How to treat hyperpigmentation?
When figuring out how to treat hyperpigmentation, you must know the causes of these skin woes, and focus on skincare and food habits to treat it internally. Here are some effective tips to reduce and treat hyperpigmentation.
Shield your skin from sun damage
Excessive sun exposure triggers melanin production causing skin pigmentation like melasma, sun-spots, dark spots, etc. Therefore, your skincare strategy should focus on including sunscreen
in your self-care routine. Choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher for both UVA and UVB rays protection and apply everyday no matter if it’s rain or shine or you stay indoor or outdoor. So, next time, someone asks how to treat dark spots on face, don’t hesitate to suggest them using a sunscreen without fail.
Apply skincare products with cell turnover benefits
If you are wondering how to remove hyperpigmentation, consider using skincare products that offer cell turnover benefits. Cell turnover/skin renewal process is crucial to keep your visage healthy, smooth, and radiant. Sun damage and ageing are the two primary factors that slows down the cell turnover process. Use the best serum for pigmentation and other products infused with glycolic acid help to expedite the skin renewal process for glowing and spot-free skin.
Don’t pick wounded/injured skin
No matter how tempting it may feel to pick the angry-looking pimple, or any injury, it can cause post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) and result in increased melanin production.
Eat a balanced diet
Can’t figure out how to remove hyperpigmentation? Start by eating antioxidant-rich food to reduce oxidative-stress-induced hyperpigmentation. Try to include papaya, carrot, fatty fish, leafy vegetables in your diet.
Now that you know how to reduce hyperpigmentation, let’s move on to learn how to treat this frustrating skin woe with skincare actives and acids.
How to treat hyperpigmentation with skincare actives and acids?
Dark patches or hyperpigmentation result from excess melanin production. Your body gets the zeal to produce more melanin when it is overly exposed to the sun, radiation, or hormonal imbalance. The more melanin your body generates, the darker your skin becomes.
In case you didn’t know, there are certain ingredients that work wonderfully on dark spots and hyperpigmentation while there are some that negate the benefits when used together.
So, if you are wondering how to treat hyperpigmentation, these 7 ingredients listed below can come to your rescue:
Glycolic Acid
Conclude your search for how to treat hyperpigmentation with glycolic acid. It has the smallest-sized molecules of all AHAs, which allow it to reach the basal layer of the epidermis to accelerate skin renewal and remove melanin build-up cell by cell. It is an excellent chemical exfoliant and can effectively remove the outermost layer of the skin cells and oil by dissolving them. Glycolic acid has now become one of the most recommended skincare ingredients for hyperpigmentation, dark spots, and dullness treatment. If you are in search of the best serum for hyperpigmentation, you can choose the one that comes with glycolic acid. Now, glycolic acid-infused products are available in form of cleansers, face serum, eye serum, day and night cream.
Vitamin C
How to treat hyperpigmentation, you ask? Trust vitamin C – a powerful active for hyperpigmentation. Include this rich source of antioxidants in your hyperpigmentation skincare routine and see the result for yourself. Vitamin C aka ascorbic acid adeptly slows down melanin production by inhibiting the action of the enzyme tyrosinase (responsible for melanin production). On the other hand, this powerful antioxidant helps to depigment the hyperpigmentation spots on the skin. Other than this, vitamin C actively works in collagen synthesis and provides optimal photoprotection. So, use this vitamin, i.e., ingredient for hyperpigmentation to get superb treatment for dark spots on the skin. You can use vitamin C in the form of cleansers, moisturisers, face serum and apply it in the morning as well as at night.
Niacinamide
Made from niacin (vitamin B3), niacinamide helps limit pigmentation issues. Wondering how? This skin-lightening compound expertly works by inhibiting transfer of melanosome. In layman’s terms, niacinamide limits the transfer of small structures in a cell that causes pigmentation. As a result, you can notice visible changes in the appearance of dark spots and sun-induced damage. Wondering how to treat dark spots on face? Consider using niacinamide-based skincare products. Those with dry or sensitive skin, pigmented skin, inflammatory issues, and wrinkles can reap maximum benefits from niacinamide. For best results, use a niacinamide-rich face serum twice a day (once in the morning and at night).
Retinol
Retinol is another popular ingredient for hyperpigmentation treatment. It is a type of retinoid (made from vitamin A) that help lighten light to brown dark spots on the face, hands, neck, or arms. Topical retinol also helps reduce sun spots, age spots, liver spots, and other forms of hyperpigmentation. Wondering how? Retinol is particularly effective at increasing cell turnover, which is why you can gradually notice impressive results over time when the skin starts to shed darker cells unveiling newer healthier skin cells. Apply retinol-infused products at night.
Azelaic Acid
Being a tyrosinase inhibitor, azelaic acid aids in preventing and treating hyperpigmentation. It has anti-inflammatory properties that help to tackle both acne and hyperpigmentation. This organic acid works mildly yet effectively on the skin to suppress hyperpigmentation. People can use azelaic acid for pigmentation during pregnancy to treat melasma that invades the skin due to hormonal changes. Those suffering from melasma can derive benefits from the topical application of 20% azelaic acid on the skin. So, if someone asks how to treat hyperpigmentation during pregnancy? Tell them to apply azelaic acid-infused skincare products for best results. Include azelaic acid in your night-time skincare routine and use it on alternative days to minimise the risk of getting irritations.
Kojic Acid
If you are looking for a treatment for pigmented skin, you can trust kojic acid for the pigmentation-induced spot correction process. Kojic acid is derived from a certain type of fungus and is useful in preventing and treating hyperpigmentation. By using this potent ingredient, you can get effective results for all types of hyperpigmentation including post-inflammatory, sun-induced hyperpigmentation, and age spots. If you are looking for an organic ingredient to fade away dark spots and get an even complexion, consider using kojic acid-infused creams, serum, lotions (that comes in mild concentration). So, next time someone asks you how to treat hyperpigmentation with an organic acid, share this secret ingredient with them.
Pro tip: People with certain skin conditions or allergies or with sensitive skin must use kojic acid cautiously.
Arbutin
If you are searching for answers to how to treat hyperpigmentation, Arbutin is what you need to include in your skincare ritual. Arbutin is a star ingredient popular for its skin-lightening and de-pigmenting capabilities. This naturally occurring plant-derived compound inhibits tyrosinase activity, which means, it can control melanin production and prevent hyperpigmentation and dark spots. Include arbutin in the list of ingredients for hyperpigmentation treatment to flaunt bright younger-looking skin. You can find this active for hyperpigmentation treatment in the form of face serum, moisturizers, toners, and masks and use it twice a day depending on the product you choose.
Now that you know the best ingredients for hyperpigmentation, and dark spot treatment, you can use any of these or a pair of these ingredients. Read the next section to learn about the pairs that work well on the pigmented skin.
Pairs to Use While Treating Hyperpigmentation
Retinol and Vitamin C (Use retinol at night and vitamin C in the morning for best results)
Vitamin C and Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs) (Use these ingredients maintaining a time gap to avoid negative reactions)
Retinol and AHAs (Don’t pair these ingredients for hyperpigmentation treatment at the same time as it might cause dryness and irritation)
Skincare Routine for Hyperpigmentation
Put an end to your quest on how to treat hyperpigmentation and follow the skincare routine to reduce the appearance of dark patches on your skin. Here, we have listed out some of the best serums for hyperpigmentation as well cleansers, eye serum, day and night cream.
Cleansers: Using an exfoliating cleanser
would help increase the cell turnover process a bit faster. We recommend you to use the L’Oréal Paris Glycolic Bright Daily Foaming Face Cleanser as it exfoliates the pigmented skin with care to reveal healthy skin.
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Serum: Face serums target specific skin concerns and address those skin issues. The unique formulation of serum makes them the most sought-after skincare product. Apply a serum for hyperpigmentation after washing your face with a face wash. We recommend you use the L’Oréal Paris Glycolic Bright Skin Brightening Serum. The presence of 1% glycolic acid in this serum makes it one of the best serums for pigmentation and dark spots that suits all skin types.
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Eye Serum: Upgrade your skincare routine with an eye serum. For best results, use L’Oréal Paris Glycolic Bright Eye Serum (infused with glycolic acid, vitamin CG, and niacinamide) to reduce -49% dark circles in just 2 weeks.
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Day Cream: Get rid of dark spots and hyperpigmentation with SPF moisturizer or cream. We recommend you use the L’Oréal Paris Glycolic Bright Day Cream with SPF 17. This glycolic acid-infused day cream reduces dark spots, and shields the skin from harmful UV rays to unveil bright skin.
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Night Cream: Complete your night-time routine for hyperpigmentation with a night cream. We recommend you use the L’Oréal Paris Glycolic Bright Glowing Night Cream. The glycolic acid + vitamin E formula increases cell renewal, removes melanin, and reduces the appearance of hyperpigmentation.
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Now that you have the answer to the query how to treat hyperpigmentation, what is the best serum for hyperpigmentation, you can say goodbye to dark spots and skin discoloration! Use any of these potent ingredients for hyperpigmentation or pair them correctly to get the best results. Once you identify your best match for hyperpigmentation treatment, you can focus on building your skincare routine and choose products accordingly. If you aren’t confident enough to build your skincare routine and need expert help, L’Oréal Paris is there for you. Head towards the L’Oréal Paris Skin Genius tool, and create your personalised skincare routine after analysing your skin like a pro.
