You go to great lengths to keep your skin looking its best by using serums, creams and receiving skin treatments, all of which play an important part in managing healthy-looking skin. However, it’s also important to understand what’s happening underneath your skin to affect its pigmentation, or color. So, lets dive into what pigmentation is and how it can be treated.
What is pigmentation?
Pigmentation is the color of a person’s skin. There are also two types of pigmentation, hyperpigmentation (darker) and hypopigmentation (lighter).
What causes changes in pigmentation?
Most of what we perceive as aging is caused by factors that you can control, the main one being the amount of time your skin spends exposed to the sun. Excessive sun exposure may be responsible for structural changes in the skin that will not be seen for years and can also cause drastic changes to your skin’s pigmentation.
The sun’s rays speed up how active your skin cells, or melanocytes, are. Melanocytes produce melanin, the pigment that gives your skin its color, so more exposure to the sun means more pigment in your skin.
Pigmentation changes may also take place in those who have darker skin, as dark skin tends to have more melanin, which makes one more susceptible to a condition known as melasma. Also known as “pregnancy mask,” melasma is characterized by brown or tan patches on the face and is caused by a change in hormone levels.
Additionally, changes in pigmentation may also be attributed to post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH). PIH, which is caused by trauma to the skin such as acne, these are dark spots that remain long after the initial inflammation has healed.
Treatment and prevention
The good news is that you can manage pigmentation changes to your skin by limiting your exposure to the sun and avoiding unnecessary trauma to your skin. Some easy-to-follow recommendations include wearing an SPF 30 or higher every day, bringing a hat or umbrella for further protection from the sun, and always wearing sunglasses.
Hydroquinone is considered by many to be the gold standard for treating pigmentation issues and is a key ingredient in the Obagi Nu Derm System which is ideal for treating age spots, dark spots, and melasma.
We offer our clients a free Visia Skin Analysis to determine the best treatment option for maximum results.
Acne is something that we help treat on a daily basis and can happen to anyone at any age. We are going to share with you some of our favorite acne treatments and products.
Extractions are a very easy inexpensive treatment for active acne. When doing extractions yourself it can actually make acne worse by pushing the contents deeper into the skin, introducing more bacteria into it through unclean nails, or risk scarring. Aestheticians have a sterile environment and can use the appropriate tools to prevent these things.
HydraFacials are another very effective way to help clear up active acne. The HydraFacial treatment will help clean debris out of the pores by using a Vortex technology that will extract, exfoliate, and infuse the skin. You will also receive a peel containing Glycolic and Salicylic Acids. This treatment for best acne results can be given on a weekly basis.
And lastly, acne laser treatments are going to destroy the P. acne bacteria that is actually causing the breakout. Inflammation and redness will decrease even after the first treatment. Acne laser treatments are a safe treatment with 80% of acne clearance on average. We recommend 4 treatments over a 4 week period.
Using a great at home regimen in conjunction with acne treatments will always maximize the results you will have.
Retin-A or Tretinoin is used to treat mild to moderately acne. Retin-A will speed up cell turnover rates, rapidly exfoliating your skin and decreasing the buildup of dead cells within the follicle. This will keep your pores from becoming blocked, no blocked pores means no pimples (or blackheads).
Obagi Medical Clenziderm MD System contains three simple products. The Daily Care Foaming Cleanser and the Pore Therapy Toner are both 2% Salicylic Acid based products to use morning and night dry up active acne and prevent new breakout. Followed by the Therapeutic Lotion which contains 5% Benzoyl Peroxide. This can be used all over for severe acne or as a spot treatment.
SkinCeuticals also have a very effective acne treatment kit the Adult Anti-Acne System. Included is cleanser with is LHA, glycolic, and salicylic acid designed to unclog pores, smooth irregularities and brighten the skin. The LHA Solution is used to then exfoliate the skin and remove excess residue. Finishing with the Blemish + Age, this oil-free serum prevents the formation of acne.
With these amazing treatments and products we have helped our clients achieve the flawless skin they've been hoping for! Don't let acne be something that you struggle to control.
