What Causes Hyperpigmentation? 3 Causes and How to Treat It

If you’re like me, your skin is a thing that you treasure. It’s one of the first things that people notice about you, so if you want to make a good first impression, you better up your pretty game, especially if hyperpigmentation is something you struggle with.

What causes hyperpigmentation? This is a question that I’ve spent a lot of time researching because I want to help people reveal the royalty that exists in all of us—you just have to let it shine through. Here’s what I’ve discovered.

Sun Damage

What you might think are age spots on your skin are actually visible evidence of sun damage—called solar letigines in doctor-speak. These spots are a common form of hyperpigmentation, especially among middle-aged adults and seniors (age spots, remember?) who did not take proper precautions against the sun when they were young. Sun damage is particularly prevalent on the face and hands. Hyperpigmentation caused by sun damage is usually small, though sometimes it can be as large as an inch in diameter.

Injuries

Scarring on the skin can cause another form of hyperpigmentation. But the injury to your skin doesn’t have to be from something traumatic—scarring can appear after acne clears up (OK, acne can be kind of traumatic; just ask anyone who went through high school with it). Many women and men have to deal with the aftermath of acne, and it’s not always an easy thing to do because the dark spots that arise from acne scarring can cover large areas of skin. The technical name for such scarring is post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. If you've ever had moderate to severe acne, you probably have it.

Hormone Changes

This one’s for the ladies. Sorry, guys, but you just wouldn’t understand.

Alright, girls. Now that we’re alone, let’s talk about the hyperpigmentation that happens when our bodies go through those changes.

When your hormones go out of whack during your period hyperpigmentation can get worse. During your period, melasma can worsen and become more visible. All of this happens because of the hormonal changes taking place in your body. Because estrogen plays a part in melanin production, when estrogen levels change, so does the visibility of any hyperpigmentation on your body.

What Causes Hyperpigmentation to Go Away?

Now that you know what causes hyperpigmentation, you might be wondering how to treat it. First, you can reduce hyperpigmentation by avoiding excessive sun damage. Wear sunscreen or stay inside as much as possible. Because most hyperpigmentation results from the sun’s effects on your skin’s melanin, this step should be the first you turn to.

You can also treat hyperpigmentation by using special products. Pretty Biznez’s products are specially designed to treat hyperpigmentation. They include ingredients like kojic acid and hyaluronic acid to help reduce the appearance of hyperpigmentation spots for an even, smooth skin tone.

Check out our store, and if you have any questions don’t hesitate to ask!