Hyperpigmentation
Melanin is the substance found naturally occurring in all our skin which is responsible for creating our skin tone as well as freckles, moles, hyperpigmentation, sun damage, and liver spots. While some melanin production is part of our genetic code, such as our skin tone and freckles – which cannot be changed by cosmetic procedures, other types of melanin production such as hyperpigmentation, sun spots, acne scarring, and liver spots are the result of some form of trauma that has happened to our skin. For example, sun damage is created because our skin’s natural defense against the sun is to send melanin up to the surface of our skin to protect the skin from harmful UVA, UVB, and UVC rays. That is why our skin can become tanner with sun exposure- to defend ourselves from the sun.
With repetitive, prolonged sun exposure some of the melanocytes (the part of the skin that produces melanin) can become traumatized or overactivated and begin producing a large amount of melanin in a certain area creating a splotch or dark patch which is called hyperpigmentation. The cells in this area are literally deposited with “granules” of pigmented melanin as your skins attempt to protect your skin from trauma. These granules of melanin can be removed, over a period of time, at the surface of the skin by resurfacing it with a chemical peel. In addition, the hormones that cause melanin production can be minimized or even blocked by the use of Chemical Peels. Using a melanininhibitor at home in between your Chemical Peel services can help support an even skin tone by blocking the hormones that cause melanin production in the skin.