Hyperpigmentation, also known as dark spots or sun spots – is the excess pigmentation on your skin that is not fun to deal with. Hyperpigmentation bothers many people, especially in sunny countries like India. You can deal with hyperpigmentation by adopting a skin care routine that will also benefit your skin in other ways. Let’s see how you can get clear pigmentation free skin once and for all.

Causes of hyperpigmentation

Hyperpigmentation can be caused by a number of reasons:

• If you have spent your early years out in the sun unprotected, pigmentation starts showing up on your face in your 20s
• Your acnes leave scars behind on your skin
• It can also be caused by hormonal changes
• Pregnancy causes a condition called ‘melasma’ or mask of pregnancy which usually shows up on the bridge of the nose, cheeks, forehead and lips
• Women on birth control pills may also experience blotchiness

Skin care routine to fight hyperpigmentation

Women usually tend to get rid of pigmentation by bleaching or by covering up the patchiness with makeup, but they only end up making your skin worse. Bleaching excessively can strip your face of its natural glow and makeup is a temporary relief.

Instead a dedicated daily skin care routine can easily treat superficial hyperpigmentation and do wonders for your skin in the long run

Step 1: Cleanse

Prep your skin with cleansers that contain lightening ingredients like vitamin C or lactic acid. Vitamin C nourishes repairs and protects skin. It also stimulates collagen production for firmer looking skin. You could also use green tea based cleansers that calm inflammation and soothes.

Step 2: Exfoliate

Gently exfoliate your skin with a facial scrub, washcloth or scrub to remove the dead skin cells. Dead skin cells can block and treatment from penetrating deeper into your skin and being effective.

Step 3: Treat

After exfoliation follow up with treatments that repair damaged skin and eleiminate pigmentation. Serums are designed with tiny molecules that easily penetrate the skin for the desired results. As with cleanser, use serums with vitamin C or lactic acid. Serums with kojic acid and licroice lighten the skin and erase scars.

Step 4: Moisturize

Moisturising is essential for everyone – no matter what you skin type. A light gel based moisturiser is sufficient for oily skin and for those with dry skin can use a creamy moisturiser.

Step 5: Protect

Never step out in to the sun without a sunscreen, no matter how cloudy it is outside. Sunscreen prevents darkening of existing pigmentation and causes further damage. It is counterproductive to not use a sunscreen along with your skin lightening products.

Hyperpigmentation can be a problem but it can be easily dealt with a little patience and discipline. Take care of your skin with our tips and flaunt that glow!