In the summer, pigment spots appear en masse. Where do they come from and above all:what do you do about them?
Melanin occurs naturally in healthy skin. This brown dye is made by pigment cells and ensures that the skin has color. Under the influence of sunlight, melanin production increases considerably and melanin can accumulate, causing pigmentation spots
to arise. In most cases of hyperpigmentation, the sun is the culprit, but the brown discolorations can also be caused by medication or after an inflammation or irritation, such as eczema.
Sun protection is the protective shield against pigmentation spots. drs. Myrte Stok works as a dermatologist at the Outpatient Clinic de Blaak and regularly sees patients with hyperpigmentation. "You can protect your skin against (worsening of) pigmentation spots by rubbing with at least SPF30 every two hours," she says. “But sunscreen doesn't completely block the sun, so you always run a slight risk if you lie in the sun.”
There are treatments that can lighten or make pigmentation spots disappear.
Dermatologist Myrte Stok:“Whether a treatment is successful partly depends on the cause of the increased pigment and its depth in the skin. The more superficial, the easier a cream can reach the pigment."
Pigment stains can't just be smeared off, but with the right ingredients you can achieve good results. For example, vitamins C and E (and especially a combination of the two), vitamins A and B, glycolic acid and licorice root extract are effective in reducing the appearance of pigmentation spots. Make sure that you choose products with high concentrations of vitamins and acids. For example, for vitamin C this is 5%, while vitamin A is already effective from 0.01%.
Another substance that has been proven to work against hyperpigmentation is hydroquinone. This medicine inhibits the production of pigment in the skin.
Myrte Stok:“I often recommend hydroquinone cream or triple therapy to patients, in which hydroquinone is combined with a tretinoin and corticosteroid cream.”
A peeling can also lighten up pigment spots or make them disappear. For superficial pigmentation spots, you can get started at home with a glycolic acid peeling or enzyme-based exfoliant. Is the excess pigment located deeper in the skin? Then a chemical
peeling – performed by a skin therapist – offer a solution. TCA peels in particular are widely used. Stok:“Other options are laser therapy, IPL or freezing the pigment spots with nitrogen. Which treatment is suitable depends on the type of pigmentation spot.”
Every therapy has a (small) risk. For example, a (larger) color difference can occur or you can get more pigment spots. Stok:“The safest treatment is camouflage. For this
you can go to a skin therapist.”
TCA peeling:the skin is rubbed with trichloroacetic acid, after which the top layer of skin flakes off. A TCA peeling often goes hand in hand with molting; this is a sign of skin renewal. A chemical peel can feel a burning sensation, but it is not painful. Multiple treatments are often required for best results. A TCA peel costs an average of € 100.
IPL (Intense Pulsed Light):The flashes of light from an IPL device feel like a rubber band being shot against the skin. An IPL treatment takes up to half an hour and can be sensitive. You often need about three treatments to make pigment spots disappear. The average price of IPL against hyperpigmentation is €150 per treatment.
Laser therapy:pigmentation spots can be treated with various laser devices. A laser treatment takes a maximum of half an hour and you usually need up to three treatments. The laser flashes feel like warm tingling sensations. Average costs:€ 150 per treatment.
There are several do-it-yourself whitening methods available on the internet, such as tricks with citrus fruits. Rather ignore these 'treatments'; they only dry out your skin and can actually aggravate pigmentation spots.
