It’s FANTASTIC! Oh my God, What’s that, is that HYPERPIGMENTATION? Hyperpigmentation is something we have heard of (not just from the TikTok, I hope), but what actually is it? Radiance spoke to Chiko, aesthetician and dietitian and more commonly known on social media as The Skintelligent Chic.
I hope you got my reference, surely you could all hear it in your heads? If not, then you are definitely living under a rock, or… you are probably just not chronically on TikTok like us.
“Hyperpigmentation is when there are sections of your skin a different colour from what it normally is.” Says Chiko. “It’s your skin’s way of defending itself because when the skin feels a bit threatened by any external factors, it starts to produce more melanin because it is a protective factor for the skin.”
Hyperpigmentation is not dangerous to your health if left untreated and is only of cosmetic concern.
Chiko explains: “There are different types of hyperpigmentation.”
“Most of the time it’s caused by inflammation or trauma to the skin, whether that be spots or eczema. The second type is caused by hormonal fluctuation, like during pregnancies, and the third type is caused by sun damage,” says Chiko.
Hyperpigmentation is completely NORMAL, most people experienced or have experienced hyperpigmentation in their lives. The idea of a flawless complexion is extremely unrealistic- here at Radiance we all suffer with it!
However for those who feel like they want to reduce their marks here is Chiko’s advice:
Despite hyperpigmentation not being dangerous, people obviously still seek treatment.
She says: “Hyperpigmentation can be very hard to get rid of.”
Chiko’s skincare recommendations are retinoids and serums which contain azelaic acid or tranexamic acid.
However, normally the most successful way of removing hyperpigmentation is through more experienced treatments such as chemical peels and micro-needling. If you are interested in these procedures please go to a professional.
Hyperpigmentation prevention is mainly ensuring you protect yourself from the sun.
“If you say you have a spot, your skin should be able to heal itself from that spot. But when you have prolonged sun exposure, it’s not going to heal.” She says. “So even if the spot itself doesn’t cause hyperpigmentation or scarring, burning will cause it.”
There is nothing to worry about with hyperpigmentation. Our advice at Radiance is to always feel confident and empowered no matter what your skin is like, 100% of the time you are not alone.
But we are also firm believers in doing what makes you happy- so hopefully these tips help you out!
