The importance of skincare has increased recently in the mainstream media causing an influx of all types of facial products. The issue with that is not knowing if the products are actually safe, as well as if the product does what it says it’s supposed to do. A blemish a lot of us suffer from is hyperpigmentation. There are so many different products and home remedies for treating it, but only a handful are successful. How does one recognize what is the real deal? By the end of this article, you will be able to find that out all on your own!
How are they formed?
Everyone gets their skin color from cell structures called melanocytes. Melanocytes produce melanin to mainly protect our skin from the sun’s harmful rays that will cause damage to our DNA. When melanocytes are stimulated it will increase its production of melanin causing a dark spot to appear on the surface of the skin. As we age, these structures tend to get larger, and the skin becomes thinner making the dark spots appear more quickly and bigger. Also, for people of color, dark spots can not only appear more easily but stay longer. However, do not freak out because thanks to today’s research and technology, it is treatable.
The top three causes of hyperpigmentation are hormones, exposure to UV rays, and inflammation. Something I learned while writing this is that pregnant women can get dark spot formations around the face like a mask and it’s commonly known as the “mask of pregnancy”. My mind was blown! Another hormonal cause of these dark patches is birth control. Seems like mother nature doesn’t think the current side effects of taking birth control aren’t enough huh? It’s sort of common knowledge that UV rays are one of the causes due to the popularity of tanning, whether in a UV bed or directly in the sunlight. Be very cautious of the undeniable fact that this can lead to skin cancer. Lastly, any kind of inflammation or irritation to the skin like acne, burns, eczema, etc. will cause the skin to darken as it heals. This is totally natural. Despite this, there is a way to counteract this reaction.
How to treat them?
When looking at products that target hyperpigmentation look for these top active ingredients: licorice root, vitamin C, hydroquinone, and azelaic acid. The licorice root will help because of its two components, glabridin and liquirtin. Glabridin stops the enzyme that is responsible for producing melanin. Liquirtin breaks down and rids the skin from excess melanin. Vitamin C has also been proven to not only slow down the production of melanin but also prevent wrinkles due to an increase in collagen. Hydroquinone stops the process of dark spots from progressing. Finally, azelaic acid is powerful enough to inhibit the actual melanocyte as well as the enzymes responsible for making melanin before it starts. In addition to any of these, you decide to use for skincare routine during the day, always end it with sunscreen. That includes us fellow POCs, just because we rarely get sunburns doesn’t mean sunscreen isn’t beneficial. While knowing what each ingredient does should help in knowing which one is appropriate to use at a certain time.
All credits due to this link https://eminenceorganics.com/ca/blog/2017/06/14/3-top-reasons-you-have-dark-spots-your-face#:~:text=When%20stimulated%20by%20harmful%20UV,causing%20dark%20patches%20of%20skin.