Hyperpigmentation and Dark Spots – How to Unify Your Complexion
Today’s blog focuses on hyperpigmentation and dark spots; what causes them, what the effects are and how to eliminate them and unify your complexion.
What is Hyperpigmentation?
Melanin is a pigment that’s present in skin. While melanin is found in most skin, skin of colour contains higher amounts of melanin than white skin.
In some cases, excess amounts of melanin can form in certain areas of the skin.
This can lead to hyperpigmentation, which is when an area of skin appears darker than the skin that surrounds it.
The epidermis is the outermost layer of the skin. The dermis is found deeper in your skin, below the epidermis. Hyperpigmentation can affect the epidermis, the dermis, or both.
In most cases, epidermal hyperpigmentation is simpler to treat, although it may take a number of months to see any improvement. Dermal hyperpigmentation is more difficult to treat and, in some cases, is permanent.
Hyperpigmentation is common in black skin. In fact, it’s one of the top five most commonly diagnosed skin conditions in black people.
Even though hyperpigmentation is physically harmless, it is usually more severe in black skin. Because of this, it can cause a high degree of psychological stress and impact quality of life. This is why effective treatment is important.
What does hyperpigmentation look like?
Hyperpigmentation will appear as a mark, spot, or area that’s noticeably darker than your surrounding skin. The exact colour of a hyperpigmented spot can depend on the root cause, as well as on your skin tone.
Look out for spots that appear:
- tan
- brown
- dark brown
- grey-brown
- blue-grey
- purple
- Black
How is Hyperpigmentation Treated?
Skin conditions like acne and psoriasis can aid the development of hyperpigmentation. Due to this, treating these conditions is important for slowing or stopping the appearance of new dark spots.
It’s possible for some medications to cause hyperpigmentation. If this is the case, your doctor may recommend a different dose or an alternative medication.
Daily sunscreen
Your skin cells produce additional melanin to be able to better absorb harmful UV rays. This means that exposure to sunlight can make dark spots even darker. Because of this, using sunscreen is important in treating hyperpigmentation. Q7Paris provides a combined Skin Lightening and Sunscreen Lotion: a 2-in-1 lotion that will both help lighten hyperpigmentation and help protect your skin from further sun damage. Check it out here.
Skin-lightening products
Skin-lightening products can be applied directly to existing dark spots, helping to lighten them. They work by slowing the production of melanin so that hyperpigmented spots slowly fade to match your surrounding skin.
Q7 Paris provides a number of products that are designed with skin-lightening as the primary function. We know how difficult it can be to deal with hyperpigmentation and dark spots, so we want to make sure that everyone has access to the same products that can help to fix the issue. For this reason, we offer the Q7Paris Luminaire Lotion 2 – Hyperpigmentation Control Intensive Lightening & Rejuvenating Night Lotion
What causes hyperpigmentation?
A variety of things can cause hyperpigmentation to happen in people of colour, such as post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, melasma, periorbital hyperpigmentation or acanthosis nigricans.
Can you prevent hyperpigmentation?
Here are some ways you can help prevent hyperpigmentation:
- Use sun protection. UV rays can cause damage to skin, potentially affecting pigmentation. When you’re going to be out in the sun, plan to wear sunscreen, stay in the shade, and wear protective clothing.
- Avoid irritants. Aim to avoid using any cosmetic or personal care products that cause skin irritation or inflammation.
- Seek treatment for skin conditions. Treating inflammatory skin conditions like acne and eczema can help prevent new dark spots from occurring.
- Use Complexion unifying products such as lotion and maxi tones. Q7Paris offers these and you can check it out here.
For hyperpigmentation issues, Q7 Paris recommends our very own Luminaire range. It is specially formulated to help tackle this issue and unify complexion.
Here is a link to the product range so you can have a look for yourself:
