Skin Discoloration And Hyperpigmentation

Skin Discoloration And Hyperpigmentation: How To Get A Handle On This Troubling Skin Condition

First you need to understand that people are either genetically prone to pigmentation (overactive melanin in the skin) or they are not. Meaning, there are plenty of people who take birth control pills or have babies who never get pigmentation, yet many people will develop severe pigmentation because of it. Freckles fall under the category of skin pigmentation.

Genetically, pigmentation is part of how your skin works. Some people have to struggle with acne, some have to struggle with extreme sensitivity, some have to struggle with severe dryness and some have to struggle with pigmentation.

By trying to get to the source of what is triggering it, we then can make a plan for getting it under control. There is no magic wand for getting rid of pigmentation and never having to deal with it again but our goal is to keep it to a minimum. And that’s what we can help you do.

Ask yourself these questions:

*When did it start showing up?

*Do the following apply to you?

*Did you experience any of the following when your pigmentation began?

Inflammatory Factors

1. UV SUN EXPOSURE

For those prone to pigmentation, it will always be worse during the summer months. The sun triggers the production of melanin. With the proper home care and salon treatments, it will definitely get lighter, but unfortunately, come summer it will sneak up on you again

2. HEAT

From being outdoors, even with a good daily sunscreen we now know that heat triggers inflammation and inflammation sets off a response to increase melanin activity. With the proper home care and salon treatments, it will definitely get lighter, but do know that unfortunately, come summer it will sneak up on you again, EVEN if you are wearing sunscreen, sunglasses, hat etc…

3. OVERUSE OF CHEMICAL PEELS, MICRODERMABRASION, RETIN-A, FACIAL SCRUBS

This is called post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. When the skin is continually scrubbed over and over and over-peeled and over-microderabraded, the skin can be so inflamed–even if it’s not visible to the naked eye–and result in pigmentation. Many skin care professionals get very aggressive in trying to exfoliate the skin to peel off the layers of pigmentation, but this will actually make your skin worse. With pigmentation,  the less aggressive you are, the less pigmentation you will have.

4. EXCESSIVE PICKING AT BLEMISHES, CAUSING INJURY TO THE SKIN

This is called post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. When the skin is continually picked at over and over, the skin can be so inflamed and can cause pigmentation. But often times, it doesn’t come out until years later.

Hormonal Factors

5. PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION

You would need to look at the side effects of the medication, but do know that IF it is a side effect, then it will be tough to improve it– but it’s definitely worth taking skin care steps to get it under control! We cannot advise you to go off of any medication where pigmentation is a side effect, but you can certainly talk with your doctor, if it really bothers you.

6. AGING/HORMONE CHARGES/PERI-MENOPAUSE/MENOPAUSE

This is very, very common for pigmentation to occur starting in the early 40’s and up. It is due to hormonal changes combined with aging.

7. PREGNANCY

Due to the increase in hormonal activity while you are pregnant, many women can develop pigmentation, also called “melasma” or “pregnancy mask.” After you give birth, some people will find that the pigmentation will gradually disappear without any treatments. Most cases will require home care and/or salon treatments to get it to fade. But it’s best to get a jumpstart and address this while you are pregnant, to help it from getting darker, but do know that the real success can come after you’ve had your baby.

8. BIRTH CONTROL PILLS

As long as you are on birth control pills, it will be tough to get real improvement, but it’s definitely worth a try! We cannot advise you to go off of our medication, but you can certainly talk with your doctor, if it really bothers you.

What To Do

With all of the above, the main goals with the skin are to:

*Exfoliate–to break up and remove pigmented cells with Renée Rouleau AHA Smoothing Serum

*Use a skin lightener–to fade and suppress the melanin cells use Renée Rouleau Vitamin C&E Treatment

*Go through a series of corrective skin peels (See our Skin Repair Program)

*Practice patience–it’s not going to disappear overnight

Renée Rouleau

Celebrity Esthetician & Skincare Expert
As an esthetician trained in cosmetic chemistry, Renée Rouleau has spent 30 years researching skin, educating her audience, and building an award-winning line of products. Her hands-on experience as an esthetician and trusted skin care expert has created a real-world solution — products that are formulated for nine different types of skin so your face will get exactly what it needs to look and feel its best. Trusted by celebrities, editors, bloggers, and skincare obsessives around the globe, her vast real-world knowledge and constant research are why Marie Claire calls her “the most passionate skin practitioner we know.”