Many people experience dark spots on their skin, and there could be several different conditions. Two of the most common conditions are melasma and hyperpigmentation, but each has a different treatment plan.
Melasma is a common form of hyperpigmentation that affects millions of people, characterized by darker patches of skin, often on the face. While hyperpigmentation is frequently associated with sun exposure, melasma is primarily linked to hormonal changes in the body. This condition is more common in women than men, particularly during periods of significant hormonal shifts, such as pregnancy. For this reason, melasma is sometimes referred to as the “pregnancy mask” or “mask of pregnancy.” It commonly appears on areas like the chin, cheeks, nose, and upper lip.
Hyperpigmentation is a broader term that typically refers to a condition in which the skin is discolored or changed due to sun damage, aging, acne scarring, or post-inflammatory pigmentation. In these situations, a patch of skin is darker than the surrounding area. This term often also lumps in other conditions, like liver spots and melasma itself.
What does it matter if you have hyperpigmentation or melasma? Proper diagnosis can be important in ensuring effective treatment plans for your condition. If you have any type of uneven skin tone or change in facial pigmentation, it is critical to seek out care to determine what is occurring.
Causes and Symptoms of Hyperpigmentation vs. Melasma
To better understand the difference between melasma and hyperpigmentation, let’s examine the causes and symptoms more closely.
Melasma
Melasma on the cheeks and forehead are common. These are often brown spots on the skin. They are also related to hormonal pigmentation, meaning changes in hormones can bring on the condition. These are often persistent pigmentation issues, which means they do not go away easily. As hormonal-induced pigmentation changes, you may experience them at high-stress times, illness, pregnancy, and other conditions.
Melasma triggers often include:
- Hormonal changes
- UV exposure
- Genetics
Most of the time, you will notice brown patches on the face, blotchy skin appearance in specific areas, and symmetrical discoloration. The symmetrical brown patches tend to be the most notable sign of this condition. Learn more about melasma maintenance plans and treatment options at ICLS.
Hyperpigmentation
The differences between melasma and hyperpigmentation are important to note. Hyperpigmentation causes often include:
- Injury to the skin or tissues
- Acne, especially from scarring
- Prolonged sun exposure
Hyperpigmentation may include stubborn skin discoloration, including sunspots, freckles, and post-inflammatory pigmentation. Sun-induced hyperpigmentation may have a darker discoloration in more sun-specific areas, like the cheeks. Sun damage pigmentation does not necessarily mean the skin was sunburned, though.
As with more generalized pigmentation issues and environmental pigmentation factors, hyperpigmentation requires careful consideration and treatment. ICLS offers creams and serums, as well as other options, for hyperpigmentation.
Advanced Treatment Options At ICLS
It is important to recognize the differences between melasma and hyperpigmentation. For example, knowing the difference between melasma and sunspots can influence the treatment options you use and, ultimately, any improvement you see. At ICLS, we offer a range of treatment solutions to meet most conditions, including hyperpigmentation and dark skin melasma.
Consider the range of dark spot treatment options we offer, including both melasma and hyperpigmentation reduction options for all levels of skin conditions and complexities. When you meet with our team, we will provide targeted solutions for your specific needs.
When it comes to addressing melasma vs hyperpigmentation effectively, we will discuss options such as the following with you.
Laser Treatments
Both melasma treatment options and hyperpigmentation options are available using laser therapy. Lasers and other light-based solutions do not cause pain, but they can change the color of your skin, creating significant improvement. This includes options like the following:
Treating melasma with lasers can be highly effective. SylfirmX for pigmentation is a leading option for minimizing pigmentation for this condition. It is very safe and highly effective for treating melasma throughout the face.
There are several options for hyperpigmentation. Both Pico and Starwalker lasers are very effective at targeting deeper pigmentation. They work as targeted laser pigmentation removal for these more set-in and prominent discolorations.
Also notable is the use of Broadband Light Therapy (BBL) to address sunspots and freckles. BBL is less invasive overall and can provide significant improvement in treating sunspots and freckles.
Chemical Peels
Another option is chemical peels. For some people, this type of treatment works the best because it exfoliates the surface of the skin, reducing pigmentation in that area. We may recommend this treatment path for improving skin tone and texture.
Two of the options commonly used for these conditions are Cosmelan and Dermamelan masks. These are ideal, especially for those who have stubborn melasma that does not seem to improve with other strategies. They can also be helpful for generalized hyperpigmentation.
Other Treatments
For those with long-term melasma or hyperpigmentation that does not respond to chemical peels or laser treatment, we may recommend additional treatment options. Consider these paths:
- Microneedling (DP4): This treatment stimulates collagen while targeting pigmentation. Microneedling for pigmentation is effective because it helps encourage the body’s natural healing process. The use of radiofrequency microneedling for melasma has also been shown to provide significant improvement for more stubborn areas.
- NanoLaserPeel: This is an excellent choice for superficial pigmentation and skin texture. NanoLaserPeel for pigmentation can help with some minor pigmented lesions.
- PRP Therapy: PRP accelerates healing, improves skin tone, and helps reduce pigmentation naturally.
The Role of Medical-Grade Skincare
Medical-grade skincare may prove to be critical in supporting your skin’s overall health and treating the underlying causes of skin discoloration. The fact is, using products purchased over the counter could be helpful, but they are not designed and provided specifically for you by a dermatologist. In other words, they may not offer the type of improvement you need. That is where medical-grade skincare is applicable.
Start with quality sunscreen. The best sunscreen for pigmentation can help reduce the risk of damage to the skin by protecting it from UV rays. Look for the highest SPF available to get this benefit.
However, most people also benefit from more advanced care, and once those areas of skin discoloration exist, more advanced treatment and management could be critical. ICLS Skin Store products like topical depigmentation agents and brightening serums are designed to provide very specific support for your skin. Take a closer look at some of the best safe pigmentation treatments available to treat your symptoms.
Managing Expectations
Be realistic when it comes to melasma maintenance plans, hyperpigmentation treatments, or other strategies for improving your skin’s look. Pigmentation treatments require ongoing management to be effective. That means they need consistent treatment over a period of time to show noticeable improvement.
One of the benefits of working with ICLS is that we create customized long-term treatment plans for you. These will include in-clinic procedures that may help you, such as PIH treatments for acne scars or topical treatments for melasma. We blend this with at-home skincare solutions that will further improve and maintain your skin health.
It is important to know that treatment plans do not necessarily remove melasma or hyperpigmentation entirely. However, with consistent use of our recommended treatments, you may be able to see significant improvement overall.
Prevention Tips and Lifestyle Adjustments
How you care for your skin matters, whether as a component of your post-treatment skincare routine or just by taking steps now to improve your skin health and avoid the onset of these conditions.
- Sun Protection: Daily sunscreen use and wearing protective clothing are critical to preventing damage to your skin from the sun’s UV rays.
- Avoid Triggers: Avoid known triggers for melasma, such as UV rays and certain medications that you know are concerning. Also, discuss estrogen and progesterone levels with your doctor.
- Maintenance Treatments: Periodic laser or chemical peel touch-ups can further enhance your outcome. Our professionals may make recommendations for the frequency and types of treatments based on your specific needs.
Meet with our team to discuss targeted strategies for your skin. When you do, we can offer safe pigmentation treatments that are applicable to your specific skin needs. Most importantly, we can help you create a treatment plan for the underlying cause, helping you to protect your skin health for years to come.
Why Choose ICLS for Pigmentation Treatment?
ICLS is dedicated to providing our clients with state-of-the-art technologies and treatment options. We utilize only the most advanced – and proven – methods for improving your skin’s health. We encourage you to reach out to us for a customized consultation to discuss what you are noticing on your skin. We can then tailor a specific treatment approach for the skin type you have. That includes treatments for hyperpigmentation in darker skin tones.
Also, note that our professionals can offer answers to other skin conditions you may have. If you are not sure what is occurring or where your skin injury discoloration occurred, reach out to us for a consultation.
Melasma and hyperpigmentation are very common types of skin discolorations. Neither is necessarily harmful to your health, but they can be a condition you want to improve for aesthetic reasons. That is when you can turn to ICLS for the hands-on support you need.
Seek a consultation with our team now to learn more about the treatment options available to you. Book a consultation to explore personalized treatment options designed for your specific needs.