Have you recently found yourself examining your face and noticing more and more unusual spots (pigmentation spots on the face)? Unfortunately, when the summer tan disappears, it is most often visible hyperpigmentation which can seriously damage self-confidence.

The spots are exclusively brown in color, not red or have whiteheads - and may or may not be part of your natural freckles. If you want to learn how to remove the resulting spots and how to avoid the formation of new ones, keep reading!

WHAT IS HYPERPIGMENTATION?

Skin injuries such as bruises, burns, acne, and other trauma to the skin cause increased melanin production, leading to darker areas or spots on the skin called age spots or hyperpigmentation . Also, hyperpigmentation is more common the darker the skin, as it already contains a higher percentage of melanin.

TYPES OF HYPERPIGMENTATION INCLUDE:

Melasma - the cause of melasma has not been determined, but it is believed to occur due to hormonal changes and that it can develop as a side effect during pregnancy, the spots most often appearing on the stomach and face.

Age spots, also called "liver" or "sun" spots - are a common occurrence that is directly related to excessive sun exposure, the spots are most often on areas exposed to the sun's rays, which are most often the hands and face

gradual hyperpigmentation - occurs as a result of injury or inflammation of the skin, a common cause of this type of hyperpigmentation is acne

When it comes to possible patterns of hyperpigmentation, the cause is mostly the overproduction of melanin. Melanin is the pigment that gives skin its color and is produced by skin cells called melanocytes. Melanin production can be affected by several different factors such as medications, pregnancy, hormonal changes, etc.

Certain medications can cause hyperpigmentation, such as chemotherapy drugs.

There are also certain diseases such as Addison's disease that cause hyperpigmentation in the most obvious areas of sun exposure, such as the face, neck, and hands, and areas exposed to friction, such as the elbows and knees.

Excessive sun exposure can also cause an increase in melanin and, at the end of the day, the cause of hyperpigmentation depends on the type of hyperpigmentation.

The most common reasons are:

• Skin inflammation
• Areas of the skin can darken after people have had some kind of skin inflammation. Inflammation can be classified as acne, eczema, lupus, or a skin injury.

LEARN MORE ABOUT PIGMENT LABELS

Melasma

Darker pigmentation spots on the face can appear when people experience hormonal changes. This type of hyperpigmentation is common during pregnancy.

Reactions to drug use

Certain medications, such as antimalarials and tricyclic antidepressants, can cause hyperpigmentation. In these cases, areas of the skin may turn gray.

Sun exposure

During sun exposure, the body produces more melanin to protect the skin from prolonged sun exposure .

This can cause dark spots or patches on the skin called age spots or sun spots.

Medical conditions

There are more serious causes of hyperpigmentation including Addison's disease and hemochromatosis.

HOW TO PREVENT HYPERPIGMENTATION?

It is not always possible to prevent hyperpigmentation, but there are various ways to protect yourself, such as:

• Avoiding certain medications
• avoiding the sun during the time of day when it is strongest, which is usually from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• using sunscreen with a protection factor of at least 30
• wearing a hat or clothing that blocks sunlight

HOW TO GET RID OF HYPERPIGMENTATION?

Hyperpigmentation is often harmless and may not require any treatment at all. But for those who would rather remove the spots, try these ingredients:

• arbutin
• azelaic acid
• kojic acid
• niacinamide
• glycolic acid peeling
• retinoids
• vitamin C

Before using skin lightening products, you should talk to your doctor as unproven creams may cause adverse effects. Always purchase products from trusted sources and follow the instructions on the packaging.

It is ideal to try products that use at most a few of the above products together in order to soften and possibly remove hyperpigmentation, and if you want to stop the appearance of new pigment spots, a product such as a hyperpigmentation serum L'ADRIA Brightening perfecting serum.

The star of this product is the sea urchin. It grows on the sandy beaches of the Adriatic and blooms only at night in the summer months, releasing an intoxicating scent.

Coincidentally, the extract from these beautiful flowers has been clinically proven to reduce pigmentation spots on the skin, acting at the beginning and end of the signaling cascade of melanin pigment synthesis, which gives the skin its dark color.

Given that hyperpigmentation is a difficult cosmetic problem that needs to be approached with all its seriousness in order to obtain a quick and effective effect, a complex of highly effective ingredients has been added to the sea urchin essence that act harmoniously and synergistically to reduce hyperpigmentation.

Together, they form the ADRILIGHTTM protective complex. This advanced complex is designed to act on multiple checkpoints in the skin's melanin formation process: before melanin synthesis (prevention), during melanin synthesis, and even post-synthesis processes such as melanin transfer.

Also an important part of the complex's activity is the antioxidant effect, the prevention of pimples and the fact that it slightly accelerates the renewal of dead skin cells, so that the complexion becomes even as quickly as possible and existing spots fade as quickly as possible.

COSMETIC PROCEDURES

Some cosmetic procedures can also lighten areas of the skin to reduce the appearance or appearance of hyperpigmentation, such as:

• IPL
• chemical peeling
• laser therapy

People considering undergoing one of these procedures should discuss the procedure and possible side effects with a skin care professional or dermatologist, as these procedures can worsen hyperpigmentation by damaging the outer layer of the skin.

HOW DO YOU HELP YOURSELF AT HOME?

It is possible to lighten areas of hyperpigmentation using certain natural remedies, but there are no large human studies to confirm the effectiveness of these remedies.

If you want to try a new treatment, natural remedy, or skin care product, you should always test the product on a small area of ​​skin first and stop using it if it irritates the skin.

Some of the ingredients that contribute to skin renewal

Aloe vera

Aloesin is a compound found in aloe vera that can help lighten hyperpigmentation. Aloesin works by inhibiting the production of melanin in the skin.

People can apply aloe vera gel from the plant directly to their skin daily. However, no research has directly linked aloe vera to reduced areas of hyperpigmentation, so scientists don't yet know the effectiveness of this technique.

Licorice

Licorice root extracts are said to help lighten hyperpigmentation. May have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and skin-whitening properties. Licorice as an ingredient in some face and body creams.

Green tea

Green tea extracts may help with spots caused by hyperpigmentation. Researchers have long studied green tea for its potential antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, but some research suggests that green tea extracts may improve melasma and reduce sunburn.

However, more research is needed before scientists can fully understand whether or not green tea can improve symptoms of hyperpigmentation.

CONCLUSION

Hyperpigmentation is a complicated skin condition that should be taken seriously. However, like any other skin problem - with patience and quality products, it can be resolved.