If you suddenly notice a cluster of freckles after an outdoor vacation or see a persistent dark spot from an old acne scar, these unwelcome marks are a sign of hyperpigmentation. That said, this is a common skin concern which fades away with time after skincare treatments and dermatology. While in some the resolution can be speedy, in others it may require patience and persistence on a long road to recovery.
Causes of hyperpigmentation
Hyperpigmentation occurs when an excess amount of the brown pigment known as melanin begins to form deposits on the skin, leading to formation of dark spots or patches than the surrounding areas of the skin.
Hyperpigmentation can be of several types, including sunspots(age spots,liver spots), melasma and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, also referred to as PIH. While there could be different causes for these conditions, they all cause dark areas on the skin which can be difficult to diminish.
Treatment options for hyperpigmentation
There are several treatment options available that can promote the fading of hyperpigmentation, though the fade time may vary significantly, depending on skin type, severity and exposure to the sun.
These could include topical creams, retinoids, chemical peels, microdermabrasion, dermabrasion, intense light pulse therapy(IPL) and finally laser peel or resurfacing.
Resurfacing is a reliable long-term solution that requires the use of a laser for hyperpigmentation treatment by targeting beams of light directly on the skin to break down excess melanin and promote generation of newer and healthier skin.
Different types of lasers are available to treat different types of skin. While ablative lasers are more intense when removing layers of the skin, the non-ablative procedure targets the dermi to promote growth of collagen
Depending on the size of the treatment area, a laser procedure can take between five to thirty minutes.
Expected timeline for hyperpigmentation results
The journey of addressing hyperpigmentation concerns is not only multifaceted but also involves a range of treatments.
Each method of treatment operates differently, a factor which is further influenced by issues like severity, which as a result can take months or even years to fade.
While results of mild hyperpigmentation can be visible after 3-6 months of constant treatment, the timeline may vary from person to person.
General expectations for more aggressive treatment such as chemical peels may show results much sooner but often require multiple sessions.
Severe cases of hyperpigmentation such as deep melasma can take a year or even more to resolve.
The results of hyperpigmentation from laser treatment depends on the nature of pigmentation. Even then on an average, four to eight sessions are needed to achieve the desired results with minimum pain and resulting in an even skin tone.
You can expect faster results with a combination of specialised laser and chemical peels which lightens the skin significantly and provides a more even skin tone with long-lasting results.
Post-treatment instructions
# No sun exposure without a thick layer of sunblock.
# No parlour visits for one week post-treatment
# No exposure to excess heat like sauna/steam for the next week.
