Skin pigmentation issues are disorders that manifest themselves as patches of blotchy, discolored, lighter, or darker skin than your natural skin color. The patches can cover only small areas but, in extreme cases, cover large parts of your body or even affect your whole body.
Even though skin pigmentation may not be a health risk, it can impact how you feel about yourself, mainly if it occurs after you've healed from an injury or skin inflammation. Therefore, if you feel self-conscious about your skin, it is worth consulting about pigmentation treatment.
Keep reading this article to see your chances of removing skin pigmentations permanently. You will also learn a few tips to help you avoid pigmentation changes depending on your risk factors.
Can we Remove Pigmentation Permanently?
Regarding pigmentation treatment, your skin doctor may recommend a slew of options to get rid of the unsightly patches. That said, it is safe to conclude that skin pigmentation can be cured.
Here's the catch; it is only possible to cure skin pigmentation at the top layers of your skin. This implies that if you have a skin pigmentation disorder that has affected your skin deeply, it may not be easy to remove it permanently.
Therefore, the skin pigmentation treatment option you will get for that condition will only reduce the pigmentation's appearance on your skin. For the best results or to avoid the risks of the pigmentation recurring, you will need to continually take care of your skin and use the proper medications prescribed by your dermatologist.
How long does Pigmentation take to fade?
Several factors may influence how long your pigmentation takes to fade. Of note is how deep the pigmentation has affected your skin tissues.
If you're dealing with Post Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation (PIH), for example, you may need to wait 3 to 24 months for the pigmentation to clear. Not all skin pigmentation issues can remove independently, as some are permanent.
Therefore if you wish to speed up the rate at which your skin pigmentation is fading, you will need to work with a board-certified dermatologist to prescribe the best treatment or recommend beneficial lifestyle changes to manage the disorder.
How do you Get Rid of Pigmentation Fast?
Do note that even though there are treatments that can help you get rid of pigmentation, some pigmentation disorders may not get erased. Therefore, the treatments may only lighten the patches considerably or speed up the fading time.
Suppose you're considering skin pigmentation treatment when planning for an event. In that case, you must consult your dermatologist for a better estimate of when you can expect the full results. Here are some of the standard treatment options your skin doctor may recommend to eliminate the pigmentation or make them fade quickly.
Chemical Peels
Chemical peels reduce the pigmentation appearance by removing your skin's epidermal layer. You can use your pharmacist's OTC or professional-grade chemical peels from a board-certified dermatologist. Chemical peels may be ideal if you're seeking pigmentation treatment for age spots, blotchy skin, sun damage, and melasma.
Laser Peels or Skin Resurfacing
Laser peels can help fade your pigmentation with the help of targeted beams of light. Depending on your preferences or the type of your pigmentation, you can benefit from either ablative or non-ablative lasers. The price of PICO laser peel may be recommended for pigmentation treatment if you have fairer skin.
Skin Lightening Creams or Gels
Your skin doctor may also recommend skin-lightening creams or gels to fade pigmentation. For prescription, you must apply the cream on the affected areas of your skin once or twice daily, depending on the cream's strength. Skin-lightening creams or gels may be recommended for your pigmentation disorder if you're dealing with flat spots like age spots or melasma.
Retinoids
You can get retinoids for skin pigmentation treatment as an OTC formula or prescription. They're majorly safe for most skin types, but you may need to check with your dermatologist to determine if you're an ideal candidate for retinoids.
Intense Pulse Light Therapy (IPL)
This is one of the most popular pigmentation treatment options. They stimulate collagen growth within your dermis to help fade the pigmentation. IPL may be ideal for you if you have fairer skin.
Dermabrasion and Microdermabrasion
These treatments involve using a particular type of abrasive tool to remove the affected layers of your skin. The notable difference is that microdermabrasion only deals with the epidermal layer, while dermabrasion removes the epidermal layer, but its effects extend deeper to some parts of your dermal layer.
Microdermabrasion may be recommended for your pigmentation treatment if the pigmentation is due to superficial scars. It is also ideal for you if you have fairer skin.
On the other hand, dermabrasion may be your best fit if you're looking to fade your pigmentation quicker than in microdermabrasion. Your dermatologist may also recommend it for skin pigmentation treatment if you have fairer skin.
How can I Stop Skin Pigmentation after Treatment?
Usually, after your pigmentation treatment, you will be given essential guidelines to follow to recover fast or prevent pigmentation from recurring on the same spot. Here are two ways to avoid pigmentation if you have pigmentation risk factors.
Do not pick at your skin: This is more important if you develop pigmentation after injuries. Do not pick at scabs, acne, or even spots to significantly reduce your risk of pigmentation disorders.
Avoid Extended Sun Exposure: If you have developed pigmentation due to sun exposure or are at risk, especially if you have darker skin, it would help to avoid sun exposure. If you engage in outdoor activities that would expose you to the sun, be sure to use sunblock every time you step out into the sun. An SPF of 30+ would be fine.
Don't Sit Back
Do you have any concerns or questions about the pigmentation treatment you're considering? Schedule a consultation with one of our board-certified dermatologists to help you determine the efficacy of the treatment and if you're the right candidate.
