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HYPERPIGMENTATION
HOW DO YOU TREAT HYPERPIGMENTATION?
Hyperpigmentation is a common skin condition where certain areas of the skin appear darker than your natural tone. It develops when melanin (the pigment that gives your skin its colour) is produced in higher amounts, often in response to skin damage or hormonal changes.
Depending on your complexion, hyperpigmentation can appear as small dark spots or larger patches, ranging from light tan to deeper brown or greyish-purple tones. It’s often more noticeable on the face, chest, hands, and arms, which tend to get more sun exposure.
Because pigment is sensitive to factors like light and heat, treatment focuses on encouraging more consistent shedding of pigmented cells while reducing ongoing stimulation.
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COMMON CAUSES OF HYPERPIGMENTATION
Hyperpigmentation is a common cause of uneven skin tone, often reflecting how the skin reacts to different internal changes and external influences. When the skin is triggered, it can produce more melanin or distribute it unevenly, leading to areas of discolouration.
Common causes of skin hyperpigmentation can include:
- Sun exposure and UV damage, which can deepen or prolong existing pigmentation
- Hormonal changes, such as those during pregnancy or with certain medications
- Inflammation, such as acne, eczema, or irritation, which can trigger pigment as the skin heals
- Skin trauma, including bruising, burns, or rashes
- Heat and environmental exposure, which can increase pigment activity
- Genetic predisposition, which affects how melanocytes respond to triggers.
TYPES OF HYPERPIGMENTATION
Hyperpigmentation can show up in different ways depending on what is stimulating melanin production. While it may look similar at first glance, the pattern, depth, and behaviour of pigment vary.
Understanding how it presents can help explain why some types fade more easily, while others tend to linger or return over time.
Freckles (ephelides)
Small, light brown spots that darken with sun exposure and may fade.
Sun spots (solar lentigines)
Defined spots of darker pigment that develop with cumulative sun exposure.
Melasma
Diffuse patches of pigmentation, often linked to hormonal changes.
Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH)
Discolouration that remains after inflammation or skin injury.
CLINICAL HYPERPIGMENTATION TREATMENTS
Hyperpigmentation is usually treated by addressing both the visible pigment and the factors that continue to drive it. In most cases, this means focusing on three key areas: breaking down existing pigment, encouraging the skin to renew more evenly, and helping reduce the likelihood of new pigment forming.
Rather than relying on a single treatment, a combination is often used and adjusted based on how your skin responds. Treatment is always planned carefully, as the skin can be sensitive to overstimulation, which may lead to rebound pigmentation.
SKINCARE PRODUCTS FOR UNEVEN SKIN TONE
When it comes to hyperpigmentation, the focus is on using products that help regulate pigment while keeping the skin calm and balanced. Because pigmentation can be triggered by irritation, products are usually chosen to be gentle and supportive of the skin barrier.
A typical routine often includes a gentle cleanser, a treatment serum with ingredients that support pigment regulation, and daily sunscreen to help protect the skin from further discolouration.
YOUR FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Here, our dermal clinicians have answered some of your most frequently asked questions about hyperpigmentation and how they’re treated.
Hyperpigmentation can become more noticeable when the skin is exposed to things that keep pigment production active. The most common of these is UV exposure, but heat, inflammation, and irritation can also play a role.
For example, repeated breakouts, over-exfoliation, or picking at the skin can leave the skin feeling more reactive, which can make pigmentation take longer to settle.
In some cases, diet can also influence how the skin responds. Things like alcohol, high sugar intake, or foods that increase inflammation may play a part, although this can vary from person to person.
Post-acne hyperpigmentation (PIH) refers to the darker marks that can be left behind once a breakout has healed. It’s not active acne, but part of how the skin responds to inflammation.
These marks can vary in colour and depth depending on your skin and how it has healed. Some may fade on their own, while others may benefit from treatment to help the skin clear them more evenly.
Yes, hyperpigmentation can develop after eczema and other inflammatory skin conditions. When the skin becomes inflamed, it can respond by producing more pigment as it heals.
This can show up as darker patches in the areas that have been affected, especially if the inflammation is ongoing or the skin barrier is already compromised. Because the skin is more sensitive in these cases, a gentle approach is usually needed to help manage the pigmentation without causing further irritation.
Managing hyperpigmentation with skincare is about choosing products that influence how pigment is formed, processed, and maintained within the skin. No single product does everything, so a combination is usually recommended based on your skin type and condition.
- Vitamin C serums, such as Synergie Effa C or Dermaceutic TriVita C30, are often used to support antioxidant protection and help maintain overall skin clarity.
- Retinoids, including Dermaceutic Activ Retinol or Mela Cream (depending on tolerance), are used to encourage more regular cell turnover.
- Azelaic acid helps normalise how skin cells develop and shed.
- Niacinamide, such as Synergie Vitamin B3, supports overall skin function and may help regulate visible pigment activity.
- Daily sunscreen, namely Mesoprotech Melan 130 Pigment Control, helps limit UV-related stimulation, which is one of the main contributors to ongoing pigmentation.
- Special compounding creams to target specific melanogenesis.
Some forms of hyperpigmentation can be more persistent depending on how deep the pigment sits within the skin and whether the underlying triggers are still active.
Even when pigment starts to fade, ongoing exposure to factors such as UV, heat, or inflammation can continue to stimulate new pigment, making it feel like it isn’t improving or keeps returning.
Because different types of pigmentation behave differently, it’s not always obvious what’s driving it or why it’s lingering. Looking at how it presents, along with any contributing factors, can help explain why progress may be slower than expected and what approach may be more suitable. Talk to one of our dermal clinicians about getting an in-depth assessment.
Freckles and sun damage are both forms of hyperpigmentation, meaning they involve increased melanin within the skin. However, they behave differently.
Freckles are usually smaller, lighter spots that can darken with sun exposure and often fade when exposure is reduced. Sun damage, such as sun spots (solar lentigines), develops over time with cumulative UV exposure and is more likely to persist.
While both are triggered by UV, the way pigment is produced and retained in the skin differs, which is why some pigmentation fades more easily, while other types remain more stable or require treatment. You can learn more in our guide.