Many women around the world are faced with the appearance of brown spots, more or less large, on certain areas of the skin.
Triggered by different causes, these spots are due to what is called hyperpigmentation of the skin; either a very common skin condition, which is linked to a overproduction of melanin on certain parts of the body, including the face, the neck or the hands.
Although a pigmentation spot or hyperpigmentation is not dangerous for health, it remains no less inconvenient at the aesthetic level… Thus, many women suffer from it on a daily basis.
In this article, we tell you everything you need to know about hyperpigmentation, how to recognize it, the causes that cause it, but above all the appropriate treatments to get rid of it.
What is skin hyperpigmentation?
Hyperpigmentation of the skin is characterized by excess production of melanin. The latter being made up of the pigments which are at the origin of the color of the skin, but also of the hair or the eyes.
In the skin, melanin is produced by cells present in the epidermis, and called melanocytes. The production of melanin by melanocytes is a process called melanogenesis. Melanin plays a very important role for the body, because above all it allows us to protect ourselves against UV rays… A kind of natural total screen.
However, for different reasons that we will see in more detail, many people can have, for one reason or another, an overproduction of melanin. This leads to the appearance of irregular pigment spots on certain parts of the body. This dysfunction is therefore called hyperpigmentation.
Note that hyperpigmentation is quite common from the age of 50; because with age and UV exposure, melanin production becomes irregular. Aging of the skin and dead cells thus cause the appearance of what is called solar lentigo (age spots).
Nevertheless, age is not the only factor that promotes the appearance of pigment spots… And this is what we invite you to see in the following section.
NB: hyperpigmentation affects all skin types and colors, and of course also men!
What causes hyperpigmentation?
As with many skin problems, hyperpigmentation is linked to several factors, which differ from person to person.
When some pigment spots are related to age or hormones, others can be traces of scars or allergies. For this reason, to know which treatment to adopt, it is important to detect the origin of this hyperpigmentation.
We invite you to discover this non-exhaustive list, containing the most known causes of hyperpigmentation:
As you will have understood, hyperpigmentation is the result of several internal and external factors, which it is quite possible to treat, provided you know the origin.
How to recognize pigment spots of hormonal origin?
As we indicated previously, hormonal pigmentation is due to an excessive production of melanin. Intensive melanogenesis of hormonal origin is most often caused by high secretion of progesterone and estrogen combined with long exposure to the sun. Hence the fact that pregnant women or women on hormonal treatment are the most prone to this type of condition.
For pregnant women, the hormonal pigmentation known as melasma (chloasma) or more vulgarly "the mask of pregnancy" is quite easy to distinguish. It is rounded and/or oval patches of brown color that appear mainly on the nose, cheekbones, forehead and chin. They affect more than half of women and generally appear from the 4th month of pregnancy. Attention, sun exposure is directly linked to the appearance of chloasma.
However, it's not just pregnant women who are prone to hormonal pigmentation. A contraceptive treatment, the menopause or even a contraindicated medication can also influence the secretion of sex hormones and therefore an overproduction of melanin when the body is exposed to UV rays.
It is therefore quite normal that from a certain age – 45 to 55 – these pigment spots of hormonal origin begin to appear.
Nevertheless, hormonal pigmentation should not be confused with solar lentigo, which is characterized by pigment spots due to the factors mentioned above – excluding hormones – such as the sun, age, etc.
Thus, in order to treat and permanently get rid of pigment spots, several solutions are available to you. Once the diagnosis has been made, you can choose the most suitable treatment for your skin type.
How to treat pigment spots?
The best treatment to follow to remove your dark spots will be determined by analyzing multiple factors such as the cause of the dark spots and the characteristics of your skin.
Having witnessed irreversible damage to the skin of several clients, we encourage you to always consult a professional before starting a treatment against pigment spots at home.
At Papillon de beauté, we specialize in the treatment of pigment spots (whether of hormonal origin or not) and all of our staff are trained in this type of analysis. We do not offer a standard program against pigment spots, but favor tailor-made programs that can include different treatments such as:
With us, you have the assurance of an optimized program and regular monitoring to avoid any risk and quickly obtain the best results. We invite you to book your skin analysis below.
Skin Analysis
Your consultation takes place in two parts.
First of all, we speak with you to better understand your skin problems, your needs and your goals. Then, we analyze your skin to determine the source of any abnormalities.
We can then give you personalized advice on your skin type, the treatments that are right for you and the products to use (or avoid) in your daily beauty routine. Objective: no waste and maximum efficiency.
If necessary, we recommend a professional treatment program to quickly reach your goals.
Our skin analysis is billed at 50.- and you receive a voucher of 50.- to be redeemed on all of our facial treatments.
