Pigmentation

How our skin specialists can help with skin pigmentation:

Our skin specialists can diagnose the type of pigmentation and advise you of the appropriate treatment plan.

What is pigmentation?

Skin pigmentation disorders are conditions that cause the skin to appear lighter or darker than normal, or blotchy and discoloured.

Skin pigmentation disorders occur because the body produces either too much or too little melanin, a pigment that creates hair, skin, and eye colour. Melanin protects the body by absorbing ultraviolet light.

In hypopigmentation means the body does not produces enough Melanin. In hyperpigmentation, the body produces too much melanin, causing skin to become darker than usual.

Hyperpigmentation also occurs in Melasma, a dark mask-like discoloration in different areas of the face. In addition, many people have moles, freckles, age spots, and birthmarks, ranging from red or brown to bluish, black, covering various parts of their bodies.

What can cause skin pigmentation?

Skin pigmentation disorders occur because the body produces either too much or too little melanin, a pigment that creates hair, skin, and eye colour. Melanin protects the body by absorbing ultraviolet light. Exposure the sun, changes in hormones, and other genetic factors can all be the causes of pigmentation.

How do you know what type of pigmentation you have and how to treat it?

The best way is to have a comprehensive skin assessment by one of our skin specialists.

What is the process of correcting skin pigmentation?

Treatment options include

Melanin inhibitors:

Peeling agents are products that lift the dead skin cells taking accumulated melanin with it.

Skin care creams & serums:

The strongest melanin-inhibiting ingredients are prescription-only products. These include lightening agents such as hydroquinone and retinoic acid. Our Dermatologists will be able to prescribe the correct dosage of these short term therapies for you. Topical niacinamide has been shown to suppress the distribution of pigment from the cells where it is made to the regular skin cells. Niacinamide is an extremely effective and gentle long-term maintenance therapy for pigmentation and can also be used in conjunction with hydroquinone to enhance the initial treatment process. It should be used daily under sunscreen.

Facials/peels:

Rationale Enzyme Reactivation Peels can be targeted according to your localised skin concerns. For example, it is possible to have pigmentation, acne and fine lines all at once. Skin peels also can assist in lightening Melasma. A treatment plan for each of these conditions will be drawn up. Each area is then treated with the appropriate Enzyme Reactivation solution.

Laser treatment:

This is also recommended for some pigmentary disorders such as Sun Spots/Age Spots or Lentigines, Freckles Cafe-au-Lait. The Candela G Max Pro laser is a state of the art treatment which is extremely safe and effective. Most patients only require 2-3 treatments initially and may benefit from one maintenance treatment every 1-2 years. Other treatments from the G Max Pro include Skin Rejuvenation & Hair removal.