As excited as we are to sit on the beach side and sip on our ice-cold piña coladas this coming summer, some of us can’t help but dread the stubborn skin concerns that are heading our way with the sun! One such concern that haunts a lot of us is Hyperpigmentation.
Hyperpigmentation is uneven darkened patches/ discoloration or spots that appear on skin and can be caused due to various reasons such as excessive sun exposure, allergies, smoking, inflammatory diseases and more! A common assumption that an even skin tone is a standard sign of good skin and beauty makes us look for easy fixes for this problem. In search for the same, many of us reach out for our makeup pouches and use it as an easy cover. SkinQ is here to pull you away from this quick fix and walk you down the road of a long-term solution to this problem.
In This Article
Reasons for hyperpigmentation
The darkening of the skin is majorly caused due to an increase in the melanin levels in our body. Melanin is a skin pigment that is responsible for our skin and hair colour in general. Lesser the melanin in the body, lighter would be the colour or shade it provides and more the melanin level, darker will be the colour. Melanin levels in our body can temporarily be altered from our original levels due to various external factors. To mention a few:
Hormones
Our hormone levels are what keeps our body functioning at its topmost efficiency. Disbalance in hormone levels can cause a lot of problems, one such problem being hyperpigmentation. Particularly in women, the increased levels of oestrogen and progesterone stimulates the overproduction of melanin causing darkening. The levels of these hormones can be thrown off balance due to various diseases or lifestyle choices. Fixing your lifestyle and dietary habits or seeking professional help can help fix this is sue.
Post inflammatory hyperpigmentation
Sounds complicated, right? Well, this is one of the most common causes of hyperpigmentation we see. It refers to dark skin or marks that are left behind on our skin post the healing of an acne or pimple. This is basically our skin’s natural response to the inflammation that these stubborn pimples/ acnes/ UV rays or skin treatments cause. The good news is that these almost always eventually go away.The excessive exposure to sun without any prevention can also cause you to have small dark spots called ‘sun-spots’ which are quite visible on the face, hands, neck or back. As we age the number of melanin producing cells in our body decreases. But the ones that are remaining tend to increase in size and their spread in our body becomes more focused in certain areas. This is one of the causes why these spots tend to increase as one crosses the age of 35 to 40.
Precautions that you could take
Most critical step of precaution is protecting your skin from the harmful rays. For this your sunscreen is your best friend! Be it a sunny or cloudy or rainy day, applying a broad-spectrum sunscreen before stepping out of the comforts of your house is a great idea. Find the perfect match for your skin type this summer and “swipe right’’ on it!
If you are a beginner, there is a high chance that you might get confused with the number of products that are available in the market. It could be daunting to decide on one and stick to it. To help you out a little, here are a few things you could look out for when you are deciding on sunscreen. Look for products that absorb UV Rays, photo light, keep your skin from ageing, reduce tanning and have antioxidants! If your skin is already oily then you could also look for a less greasy option to prevent an outburst of acne.
For some extra bit of protection, you can even add to your cart products with vitamin C that will act as an antioxidant and also help diminish pigmentation and will even your skin tone. And lastly a balm that can help lock in the moisture to give you a fresh and hydrated look!
One of the options that perfectly fit this description is SkinQ’s Sun Protect Gel: SPF40 with Vitamin C PA ++++ This light weight, easy to carry sun protect gel has Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate that protects your skin from the harmful UV rays. And best of all, it is made specifically for Indian skin and hence mixes well with all skin tones! All you have to do is apply this Sun Protect Gel 15-20 minutes before stepping out and voila, you are ready to face summers with full confidence.
For that Vitamin C stock up for your skin, you can look for SkinQ’s Vitamin C Glow Serum that brightens and hydrates your skin tone with 4 active ingredients. It gives you a powerhouse of antioxidants and protects your skin from UV damage. Vitamin C also helps in production of both collagen and elastin, which help keep the skin plump and firm. Just apply 1 pipette before the sunscreen on a clean face in the morning and you are good to go.
And finally SkinQ’s Moisture Balm for that healthy looking glowing skin. Its active ingredients lock in the moisture, reduces dryness, dehydration and sensitivity. Just apply 2-3 pumps 1-2 times daily to get the best results.
Apart from this at SkinQ we have a range of other products that help you fight hyperpigmentation. To mention a few:
Glow Detan Elixir Serum
Glow Detan Elixir Serum: Glow Detan Elixir - smoothen out those pesky sun spots and turn dull complexion into a glowing, healthy looking skin. This high performing hyperpigmentation serum is an expert solution for tanned and pigmented skin. With a combination of lactic acid, Licorice, kojic di palmitate, malic acid, Sodium Hyaluronate and other powerful actives this serum is the Luminescence Superhero!Just wash your face, apply 2-3 pumps on your face and 2 pumps on your neck and leave it on overnight. Follow this with a moisturiser.
Glow - Detan DIY Active Facial Kit
It is a dullness and pigmentation fighting formulation to achieve glowing and visibly brighter skin. This kit works wonders on dull, pigmented, blotchy and uneven skin tones. It is the first of its kind Dermatologist-formulated at-home skincare routine that resets your skin tone in just 45 minutes. And slowly give you that desired non pigmented look. Formulated with active ingredients like Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid, Emblica, this kit helps deal with hyperpigmentation, tan lines and softens and smoothen skin leaving it glowing with happiness! To fight hyperpigmentation, use it once in 2 weeks for 4 months followed by once in 3 weeks for maintenance. First cleanse your face with Micellar Water. Then follow it with Active Exfoliation.Then use the massage butter for a Nourishing Massage. Follow it with Active Boost Pre Mask Serum. And finally the sheet Mask to soothe and calm your skin.
Hyperpigmentation is a problem that is easy to deal with but we must care for it patiently and diligently. So put that tad bit of extra effort and see a ton of improvement in the health and look of your skin!