LIGHTEN UP
Yes, we know. Hyperpigmentation isn’t exactly life-threatening, but it affects the way you look. And according to a study published in the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, this can have a negative psychological impact and cause emotional distress.
Simply put, hyperpigmentation is a condition that causes your skin to darken. Because the dark melanin pigment sits in the dermis, it absorbs light, explains dermatologist and founder of Dermastore, Dr Ian Webster. ‘It’s because of this light absorption that the skin looks dull.’
Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) is most likely to affect women of colour because they have more melanocytes (melanin-producing cells), but other types of hyperpigmentation that are more hormonal in nature don’t discriminate. Whether it’s a freckle that has graduated to full-blown age spot or a dark flare-up on your cheeks during pregnancy, it all falls under the same umbrella: hyperpigmentation.
Before you spend a fortune on skincare, you’ll need to understand the underlying cause of the hyperpigmentation – there is no one-size-fits-all treatment. It is always best to consult a dermatologist for some expert
