Hyperpigmentation
Hyperpigmentation can be caused by a number of factors and one of the most prominent of such factors is the damaging ultraviolet rays of the sun. Hyperpigmentation cause a lot of skin disorders and the commonest among such are ; sun spots, freckles, melasma, and moles. Aside being caused by sun rays, hyperpigmentation can cause a number of discomfort and irritation to the skin and some of these hyperpigmentation problems are malignant in nature, hence not all of them are safe, some can actually lead to more complicated skin disorders such as cancer.
In response to the effect of the sun on the skin, melanin is produced rapidly by the melanocyte cells underneath the layers of the skin. The melanin include progesterone and estrogen receptors which are the main parts of the hormones that control sexual activities in both males and females. When melanin production is increased steadily, the sensitivity of these hormones are also increased rapidly and such an action will stimulate more the production of melanin in the body. The resultant effect of the whole action is hyperpigmentation which cause several discolourations in the skin.
Sunspots are more common in the older people, and the cumulative effect of the sun on the skin often resort to hyperpigmentation alongside such spots. Sunspots do not fade away naturally like several other common skin disorders, rather they require some forms of medications which often depend on the kind of the skin to become effective. The skin remains the largest organ of the body and there is no way one can absolutely keep it away from the excessive damaging effect of the ultraviolet rays of the sun.
A typical sun cream used in the treatment of hyperpigmentation basically contain some skin lightening agents or chemicals such as Hydroquinone and salicylic acid. They may also contain some other natural skin rejuvenating components such as malic acid and some other common acid found in fruits. Skin hyperpigmentation are highly visible and their spread often grow slowly all around the affected areas and gradually grow to some other parts of the body.
The safest sun cream is the one that contains around 2% or less amount of concentration of bleaching agents such as hydroquinone. This little amount of hydroquinone is ideal for all types of skin , regardless of whether the skin is dry, dehydrated or not or even dark or light in colour.
Hyperpigmentation – Further Reading: