Pigment spots, more commonly known as brown spots or age spots, are identified by a change in skin color in certain areas of the body compared to the surrounding skin color.
These pigment spots are most often localized on the face, neck, décolleté or hands, but can appear on any part of the body.
These brown spots are unsightly and you’re probably wondering how to remove them. Our Epilium & Skin experts answer your questions and explain the different treatments available to eliminate pigmentation spots.
What are pigment spots?
This is an area of the skin that has a different coloration from the rest of the area.
A pigment spot is an alteration in skin color due to the overproduction of melanin, the pigment that gives skin its color. This overproduction of melanin, which leads to pigmentation spots, is often a protective response by melanin to various internal or external stimuli, such as inflammation or aggression.
These pigment spots can vary in color from light brown to black, depending on the type of spot and skin color. They can be round, oval or irregular. Their size can also vary, from very small to several centimetres.
These brown spots generally do not alter the texture of the skin, which remains smooth even though the texture is different.
What causes pigmentation spots?
Repeated sun exposure
Excessive exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays is one of the most common causes of pigmentation spots. In fact, when skin is exposed to the sun, melanocytes produce melanin to respond to UV aggression and protect the skin from tanning. On delicate areas of the face, the skin will tend to create too much melanin, which will clump together to form pigmentation spots.
A hormonal disorder
Pigmentation spots appear most frequently during pregnancy, in response to hormonal changes. Pregnancy hormones (estrogen and progesterone) can stimulate melanocytes, resulting in non-uniform excess melanin production. These brown spots are called melasma or fat mask.
They are located on the cheeks, the bridge of the nose, the forehead and the upper lip.
Hereditary factors
Pigmentation spots can appear as a result of variations or mutations in the genes that regulate melanin production. People with darker skin types produce more melanin and are generally more prone to developing hyperpigmentation of the skin.
Skin inflammation
Pigment spots can develop as a result of skin inflammation such as injury, infection, acne or eczema. In response to this aggression, the skin defends itself by producing excess melanin in localized areas. This reaction is called post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
How to prevent pigmentation spots?
Protect your face with a sunscreen every day of the year
Use skincare products containing vitamin C in the morning to fight free radicals and retinol in the evening to brighten the complexion.
Keep your skin well hydrated, so that your skin barrier is as healthy as possible.
Minimize unsupervised skin treatments
Keep an eye on your overall health, and don’t hesitate to talk to a doctor if you notice any unusual changes in your skin.
How do I treat pigmentation spots?
Procedures such as chemical peels, microneedling, a daily skincare routine, or professionally performed laser treatments can not only treat existing pigment spots but also help maintain even skin pigmentation.
Microneedling with Dermapen
Micronnedling with the Dermapen pen effectively treats pigmentation spots. By creating tiny perforations in the skin, it boosts elastin and collagen production. By stimulating the growth of new cells, Dermapen helps regulate melanin production and fade brown spots caused by overproduction of this pigment.
Lasemd
This non-ablative laser treatment is popular for its ability to treat pigmentation spots. The special feature of thulium laser technology is that it creates micro-channels that allow the serum specifically targeting brown spots to penetrate directly into the affected skin layers.
We recommend 3 sessions at one-month intervals for optimal results.
Chemical peeling
Chemical peels can also be used to treat pigmentation spots. A solution of salicylic, pyruvic and retinoic acids is applied to the skin to exfoliate and loosen the superficial layers of the epidermis.
This peel is used in cases where highly pigmented cells are found on the surface of the skin. It stimulates the production of new cells to replace pigmented skin with a new, lighter, more even layer. Chemical peels also increase the skin’s permeability, enabling anti-spot serums to work more effectively.
The Hollywood Spectra laser
The Q-Swithched Hollywood Spectra laser will treat pigmentation spots by acting as follows:`.
By emitting very short, high-intensity pulses of light, it targets and heats up the melanin in the skin. Thanks to its specific wavelength, this laser targets only dark pigments without damaging surrounding tissue. The light energy delivered then breaks down the pigments into mici-particles, which are then eliminated naturally by the body.
The ZO Skin Health range
The ZO Skin Health brand marketed by Epilium & Skin offers a range of skin care products to treat pigmentation spots.
A daily routine including exfoliating solutions to prepare the skin, antioxidant vitamin C followed by retinol or hydroquinone cream to brighten the complexion.
Following a personalized skin diagnosis, our specialist can guide you towards the most effective treatment for your pigmentation spots.
What are the results of a pigmentation spot treatment?
Treatments to erase pigmentation spots have evolved considerably in recent years. There’s plenty to choose from.
What all these methods have in common, however, is that they target melanin and accelerate cell renewal to brighten and even out skin tone.
During your first consultation at our aesthetic medicine center, our expert will suggest the treatment or combination of treatments best suited to your needs for an effective and optimal result.
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