Hyperpigmentation: How to fade brown spots?
If you're here, it's probably because you've noticed the appearance of dark spots on your skin or you're curious about how to achieve a clear, even complexion using natural skincare. Hyperpigmentation and its varied manifestations in the form of spots or even solar lentigos is a harmless phenomenon, but which deserves particular attention. So we are here to decipher it, understand it and above all, give you our tips for dealing with it.
SUMMARY
- Brown spots and hyperpigmentation: what are they?
- Causes of hyperpigmentation
- How to prevent and fade brown spots?
I) Brown spots and hyperpigmentation: what are they?
Let's first dive into the complex world of our skin. Hyperpigmentation is a dermatological term that describes the darkening of certain areas of the skin relative to the overall skin tone creating uneven skin pigmentation.
This phenomenon results in brown spots : these intriguing marks are the result of excessive production of melanin, the natural pigment responsible for the coloring of our skin, our hair, our body hair and also our eyes. The cells that produce these pigments, called melanocytes, can sometimes become hyperactive and go into overdrive, leading to excessive melanin production, leaving pigment spots on the surface of the skin.
These areas of browning on the skin are light brown to black in color and vary in size. Often harmless, it is nevertheless important to remain vigilant about their development. We therefore advise you to consult a dermatologist if changes appear regarding the size, color or shape of your spots.
These brown spots are likely to appear all over the body, however, the most frequently affected areas are the face and in particular the forehead, cheeks, nose and chin. The hands are also affected because they are often neglected in terms of protection, which is also the case for the neck and décolleté. The shoulders and back are also areas at risk as well as the arms and especially the forearms.
Hyperpigmentation can affect all skin types, although it is more noticeable in those with darker skin due to the naturally higher amount of melanin. This phenomenon can appear at any age but it generally occurs after 35 years.
II) The causes of hyperpigmentation
You're probably wondering what triggers this overproduction of melanin. Well, the causes are multiple.
The main and best known cause is prolonged and unprotected exposure to UV rays. In fact, each exposure to the sun triggers the production of melanin which acts as a natural sun shield. The skin becomes colored and tanned. However, excessive exposure disrupts the melanin production process: melanocytes become hyperactive, leading to hyperpigmentation and what we call sun spots.
But the sun is not the only reason! Indeed, inflammation of the skin also leads to an overproduction of melanin during the healing process. This is why, after an injury, burn, blemish or even acne breakout, you can develop post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. This can also occur following patches or repeated itching in the case of eczema and psoriasis. Each irritation can cause a stain which will then disappear in a few weeks or even months.
Hormones also have their role to play, this is what we call melasma. Due to hormonal imbalance, this phenomenon very often appears on the faces of pregnant women. This is also what we call a pregnancy mask. Age spots usually fade within a few weeks after giving birth. An upset in the balance of female hormones, notably estrogen and progesterone, leads to an overproduction of melanin. This can also happen in women taking oral contraceptives or during menopause.
A dermatological treatment like laser can also paradoxically lead to hyperpigmentation, as can small annoyances such as ingrown hairs.
But don't be alarmed, solutions exist to treat and prevent these brown spots and regain even skin.
III) How to prevent and fade brown spots?
So, how to get a makeover?
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Prevention
Prevention is your first weapon. Good sun protection, applied daily, is essential to keeping dark spots at bay. Indeed, UV exposure is a key factor in the appearance of sun-related spots but also an aggravating factor in the case of other types of hyperpigmentation. We therefore advise you to protect your skin with SPF 50+ sun protection on your face and body, without forgetting your hands and neck. This protection is essential all year round, even on rainy and cloudy days. And if you expose yourself to strong sunlight, you must renew your protection every 2 hours.
Regarding the prevention of ingrown hairs, perform a gentle exfoliation before each hair removal. To do this, use our Exfoliating Shower Gel to exfoliate and clean the area to be waxed in a single gesture.
For the face and in particular for the beard, we advise you to apply our Exfoliating Peel which gently eliminates impurities and dead skin to avoid clogging the pores responsible for ingrown hairs. In addition, after shaving, soothe your skin, inflamed by the razor, with our Precious Nutritive Oil with nourishing and healing properties.
And if a pimple rears its ugly head, leave it alone, avoid piercing or picking at it.
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Treatment
In addition to prevention, if you already have brown spots, treatments exist to fade them. To do this, you must integrate targeted anti-spot products enriched with melanoreductive and antioxidant components into your beauty routine.
First, apply our Exfoliating Peel once or twice a week to even out your complexion thanks to its enzymatic exfoliating action. This gentle and effective treatment lightens established brown spots and prevents the appearance of new ones.
The second product to have to reduce pigmentary irregularities is our Clarifying Lotion , composed of lactic acid, a mild alpha-hydroxy acid combined with arginine for gradual diffusion. It smoothes skin texture and fades the appearance of brown spots.
To finalize your routine, apply our Pink Oil Glow Booster Serum , thanks to the combination of several anti-dark spots and antioxidant active ingredients, it is the ally of skin prone to hyperpigmentation. Our Bio Active Pink Banana and its powerful antioxidant power, present in our serum, visibly evens the complexion and effectively reduces pigmentation spots.
Finally, don't underestimate the power of good hydration. Well-hydrated skin is more resilient skin, capable of better defending itself against external factors likely to cause hyperpigmentation. To do this, we advise you to drink enough water and use our Radiance Soothing Gel-Cream to intensely hydrate your skin for 24 hours *. Your skin will be soft and illuminated.
Hyperpigmentation and brown spots are therefore not inevitable. With good practices and appropriate care, you can regain a clear and even complexion. So, are you ready to restore your skin to all its splendor?
*TESTED UNDER DERMATOLOGICAL CONTROL Measured by Corneometer on 10 volunteers aged 18 to 65.
