Laser treatments have grown increasingly more and more popular over the past couple of years, with more and more patients using these aesthetic options to treat age-related skin concerns. In fact, the right type of laser can treat anything from large pores and age spots to wrinkles and fine lines, offering clients an even skin texture that helps them rely less on makeup.
However, while many of these procedures can help against the presence of brown spots, laser treatments can act as a double-edged sword for patients who are prone to hyperpigmentation. To prevent even more imperfections from appearing, this article will talk about ways to pretreat the skin before a skincare service.
What Is Hyperpigmentation?
Hyperpigmentation is a condition that causes discoloration and makes some patches of the skin appear darker compared to other areas. This happens when the melanocytes (i.e., the cells that create melanin or “brown pigment”) go into overdrive. This often appears after the skin undergoes a traumatic event, like UV exposure, injury, heat, hormonal changes, and even acne.
Melanocytes are part of the body’s protective mechanism, and once activated, they create more melanin to protect themselves. The greater the “threat” to the skin, the more melanin will eventually be produced.
How to Identify Hyperpigmentation
Hyperpigmentation is easy to identify, as it appears as black, brown, red, gray, or pink patches on the skin. These patches are often long-lasting and do not go away without treatment.
When a patient has acne or gets a cut on their skin, they should look at how the injury heals with time. If it turns pink and eventually returns to the usual skin color, then there is little to no potential for hyperpigmentation. However, if the skin turns brown afterward, then the skin is prone to hyperpigmentation.
How to Prevent and Treat Hyperpigmentation
When dealing with hyperpigmentation-prone skin, it is essential to take preventative steps to reduce its appearance.
Below are the products that Dermacare Medical Aesthetics professionals recommend adding to a daily skincare routine:
1. Sunblock
Sunblock can help protect the skin from external factors like the sun, outdoor heat, or even the heat caused by the stove. It should be applied in the morning before going out and even on days when the sun appears hidden behind clouds.
2. Retinol
Retinol helps the skin produce new skin cells, which improve its regeneration properties. As new skin cells are created, the old ones are pushed away, taking the excess pigmentation along with them.
3. Vitamin C
Vitamin C can help ensure that hyperpigmentation does not get worse, thereby keeping the skin safe from a potential flare-up.
Why Should You Pretreat Your Skin Before Treatment?
Various procedures like microneedling and laser create microscopic injuries within the skin to trigger collagen production. In turn, this activates melanocytes, which is the body’s way of protecting itself from damage. If someone is prone to hyperpigmentation, the production of melanocytes may be higher, causing the discoloration to be even more evident.
This is why, before getting any microneedling and laser procedure, pretreating the skin is an essential step. Our experts at Dermacare Medical Aesthetics recommend that patients pretreat the skin using our Skin Brightening Therapy Kit or the SkinMedica Even & Correct serum. By following this course for at least two weeks, individuals can keep the melanocytes under control and hopefully prevent hyperpigmentation issues.
The Bottom Line
Hyperpigmentation can cause plenty of people to feel self-conscious, especially when it has reached the more severe stages. Pretreating the skin before every service can help prevent hyperpigmentation from getting worse than it may already be.
Contact Dermacare Medical Aesthetics and set up an appointment for a consultation!
For more information about hyperpigmentation and the best ways to treat it, you can contact Dermacare Medical Aesthetics at 858-230-8040. We look forward to setting up a consultation for our practices in San Diego, Carlsbad, and San Juan Capistrano. Alternatively, you can use the provided online contact form to get in touch with us, and we will reach out as soon as possible.