So Hyperpigmentation is a term that has been thrown around quite a bit on social media recently, but do you actually know what it is?
Lets get into it!
Firstly, Hyperpigmentation isn't necessarily a skin condition but more a term used to describe skin that appears darker.
It can:
- occur in small patches
- cover large areas
- affect the entire body
A common cause of hyperpigmentation is an excess production of melanin. Melanin is a pigment that gives skin its colour. It’s produced by skin cells called melanocytes. Several different conditions or factors can alter the production of melanin in your body.
There are three known types of hyperpigmentation
- Melasma which is believed to be caused by hormonal changes and may develop during pregnancy. Areas of hyperpigmentation can appear on any area of the body, but they appear most commonly on the stomach and face.
- The second type are Sunspots which are actually quite common. They’re related to excess sun exposure over time. Generally, they appear as spots on areas exposed to the sun, like the hands and face.
- Finally we have Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. This is a result of injury or inflammation to the skin. A common cause of this type is acne.
Okay got it, but how do I treat it sis?
So whilst I want to reiterate first that hyperpigmentation is extremely common and for the most part completely harmless, here are a few ways to treat it, fade those dark marks and even out your skin tone:
- Always use an SPF - as mentioned previously, Sunspots are a common cause of hyperpigmentation so use a sun protectant daily to prevent and also help them to fade.
- Hands off - seriously, we know how tempting it can be to pick at spots and 'play in our faces' but this can lead to further skin damage and increase hyperpigmentation, particularly if you have a darker skin tone. When you do need to touch your face, wash your hands first.
- Products that contain Niacinamide - Also known as vitamin B3, this powerful skincare ingredient has been clinically proven to reduce the appearance of hyperpigmentation and even skin tone. We highly recommend you try our Refreshing Tea Tree & Niacinamide Toner for this very reason!
- African Black Soap - If you don't already know the benefits of using African Black Soap in your skincare routine, then we've already dropped the gems in a separate blog post that you need to check out. Let us just say that this works amazingly well to help decrease hyperpigmentation by decreasing inflammation. We also have a Bar Soap and Liquid version to help you out!
So there you have it, this was a quick Kiya Breakdown on Hyperpigmentation which you hope you found useful! Let us know below