Hyperpigmentation

The main symptom of hyperpigmentation is darker areas or patches of skin. These patches might occur in just one place, such as your face, or all over your body. 

The appearance of hyperpigmentation patches varies depending on your skin colour – they may be pink, red, grey, brown, or black.

There are several types of hyperpigmentation, each with a different cause and treatment options. The most common types of hyperpigmentation are melasma, age spots/sun spots, and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.

Melasma

Melasma is a very common skin disorder that affects around 10% of the population. It usually shows up on your face, cheeks, top lip, forehead, or forearms. The patches tend to be flat or look like freckles.

It usually starts between 20 and 40 years old, and is especially common among pregnant women. In most cases,  it’s caused by a combination of your genes, exposure to photodamage (damage from the sun’s ultraviolet rays), and/or pregnancy and hormonal therapies (including oral contraceptives). 

Age spots/sun spots

Age spots, also known as sun spots, are exceptionally common – they occur in up to 90% of people over the age of 60. They often look like darker, mottled, and irregular patches of skin. 

You’re more at risk of age spots if you live or spend a lot of time outdoors and/or in high altitudes, have white skin, blue or green eyes, blonde or red hair, and/or a lot of moles. 

Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation 

Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation is a temporary change in the colour of your skin. It happens after an inflammatory or traumatic condition such as acne, a burn, or dermatitis. 

It can affect anyone, but tends to last longer if you have black or brown skin. Up to 65% of people with black and brown skin who have acne experience post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.

Welbeck dermatologists are experienced in diagnosing and treating hyperpigmentation. At your initial consultation, your specialist will take your medical history and ask questions about your symptoms. They’ll also need to examine your skin and may use an ultraviolet light to take a closer look. 

Usually, this is enough to make a diagnosis. But, if there’s any doubt, they may want to confirm your condition by running further tests. These could include blood tests to check your hormone and vitamin levels and thyroid function, and/or a skin biopsy.  

There isn’t a guaranteed way to prevent hyperpigmentation. 

Regularly washing, exfoliating, and moisturising your skin can help keep it looking as healthy as possible. 

Avoiding picking at or scratching any blemishes may help to reduce post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. 

Protecting your skin from the sun may also help. Try to:

• avoid the sun as much as possible

• wear a hat when you’re in the sun

• wear broad spectrum suncream (that protects from ultraviolet rays, UVA, and UVB) with SPF 30+ every day

In most cases, hyperpigmentation isn’t life-threatening, and it rarely has any effect on your physical health. 

However, living with hyperpigmentation can impact your mental health. It’s been linked to low self-esteem, anxiety, and depression. Treating it can help you regain confidence and boost your mental wellbeing.

Your consultant will recommend the best treatment plan for you based on what’s causing your hyperpigmentation and your unique medical history.

Treatments you may be offered include:

• optimising topical medical skin care 

• oral medications

• energy-based devices such as lasers 

• a strict skin care routine

Your skin may need to be treated on a repeated basis. But in many cases, the results from your treatment will be permanent.

At Welbeck, our dermatologists are experts in their field and are dedicated to providing world-class care to every patient.

With access to colleagues across other specialties, our consultants are also able to refer within the Welbeck ecosystem if required to ensure you receive the treatment you need as quickly as possible, all under one roof.  

All appointments, testing, treatment, and follow-up appointments take place within our state-of-the-art facilities, enabling us to deliver accurate diagnostics and advanced treatments.

Your health is important to us, so we strive to offer same-day appointments whenever possible.

Our consultants are recognised by the major health insurance companies. If you have private health insurance, your treatment at Welbeck can begin once you have obtained authorisation. We also provide care to self-paying patients. Learn more about the different payment options at Welbeck.

Get in touch today to book an appointment.