Hyperpigmentation is usually a harmless disorder in which parts of skin darken in colour in comparison to the surrounding skin. When an excess of melanin, the brown pigment that gives skin its colour, develops deposits in the skin, it darkens. Hyperpigmentation can affect persons of any race’s skin color.
There are now a number of laser treatments that are really effective.
The q-switched ruby and other pigmented lesion lasers often remove the pigment without leaving any scars. There are now a number of laser treatments that are really effective. The ruby and other pigmented lesion lasers use q-switched technology to eliminate pigment without leaving scars. It will be necessary to perform a test spot in an unnoticeable location, as they can sometimes make matters worse rather than better.
Hyperpigmentation can be treated using a laser technology.
Targeted light beams are used in this procedure to remove hyperpigmentation/darkend areas.
Ablative and non-ablative lasers are the two types of lasers. The most strong lasers are ablative lasers, which remove layers of your skin. Non-ablative techniques, on the other hand, focus on the dermis to encourage collagen production and tightening.
Although ablative lasers are more powerful, they may have higher bad impacts. Both of these treatments remove components in your skin, allowing new skin cells to grow back tighter and more toned.
Types of Hyperpigmentation
There are various types of hyperpigmentation but the following are the most commonly seen:
Sunspots
Sunspots, which are also known as solar lentigines, are often caused due to extensive exposure to the sun. These also appear on those parts of the body, which are constantly exposed to the sun, such as the face and hands.
Melasma
Melasma is often considered to be caused due to a change in the hormonal activity in the body. This is why it is most commonly seen in women, during their pregnancy. While the condition could show up in any part of the body, it is seen most commonly on the face and abdomen.
Post-inflammatory
There is also something known as post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, which is caused due to an injury to the skin.
Causes and Methods of Diagnosis
The method of diagnosis of pigmentation treatment depends upon the causes of these dark spots. Following are the various causes of the pigmentation and methods of diagnosis based upon it.
There are a few basic causes for hyperpigmentation:
- Excessive exposure to the sun can cause an increase in melanin production
- Certain medications, especially certain chemotherapy drugs can lead to hyperpigmentation
- When there is a change in the hormonal levels due to pregnancy or any other condition, there can be an increase in the melanin production
- Underlying medical conditions such as Addison’s disease tends to affect the adrenal glands, which in turn will affect the hormonal and melanin production
The main methods of diagnosis include:
- Wood’s Lamp: This is a device that emits UV light and is one of the most preferred methods of diagnosing hyperpigmentation. The procedure is performed in a dark room. This helps in the determination of the type and extent of the pigmentation.
- Magnifying lamp: When the skin is looked at, under the magnifying lamp, the extent of the hyperpigmentation will be easy to determine. In addition, the same tool will also allow for the diagnosis of other associated skin conditions too
- Skin biopsy: In situations, where the lamps are not proving to be effective enough to gauge the extent of the pigmentation, the dermatologist might have to resort to a skin biopsy. This method might be especially useful for diagnosing the associated skin disorder
After a few sessions, you will start to notice that the pigments have started to fade away and the natural colouring of your skin is starting to return. In addition, the treatment can reduce the spread of the pigmentation. The treatment will also include treating the root cause of the condition, which will deter further appearance of the pigment.