All you need to know about Pigmentation

You may not have deep frown lines or crow’s feet, but if you feel like you’re ageing, chances are it’s thanks to uneven skin tone. Now, we’re not talking a sweet smattering of freckles, but bigger, uneven brown patches on not only the face but hands, décolletage and shoulder areas. It’s these ageing dark spots of bother that is known as pigmentation, caused by sun exposure and specifically the UVA rays which penetrate deep into your skin and cause ageing.

CryoPen™ Age Spots Treatment before and after

CryoPen™ Skin Pigmentation Treatment before and after

UVA stimulates your pigment cells called Melanocytes to manufacture the pigment called Melanin. This is responsible for your tan and also your unwanted dark patches”. These sun spots may take up to 10-20 years to develop, so if you notice some showing now it could have been caused when you were a child.  Other triggers of pigmentation in young women also include the contraceptive pill and pregnancy which alter hormone levels. This coupled with sun exposure can result in patchy dark spots, often on the upper lip and forehead.

Until recent years one of the only ways to really treat pigmentation was with lasers, which are a good option for some but are only really suitable for lighter skin and repeated treatments are often required

Other options available are a course of chemical peels or cryotherapy is an excellent option for sun spots with usually only 1 treatment required.

Prevent future pigmentation and sun damage by wearing a UVA and UVB shielding sunscreen, feeding your face with antioxidants (primarily fruits and veggies) and avoiding prolonged periods of sun exposure. Adding a brightening product designed to tackle pigmentation to your skincare regime, making it the first product you use after cleansing and toning day and night, can help turn back time.

All treatments and products are available at Sunnyside Skin Clinic.