Skincare Routine for Pigmentation – Bye Bye Dark Spots!

Beautiful Skin has an age old charm which none can resist. Think of it as a stunning priceless ‘jewel’ which is carried by us at all times. Polish the ‘jewel’, take care of it, cherish it and wear it with the utmost pride, and you shall always be envied by people around you. If you act careless, and take it for granted, not giving it the least bit of time and care it deserves, the prized ‘jewel’ shall gradually wane away and lose its sheen. In this article, we touch upon the Skincare Routine for Pigmentation. We shall strive to make the ‘Jewel’ shine brighter!

Your skin deserves a routine that is as individual as you are. Hence, it is imperative to look for methods to improve your skin quality by researching the newest products, treatments, and natural remedies to help you in developing your ideal skincare routine according to your skin type.

WHAT IS PIGMENTED SKIN?

Pigmented Skin is irregular darkening of the facial or body skin that causes uneven skin tone. Certain areas of the face – near the upper cheeks, forehead or around the lips will become darker than the rest of the skin tone. These dark patches are a normal skin condition and relatively harmless. However, it is damaging to your self confidence and mental health as it lowers your morale and makes you conscious at all times.

WHAT CAUSES PIGMENTED SKIN?

The most common form of pigmentation is hyper pigmentation – which is extreme darkening of skin in patches. It is generally caused by over production of melanin. Melanin is essential for our skin as it protects against the harmful UV Rays of the sun. However, over-production of melanin leads to ugly dark patches which ruin your appearance. All skin types can be affected by hyper-pigmentation. However, individuals with darker skin tones are more vulnerable.

The amount of melanin produced by melanocytes in the epidermis of the skin determines the colour of the skin. The amount of melanocytes in all races is the same, but your pigmentation is determined by the type of melanin you generate, which is genetically determined.

Pigmentation can be caused by various reasons –

Type	Symptoms	Where on the body?	Who can it affect?
Age spots, also called liver spots or sun spots	brown, tan, or black spots that appear on the skin with sun overexposure	commonly on the face and hands or on sun-exposed areas of the body	Usually older adults or those with extended sun exposure
Melasma, also called chloasma or “the mask of pregnancy”	large patches of darkened skin	often on the forehead, face, and stomach	Women  who are pregnant or taking birth control pills, and those with medium to darker skin
Post-inflammatory hyper-pigmentation (PIH)	spots or patches of darkened skin that appear after an inflammatory skin condition, such as acne or eczema	anywhere on the body	people who have had inflammation or an injury to the skin

 

GOOD SKINCARE ROUTINE FOR PIGMENTATION:

1) CLEANSER:

The most critical step in any skincare practice is cleansing the skin. A clean face is required for serums and moisturizers to function properly. A harsh cleanser might be excessively drying and leave your skin looking lifeless. Try to use a gentle cleanser in the morning. In the evening, use an oil-based cleanser or a foam-based cleanser. The oil cleanser eliminates all debris and makeup from the face, and the foam cleanser removes all residue of the grime.

 

2) EXFOLIATOR:

Many people believe that cleaning the skin every day would help remove pigmentation. But this will only make matters worse. Exfoliators should be used two or three times each week. You can use physical exfoliators that are gentle on the skin. It is even better if you use chemical exfoliators that contain AHA, glycolic acid, or Vitamin C.

Exfoliation works as an hyper-pigmentation therapy because it lets physical granules to exfoliate the dead layer of skin cells on the skin’s surface. This enables the new skin below to come to the surface – which is cleaner and brighter.

3) TONER:

It is important to use toner twice a day after cleaning the face to restore the pH and moisture of the skin. Choose a toner that does not include alcohol. It can cause dry skin and aggravate skin pigmentation in the long term.

4) LIGHTENING CREAMS:

When attempting to lighten black spots, most individuals resort to lightening creams. They can be in a form of face cream, cleanser, or serum. They are often used twice a day, in the morning and at night, as an additional step in your regular skincare routine for pigmentation.

Some lightening creams are meant as spot treatments and are applied specifically to the problem patch or place, and others are an all-over treatment aimed to brighten the overall face discolouration.

Always search for Ingredients such as vitamin C extract and hydroquinone. As these types of Ingredients act to reduce hyper-pigmentation by inhibiting the enzymes that produce melanin in your skin.

5) MOISTURIZER:

It is important to apply a moisturiser over the serum both in the morning and at night. They aid in maintaining the skin’s moisture and hydration levels. For your morning moisturiser, you can choose a Day cream with SPF. A Night Face Cream should be Healing and Hydrating.

6) SUNSCREEN:

Sunscreen is essential for all skin types, and if you have pigmentation, you should give it utmost importance. Sunburn can intensify hyper-pigmentation. As hyper-pigmentation is caused by an excess of melanin in the skin and sunlight helps our skin to produce more melanin, limiting excessive sun exposure can assist to reduce our chances of developing hyper-pigmentation. Sunscreen not only prevents new hyper-pigmentation from growing but also prevents existing dark patches from becoming darker.

7) CHEMICAL PEELS:

There are various chemical peels which good dermatologists use in order to lighten pigmentation. These can include –

• Glycolic Chemical Peel
• Beta Peel
• Lactic Peel
• Salicylic Acid Peel
• Vitalize Peel
• Retinol Peel
• Pigment Balancing Peel
• Mandelic Peel
• Jessners Peel
• Vitamin C Peel
• Yellow Peel
• Alpha Jewel Peel
• TCA Peel
• Biorevitalization Peel
• VI Peel

These peels have some downtime, but are very effective in getting rid of persistent pigmentation. Contact a good dermatologist and discuss with him the different chemical peel options which are best for your skin type!

8) FACE MASKS:

Another fantastic technique for bright skin is to treat yourself to a weekly face mask.

Look for masks that include:

• Antioxidants
• Vitamin C

Depending on the product and your skin type, you may apply a face mask once or twice a week.

Natural Ingredients for a Face Mask –

• Papaya Pulp
• Sandalwood Powder
• Fullers Earth
• Lemon Juice
• Tomato Juice
• Aloe Vera Gel
• Green Tea
• Pumpkin
• Rice Flour
• Potato Juice
• Orange Peel Powder
• Oatmeal
• Dahi or Yogurt
• Gram Flour
• Turmeric

A Homemade Face Mask should be applied for at least 20 minutes and allowed to dry out. You can make several combinations of the above ingredients depending on availability and skin type. Before applying a face mask on your skin, make sure the pores are open and clean. Use a face wash for this purpose.

9) SPOT CORRECTOR:

Spot correctors are excellent solutions for scars that are very obstinate. You may use it on pigmented regions and get fantastic results. Because they contain extremely strong chemicals, use them sparingly and only in the regions that is affected by pigmentation. Consult a dermatologist before using a spot corrector.

10) FACE OIL:

Face Oils are an effective addition to a skincare routine for pigmentation. They contain appropriate mix of healing oils which penetrate deep within your skin. They hit the root cause of the problem and start healing it as soon as it gets absorbed into the skin.

Choose face oils that are appropriate for your particular skin type. On truly lazy days, you may use the oil alone over your toner and skip the serum and even the moisturizer.

THE BOTTOM LINE:

Pigmented skin can be caused by dehydration, poor lifestyle choices, sunburns or improper skincare. Fortunately, there are things you can do to improve the natural brightness of your skin. Exfoliating your skin, moisturizing twice a day, using a hydrating serum and face mask, and using retinoid products may all help to replace dull-looking skin with a healthier, more vibrant shine.

People with dark skin and pigmentation should avoid using cosmetics that include harsh chemicals and artificial fragrances. While there are a plethora of remedies available to heal pigmented skin, adopting a good skincare routine for pigmentation right from the start will keep you away from the problem altogether!