Hyperpigmentation: Natural Treatments, Causes + Prevention
We recently surveyed our customers, and there were quite a few questions about hyperpigmentation. Hyperpigmentation is a common condition which affects us all, but most of us don't know very much about it. In this article, we'll dive into what hyperpigmentation is, why it occurs, prevention methods, and natural treatments for hyperpigmentation. This is a complicated skin condition, and there isn't (unfortunately) a quick or easy solution. So, let's talk about it!
What is Hyperpigmentation?
First of all, what is hyperpigmentation? "Hyper" mean more, and "Pigment" is color, so hyperpigmentation means more color. Hyperpigmentation is created by an excess of melanin (the natural pigment that gives your skin its color).
What causes Hyperpigmentation?
Hyperpigmentation is a common condition that makes some areas of skin darker than others, showing up as spots of patches. The spots or patches can be different colors of brown, gray, black, red, or pink, and they are sometimes referred to as sun spots, age spots, or liver spots.
Hyperpigmentation is usually caused by sun exposure, but it can also be caused by a change in hormones (such as pregnancy), medications, genetics, injuries to the skin (like a burn), and other triggers. It can affect people of all ages, although we tend to experience more hyperpigmentation as we age.
Natural (+ Other) Solutions
We WISH that we had a perfect, simple natural solution for you, but there honestly isn't one. However, there are quite a few products, ingredients, and treatments that you can use to naturally fade and lighten hyperpigmentation spots/patches.
In our research, the most promising recommendations for naturally treating hyperpigmentation include moisturizers with rosehip seed oil, products fortified with vitamins A, E, and C, essential oils of lavender, helichrysum, and carrot seed, regular exfoliation, green papaya enzymes, natural acids including lemon juice and apple cider vinegar, licorice root, green tea, and aloe vera. It's also important to only use mild cleansers, gentle toners, and hydrosols (avoid harsh products/ingredients which could further damage the skin).
These natural solutions are noninvasive, gentle, and definitely worth a try. They will all need to be used regularly for several weeks or months before seeing results, so don't expect instant results. However, these natural methods of treatment have shown promising results in the articles/books that I reviewed.
Most experts agree that the most effective solutions overall for hyperpigmentation are lightening creams, chemical peels, medications prescribed by a dermatologist (including retinols, hydroquinone, etc.), intense pulsed light treatments, microneedling, and laser skin therapies. These types of treatments are proven to work, but they can be expensive and must be administered/prescribed by a professional. Depending on the treatment chosen, it may take several treatments and/or several weeks/months to see the results that you desire.
Recommendations
Although there isn't a simple solution, hopefully understanding what hyperpigmentation is, what causes it, and various treatment methods will be helpful.
If you have hyperpigmentation and would like to lighten the appearance of it, we would recommend finding a dermatologist (preferably one with some knowledge of natural solutions) who can give you an overview of all of the options available.
If you'd like to treat hyperpigmentation at home, there are some promising methods that you can use. This is what we would personally try:
- Organic Rosehip Seed Oil - This ingredient has shown amazing results in diminishing scars and skin damage in published studies, and I personally feel as though it could be helpful for hyperpigmentation as well) or our Pomegranate + Helichrysum Facial Serum which includes many ingredients known to assist with skin damage, as a moisturizer.
- A hydrosol (Rock Rose, Green Tea, or Turmeric would be my top picks) or our Lavender + Calendula Facial Toner (which includes several ingredients recommended for hyperpigmentation) which you can find here in our shop).
- Spot treatments of apple cider vinegar, lemon, and/or yogurt.
- Gentle facial washes/cleansers (you can find our line here).
- Exfoliate regularly (our silk facial sea sponges are perfect for gentle daily exfoliation) and our Sage, Green Clay + Pumice Exfoliating Scrub is ideal for treatments 1-2 times/week.
- Applying products with vitamins A, C, and E.
The good news is that hyperpigmentation is not dangerous, and it doesn't cause damage (other than cosmetic). Remember to continue wearing sunscreen, both for prevention and to avoid causing further skin damage. ☀️
