasons. The hyperpigmentation specialists at Absolute Dermatologist & Skin Cancer Center can help you understand your condition and guide you on the right approach to take. Book your appointment today to learn more.
