Hyperpigmentation spots are unsightly and difficult to clear. Identifying the different types of existing spots is the first step toward using the right treatment, the correct active ingredients, and the proper procedures to overcome them.
Melasma
Melasma is a skin condition that is particularly challenging to correct. It appears during and/or after pregnancy but can also manifest following the use of contraceptive pills, in reaction to chronic sun exposure, or simply through genetic inheritance.
Particularly reactive to hormonal variations, melasma affects many women. However, it can be observed in certain male cases. The simplest way to recognize melasma is by its extent and color. The skin pigmentation is generally brown or grayish. The patches are usually widespread and sometimes symmetrical on both sides of the face.
Melasma is characterized by more or less diffuse spots or plaques on the face (forehead, cheeks, upper lip) ranging from brown to grayish in color. It can also appear on the back of the hands and the arms. It is very difficult to eliminate melasma spots, and it is a condition that often affects the self-confidence of those who suffer from it.
Lentigines or Age Spots
Lentigines are brown to black spots that appear on the skin after prolonged sun exposure over time and/or with aging. They generally appear on sun-exposed areas such as the face, décolletage, arms, and hands.
Their size varies from a few millimeters to several centimeters, and their borders are more or less regular. As noted in an article by Health Science Reports, lentigo-type spots often appear after the age of 50.
The same article emphasizes that very few depigmenting agents are effective on lentigines. Topical depigmenting products such as hydroquinone, and even the Kligman formula, are generally ineffective for treating lentigines. One of the only effective depigmenting agents has proven to be cysteamine. As stated in Health Science Reports:
"Stabilized Cysteamine has been recently shown to be as effective as the modified Kligman’s formula for treating melasma."
Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation (PIH)
Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation spots result from localized inflammation of the skin. These triggers can be diverse: an acne pimple, a mosquito bite, a burn, etc. The common denominator of these spots is that they occur following a localized inflammatory event.
As highlighted in a publication by the Journal of Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation is frequent in Fitzpatrick phototypes III to VI. These spots are generally reddish or brown in color, depending on the individual's skin tone.
To effectively treat hyperpigmentation, it is essential to determine the type and the underlying causes. Understanding the difference between a hormonal trigger (Melasma), cumulative sun damage (Lentigo), or skin trauma (PIH) is the key to a successful skincare routine.
