Ever wondered how you could treat hyperpigmentation on African American skin? Listen, black African skin types is more susceptible to developing uneven skin pigmentation than any other skin type, and that’s because Afro-American kind of skin produces more melanin compared to other skin types. But that’s not all! Black skin is also affected by many skin conditions such as acne, eczema, inflammation as well as pigmentation.
To treat hyperpigmentation on African American skin, use Kligman’s formula, which uses this selection of potent skincare products for removing dark spots while restoring uneven skin tone on African American skin back to normal.
The Kligman’s formula is not a new phenomenon, however, throughout the years, the skin evening routine has been carefully modified in numerous ways to include a triple combination of 2% hydroquinone, 0.025% tretinoin, and 1% mometasone to incorporate step by step hyperpigmentation like:
- Incorporate Brightening (And Not Bleaching) Skin-refining Products
- Incorporate Facial and Full Body Cleansers For Uneven Skin Tones.
- Resurface And Boost Your Skin Radiance With AHA/ BHA Skincare Products.
- Use Chemical Peels To Exfoliate The Skin.
- Use Retinoids With Vitamin A Skincare Products.
- Use Creams With Vitamin C
- Inhibit Melanin Production Using Hydroquinone
- Use Skin Liquid Exfoliators Over Mechanical
- Use Skin De-clogging And Brightening Products.
- Use A Moisturizing Molecular Hyaluronic Complex.
- Minimize Direct Sun-rays Exposure By Using A Good Sunscreen.
- Use Day And Evening Serums
Extreme Skin Hyperpigmentation
Are you dealing with excessive uneven skin tone? If that’s the case, then, by all means, you should be consulting your dermatologist is your threshold of concern is relatively higher than customarily tolerated.
There’s no secret that the prominent skin concern for the majority of African American women is not worries over crepey skin or wrinkles.
Ask any woman of color, and she will tell you that uneven skin tone, popularly known as skin hyperpigmentation, is the biggest trigger of anxiety in women of all ages.
As long as you are of African American descent, you will most likely have to deal with the overproduction of melanin on the skin sooner or later.
It manifests itself in dark spots and patchy, uneven skin and is caused mainly by over-exposure to UV rays.
The common skin trauma caused by acne or a wound aside, the UV rays can also wreak havoc to your skin tone. This likely triggers the skin to go into overcompensation mode every time it is in the healing process by producing too much of the notorious melanin for dealing with acne scars.
African American skin is the kind of skin that experiences more discoloration than any other skin type. With hyperpigmentation you may notice some dark spots on the skin and these can come due to many causes such as acne scarring.
Dark spots also come as a result of excess production of melanin. This excess melanin can come because of an injury as well as many more conditions.
What is hyperpigmentat weion
Hyperpigmentation is a skin condition whereby some of the areas on the skin appear to be darker than the other areas on the skin. This condition is not a very serious condition and it rarely indicates any underlying condition.
The severity of the affected parts can differ, it may affect a large area in some cases, small areas and it may also affect the whole body for other conditions. This condition is caused because of the production of excessive melanin production.
It can also be triggered by some other factors like exposure to the sun and many more. The condition gives the skin an uneven condition. Hyperpigmentation comes in many forms, such as melasma, sunspots, darks pots and post-inflammatory hyperpigment
- Melasma is hyperpigmentation that comes as a result of fluctuations in hormones.
- Sunspots is the hyperpigmentation that comes due to sun damage
- Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation is the kind that is as a result of an injury or a cut
What are the main causes of hyperpigmentation on dark skin?
- Acne and acne scars
- Bug bites
- Injury
- Psoriasis, allergic reactions and other skincare conditions
Some dark spots can go away on their own but some type of hyperpigmentation can go away on their own and you may need treatment to make them go away.
There are many ways that you can use to help in dealing with hyperpigmentation. These range from remedies to using creams that help to fight pigmentation.
To get rid of hyperpigmentation when using skin care products like dark spot correctors, you should look for the following ingredients because they help in getting rid of the dark spots on the skin.
Treating Hyperpigmentation On Black African American Using skin lightening products
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant that is found in most skincare products. The vitamin C contains many properties to ensure that the skins complexion stays even.
This helps in getting rid of dark spots, age spots as well as sun spots. This is because it contains brightening properties and lightening products.
Due to its antioxidant properties this also helps to keep the skin well protected from the sun damage and the damage that is caused by other free radicles.
It comes in a lot of forms that help to penetrate the skin deeply and ensure that the complexion is kept even. This also helps in ensuring that the skin has a brighter complexion.
Vitamin C helps to get rid of hyperpigmentation by inhibiting tyrosinase. Tyrosinase is an enzyme that is responsible for the production of melanin. When there is less meaning produced then the dark spots are greatly minimized.
Vitamin C also has anti-inflammatory properties and this helps to reduce inflammation on the skin. Its anti-aging properties help to get rid of wrinkles and fine lines on the skin.
Vitamin C can be applied topically to the skin in order to reduce hyperpigmentation. Not only that, this also improves the production of collagen and improves cell turn over.
Retinol
Retinol is another great skin care product that can help in getting rid of hyperpigmentation. Retinol just like vitamin C it can also come in many forms that work in different ways. It is also a very common ingredient in most skin care products.
Retinol also known as vitamin A is a very good ingredient for dealing with hyperpigmentation. It has brightening properties that helps in getting rid of the dark spots on the skin thereby making the complexion even.
It is also very helpful in the production of collagen. This helps to make the ski softer and smooth. The ingredient also helps to deal with breakouts and acne. Its antioxidant properties offer protection from free radicles. Not only that, retinol is an excellent anti-ager, this helps to get rid of wrinkles and fine lines.
Retinol can also be topically applied to your skin in order to reduce hyperpigmentation and deal with aging. You can use skin serums, or creams that contain retinol in the formula. It is recommended to start with a patch test before using the cream in the whole body.
Hydroquinone
Using products that have hydroquinone in the formula is one of the most common way to get rid of hyperpigmentation. Hydroquinone helps to give your skin its natural complexion and an even skin tone.
Hydroquinone is known as a lightening agent. This agent gets rid of dark marks by blocking or inhibiting the enzyme that is responsible for melanin production.
Therefore, this ensures that the skin’s complexion is even. The hydroquinone can be found in over the counter and can be gotten as a prescription. With hydroquinone you should make sure that you have only applied it to skin that has dark spots but not to skin that is normal.
Using hydroquinone can also give you some side effects such as irritation, redness and burning sensations. Visible results start to appear three to five months after using the products.
Kojic acid
Kojic acid is a very common lightening product. Kojic acid helps in getting rid of hyperpigmentation. But it is not as effective as those other products like hydroquinone, vitamin C or retinol.
Azelaic Acid
This ingredient is good for skin that has acne and has post inflammatory hyperpigmentation. The ingredient has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. It also contains skin lightening properties that help to lighten dark spots on the skin.
The ingredient is great for people who cannot easily use products that contain hydroquinone in the formula.
This ingredient can cause side effects such as irritation, burning and itchiness on the skin. Visible results start to appear after using the product for six months.
Other ways to get rid of hyperpigmentation
Applying sunscreen is a great way of reducing hyperpigmentation. These is because UV rays can cause dark spots, these rays trigger the production of melanin and this causes the skin be darkened and hyperpigmented. You should make sure to have sunscreen protection of at least 30 SPF.
You can also use natural remedies in order to get rid of the dark marks and spots on your skin although it has not been scientifically proven. Some natural remedies include using lemon juice, aloe Vera gel, soy milk, tea tree oil and more.
Some people may also choose to use medical treatments to help in in getting rid of hyperpigmentation on the skin. Most of these medical treatments can make your skin react badly therefore talking to a physicist is very important before doing some of the treatments. Such treatments include laser therapy, ch and chemical peels.
Laser therapy
With laser therapy you use light in order to eliminate pigmentation. Mostly a beam of light is used. Laser therapy is considered as the fastest and most effective way of getting rid of hyperpigmentation. The laser therapy also gives results that last very long.
The main disadvantage of this procedure is that it is very expensive, this is because it also requires you to do it multiple times so that the pigmentation can effectively go away. Another disadvantage is that this may also over lighten other areas on the skin if done incorrectly.
Chemical peels
Using chemical peels is also another effective way of getting rid of the hyperpigmentation on your skin.
Chemical peels also work by exfoliating the skin. The disadvantage of using such processes is that it can cause a burning sensation on your skin as well as cause some changes with the pigmentation on your skin.
Chemical peels are also a very expensive process. Just like laser therapy the process also requires you to do it for multiple times so that you can get the results you want.
Products to avoid
There are certain treatments that you should make sure to avoid when trying to eliminate pigmentation on lighter skin.
This is because some of these treatments can be very harsh on your skin. For example, using treatments like liquid bleach. Make sure to avoid using bleach because it can cause burns on your skin.
You should also make sure that the lightening products that you have chosen are free of ingredients like mercury, colonel, quicksilver etc. This is because such lightening products can further discolour your skin, cause scarring, increase the chance of fungal and bacterial infections.
Hyperpigmentation can also be prevented in the following ways:
- Treating acne at a very early stage
- Avoid staying in the sun for too long
- Wearing sunscreen when in the sun for a long time
- Moisturising the skin
- Using gentle exfoliants
