Hyperpigmentation results when cells in certain areas of the skin produce more melanin than usual, causing dark spots or patches of skin. While usually harmless, many people find hyperpigmentation distressing and want to get rid of it.
What is Hyperpigmentation?
When cells produce more melanin than they usually would, hyperpigmentation results. The amount of melanin that results in hyperpigmentation depends on the person’s skin tone. People with darker skin tones have more melanin in their skin. However, they also experience issues with hyperpigmentation more often.
Hyperpigmentation can occur as a result of hormonal changes, such as birth control or pregnancy. This hyperpigmentation, melasma, occurs commonly in pregnant women but may fade after pregnancy. Hyperpigmentation can also result from sun exposure, which triggers melanin production, or from a post-inflammatory reaction. In this situation, inflammation such as a superficial injury or acne breakout causes the skin to react by creating a dark spot.
How to Get Rid of Hyperpigmentation
At Manhattan Aesthetics, we proudly offer four methods of hyperpigmentation treatment to make sure we address your individual needs. Options include:
IPL PhotoFacial
This treatment uses intense pulsed light (IPL) to treat a variety of skin conditions, including hyperpigmentation and sun damage. IPL targets other pigments as well, such as those in small facial spider veins or redness from rosacea. The light causes no harm to the skin, so the procedure involves no downtime, and results become visible quickly.
Chemical Peels
Chemical peels range from light to deep, and each level of intensity chemically exfoliates away more layers of skin. Those like the popular VI Peel remove enough layers of skin to significantly decrease signs of hyperpigmentation, sun damage, and aging. Deeper peels can produce even more noticeable results but will also require more downtime.
Aerolase®
This non-invasive laser treatment delivers pulses at a billionth of a second to make treatment fast and comfortable. Your provider can customize the treatment to meet your needs, and most people see a noticeable reduction of hyperpigmentation as well as reddish pigmentation.
Excel V+
Designed specifically to target the pigments in problem veins, including brown, red, and blue shades, this treatment can reduce dark areas due to an underlying darkened vein. It can also reduce hyperpigmentation by targeting these pigments in the skin. Its dual wavelength technology makes it more flexible than single-wavelength lasers.
Is There Any Downtime with Hyperpigmentation Treatment?
Most treatments involve no downtime, although some people experience redness or irritation for a few days after the procedure with laser treatments. Deep chemical peels may involve significant downtime, but mild ones usually allow you to return to your regular routine with only some redness.
Am I a Good Candidate?
Because we offer so many options for getting rid of hyperpigmentation, you will almost certainly be a good candidate for one of them. Some treatments, like chemical peels and the Aerolase® laser, are so customizable that they can be made to suit almost any skin type or skin tone.
Take the Next Step
Ready to learn more about getting rid of hyperpigmentation? The first step is to come in for an in-person consultation with our expert providers at Manhattan Aesthetics in New York, New York, today.
Please fill out the form on this page or call our office during regular business hours at (212) 960-8172.
