While usually treated topically at home, most hyperpigmentation also can be treated in-office with chemical peels; only certain mild cases can be treated with lasers, because light and inflammation can trigger more hyperpigmentation.
Hyperpigmentation can go away on its own, dependent on the cause, but it may take a long time to fade. Some cases of hyperpigmentation may never go away completely.
Dark spots appear when the skin cells produce too much melanin. Hyperpigmentation acne may fade over time, but if the original spots were deep, it may be permanent. Although some topical and surgical therapies can speed up the fading process, it can take several months to years.
How long does it take for hyperpigmentation to fade? Once what's causing the dark spots or patches is found and stopped, fading can take time. A spot that is a few shades darker than your natural skin color will usually fade within 6 to 12 months. If the color lies deep in your skin, however, fading can take years.
Hyperpigmentation within the dermis has a blue-gray appearance and may either be permanent or resolve over a protracted period of time if left untreated.
In moderate cases, the dermatologist may recommend topical and/or oral medication, and in serious cases, procedures or surgical intervention may be required. Overall, treatment for hyperpigmentation is available and accessible.
However, aside from wearing sunscreen and limiting sun exposure, you can't lower your body's overall melanin production. Permanent reduction isn't possible, since melanin formation is determined by genetics. If you have hyperpigmentation, ask a doctor how to reduce melanin in the affected areas.
Vitamin C is a naturally occurring substance and an essential nutrient. It has various biological and pharmaceutical functions. It inhibits melanin synthesis through downregulation of tyrosinase enzyme activity.
Spicy and Fried Foods – inflammatory foods
Spicy foods and/or fried foods are also highly inflammatory in the body. Those foods should be limited as they can also trigger hyperpigmentation of the skin.
Which foods reduce melanin? Foods like tomatoes, milk, eggs, cheese, carrots, yogurt, chia seeds, oatmeal, ginger, watermelon, kiwi, papaya, dry fruits, and lots of green leafy vegetables reduce melanin.
Melasma treatment
Whereas some types of hyperpigmentation can be treated with topical creams, melasma is not treated so easily due to the hormones that contribute to its cause in the first place.
The melanin is effectively absorbed by the body, reducing the visibility of the dark patches of skin. The treatment is quick and effective, and most patients only need a course of 3 to 6 sessions, at intervals of 4 to 6 weeks.
Hyperpigmentation is caused by an increase in melanin. Melanin is the natural pigment that gives our skin, hair and eyes their color. A number of factors can trigger an increase in melanin production, but the main ones are sun exposure, hormonal influences, age and skin injuries or inflammation.
What are the types of hyperpigmentation? The three main types include age spots, melasma, and post-inflammatory trauma. Post-inflammatory trauma can result from an injury, sun exposure, or a skin condition, such as acne.
One main concern with hyperpigmentation or dark spots is that they are stubborn to treat. It can take a few or several months for the blemishes to fade, but there are also cases where they reappear after treatment or do not lighten at all.
Usually, pigmented lesions or spots that have been removed will not return after your laser treatments. However, there are various factors that can stimulate new hyperpigmentation e.g. exposure to UV, ageing, hormonal factors. Laser pigmentation removal treatments do not prevent new hyperpigmentation from occurring.
In some cases, laser treatments for melasma can actually cause hyperpigmentation, worsening the condition, so always check in with a dermatologist about what's right for you.
As you get older, hyperpigmentation becomes harder to treat because natural exfoliation is slowing down.
Pigmentation is the coloring of a person's skin. When a person is healthy, their skin color will appear normal. In the case of illness or injury, the person's skin may change color, becoming darker (hyperpigmentation) or lighter (hypopigmentation).
Hyperpigmentation is so difficult to treat because it lies within the deepest layers of our skin. It takes approximately 30 to 45 days for one layer of cells to cycle to the next phase in their life until it finally reaches the top layer of the epidermis in order to shed itself.
Darker areas of skin (or an area that tans more easily) occurs when you have more melanin or overactive melanocytes. Bronzing of the skin may sometimes be mistaken for a suntan. This skin discoloration often develops slowly, starting at the elbows, knuckles, and knees and spreading from there.
Foods that Decrease Melanin Content
Experts also recommend compulsory inclusion of the following melanin decreasing food items in your regular diet: Cheese. Eggs. Milk.
In this category of foods, the best options are citrus fruits like oranges and lemons, foods with beta-carotene (orange color) like sweet potatoes, pumpkin and carrots, and seafood rich in copper, manganese, selenium, and zinc.