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Skin is one of the largest organs of the human body which protects the sensitive tissues from various foreign substances. But this is just a small role the skin plays in protecting the body. It does much more than that. Many of us do not know that our skin also protects us from harmful sun rays including Ultraviolet lights.
But how this thin membrane manages to block ultraviolet light that has the potential of causing cellular damage? In reality, it doesn’t block the UV rays rather it absorbs these rays. Skin is equipped with a group of special cells called melanocyte. These cells produce a pigment called melanin, a brown color pigment that provides color to the skin.
When someone takes a stroll on a sunny day, the skin gets bombarded with UV rays. This reaction triggers melanin production that naturally absorbs a different range of lights including UV rays. This effect of melanin production sometime leads to uneven skin color known as pigmentation.
In simpler words, discoloration of the skin due to melanin production is called pigmentation. It can affect various parts of the skin including back, neck, hands but is prominent on the facial region. Pigmentation is usually visible in the form of dark patches, dark spots, age spots, freckles, melasma, etc. and leaves the skin dull with uneven skin tone.
Freckles In this condition, a small patch of light brown color spots appear on the skin, often becoming more pronounced through exposure to the sun. These clusters of concentrated melanized cells are easily visible on people with a fair complexion.
Age spots Age spots occur as a result of sun damage to the skin that leaves dark skin spots on the affected area. Age spots are also known as solar lentigines and liver marks. The spots are usually small but may have different shapes and sizes.
Melasma It is a common skin problem that causes grey-brown patches to appear on the skin, usually on the face. It is common to get melasma on the cheeks, bridge of their nose, forehead, chin, and above their upper lip. Unlike other problems, this can also be triggered due to hormonal imbalance.
Uneven skin tone When pigmentation is distributed to a larger area of skin tissues, they alter the overall appearance of the skin, leaving an uneven skin tone behind. Here a misty shade covers a portion of the skin instead of dark spots.
Luckily there are several advanced treatments available to reduce pigmentation. Let’s talk about some of the most popular procedures
1. Chemical Peel
Chemical Peel is a fully customizable procedure that allows treating various levels of pigmentation on different types of skin. In this procedure, a peel is applied to the affected area. This peel contains various skin rejuvenating ingredients including various chemicals, plant extracts, and skin lightening serums. These ingredients are mixed in a precise composition according to the need of the procedure and provide a much effective treatment for each case.
2. Laser treatment
Laser therapy is another procedure that effectively reduces pigmentation and provides a soft, even tone and glowing skin. The laser used in this method projects a pulsating beam of light which generates heat and destroys the pigment affecting the cells. This phenomenon also triggers collagen and elastin production. These proteins replenish the skin cells and provide essential nutrients. As a result, one gets even-tone and glowing skin.
3. Medicinal treatment
There are also several ointments and other skin lightening creams available that protect the skin and reduce the production of melanin. Although these ointments can protect the skin, they can not treat an already affected skin. For that one requires more focused medicinal treatment. One thing that should always be remembered is these medicines should only be taken on a doctor’s prescription.
All these procedures and medicinal courses are customizable according to the need of the patient. This allows a dermatologist to provide a bespoke and focused treatment that ensures long-lasting results.
Pigmentation doesn’t pose any serious physical problems, but these may leave some psychological impact. This condition steels the natural glow of the skin and affects the overall look of an individual. This sometimes results in depression, anxiety and may also affect the personal and professional life of an individual.
While searching for the doctor, one should do intensive research and make sure that the doctor must provide the right treatment for the condition.