Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Alternative Types of Hyperpigmentation Treatment?

By Sophie Jane Hayes


There are many types of hyperpigmentation treatment available today, mainly because this type of skin pigmentation condition can be found in a wide range of formats. Hyperpigmentation is often defined to be a darkening of areas of skin or fingernails caused by an surplus of melanin in the body. Skin pigmentation on the face can frequently cause a lot of distress for those who have this condition. As there are several forms of hyperpigmentation, so are there numerous causes - too much exposure to the sun, acne, inflammation, and Addison's disease for example. As for the type of hyperpigmentation treatment you can use, there are many options. But effective treatment in any case depends on a correct diagnosis and the skilled application of any therapy.

Dermal hyperpigmentation is the form of the condition that is the most resistant and stubborn to any medical intervention. In a lot of cases, the use of concealing cosmetics tends to be the best remedy, but there have also been some hopeful advances in dermal treatment using alexandrite and ruby lasers. However, research is still ongoing in this area and no firm conclusions have been reported. Laser treatment does not get rid of any pigmentation on a long term basis, it only hides the problem for a time.

Laser therapies may also have side effects in the form of atrophy and hypertrophic scarring as well as discomfort and a rise in the production of pigments. If you have melasma, generally speaking, this condition tends to be resistive to lasers anyway. In the case of epidermal treatment, there are a few more alternatives. Hydroquinone is applied topically and works by inhibiting the enzymes that convert dopa into melatonin. However, hydroquinone requires a prolonged course of treatment to be effective. Mequinol, tretinoin, alpha-hydroxy acids, azelaic acid and salicylic acid are also used as topical solutions.

By far, some of the most effective therapies have been combination treatments, such as low concentrations of hydroquinone and tretinoin. Combination treatments can be continued for a longer time and may also strengthen the epidermal layers of skin.

More invasive forms of treatment take the form of chemical peels, dermabrasion, and cryosurgery. Chemical peels can be useful for photodamaged skin and cryosurgery is handy for the treatment of lentigines. However, it can lead to increased levels of pigmentation if not properly applied. It is suggested that the best results come from brief, intermittent freezing of the lesion, which must be precisely targeted to avoid affecting normal tissue. Even then, using other therapies such as skin creams will complement these therapies and ameliorate any potential side effects.

It cannot be emphasized enough, that early diagnosis and intervention is essential to ensure the correct choice of treatment is made. The quicker you have your condition diagnosed, the greater the range of hyperpigmentation treatment choices that will be available for you; whether you have skin pigmentation on the face, body or both.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment