ADVERTORIAL: DEALING WITH HYPERPIGMENTATION

I recently decided to do some research on the incidence of hyperpigmentation. Or, in everyday language, to find out more about the marks that can be left behind once acne has subsided or as a result of sun damage.

This led to further on-the-street research with a superb cappuccino at my favourite sidewalk cafe to really look at people’s skins as they pass by. What a revelation it was to notice that most people have skin problems and it doesn’t matter what their age or gender is.

Living in sunny South Africa doesn’t exactly add to the beauty and flawlessness of a person’s skin either as most of us spend a considerable amount of time in direct or indirect sunlight, which is why a sunscreen is so important as part of our daily routine.

Here are some common problems and treatments:

Skin Blemishes

Skin ageing and blemishes are mostly caused by systematic sun exposure. Facial blemishes, hyperpigmentation, skin imperfections, even acne scars are mostly related to our skin pigment, called melanin. Blemishes that are darker than our regular skin colour, especially on the hands and face are not pleasing and most of us are always looking for a remedy or solution to regain that beautiful flawless skin and uniform skin tone.

Post Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation

PIH is the term given to discoloration of the skin after a wound, rash or acne causes skin inflammation, which then triggers the skin to produce too much melanin. The colour can range from pink to red, purple, brown or black, depending on skin tone and severity. This discolouration remains even after the wound has healed and is very common among acne sufferers, but fortunately is not a true scar.

Treatments

The Cosmelan Depigmentaton treatment promises to improve blemishes dramatically, and the result will start becoming visible after just one week. It works by blocking the process that causes hyperpigmentation and it will be effective for all types of pigmentation (a dark skin discoloration that appears on sun-exposed areas of the face), brown spots, blotchy skin and acne scars and helps prevent hyperpigmentation after laser treatment.

Cosmelan treatment has a very high safety margin and can be used in all skin types. The treatment is versatile and dynamic and can be adapted to the needs of each person. At a Skin Renewal clinic, a Mesoestetic Mandelic Acid peel of 30% is applied immediately before the mask treatment at no extra cost, and this peel in combination with the Cosmelan treatment will deliver the best results.

There are a few precautions that must be considered before and during treatment, but you will be advised of these. During the first two days after treatment, the skin may turn red and there may be an itchy feeling, slight burning or tightening of the skin. At a later stage there may be some flaking of the skin, but by day four healthy and luminous skin will start appearing and the marks begin to fade. Needless to say, the use of a very good sun block is absolutely essential at all times.

For more persistent and severe cases, there is another product called Dermamelan Depigmentation treatment that has similar active ingredients to Cosmelan, but at 20% higher concentration. The mask treatment and follow up must be done under the strict supervision of a cosmetic doctor.

For the best results of both Cosmelan and Dermamelan you should understand that the long term success of this treatment is dependent on how well the follow up treatment is adhered to during both the treatment and stabilisation phases. Even if the depigmentation treatment was a great success, the treatment should be continued for a longer time to ensure long term success.

Both Cosmelan and Dermamelan benefit working and out-of-town patients who suffer from pigmentation but are unable to attend in-office treatments. After the initial in-office peel and mask treatment, further treatment is continued at home by applying the depigmentation cream, ensuring a great result.

If your skin is not as perfect as you’d like it to be, there is something that can be done about it, and you don’t have to hide in a dark room while the treatment is in progress – just find the best sun block on the market. By putting some effort into your skin care for a few months, you can achieve success.