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How To Get Rid Of Hyperpigementation
Peel Away that Hyperpigmentation!
No matter where you live, the weather can cause problems
that exfoliating just can't correct. The sun, wind and dry
air combine to rob the skin of what you need while
increasing what you don't want. As time and the elements
affect the skin, they can sometimes cause a problem called
hyperpigmentation.
Liver spots, freckles, pregnancy masks, and dark spots from
acne damage are all forms of hyperpigmentation. However it
shows itself, hyperpigmentation of any name is the result
of the same thing: a build up of melanin – the pigment that
creates color in your skin – in the outer layer of skin
called the epidermis. The melanin is supposed to be there
in your epidermis, but occasionally, for various reasons,
it concentrates in specific places in the skin. Then it
goes to work, absorbing as much of the ultraviolet rays of
the sun as it can. This is what creates a suntan, but when
the melanin is too concentrated, those areas soak up too
much sun, causing areas that are darker than the
surrounding skin.
So, can my skin handle a peel? Because the epidermis is so
thin – barely the thickness of a guitar pick – it's
possible to correct hyperpigmentation through the use of a
chemical peel. Don't panic, though. Even if the epidermis
is only about .75 to 1.5 mm thick, it's the top layer of
three that actually make up the skin. This layer consists
of the dead and dying skin cells that have been pushed up
from the middle layer called the dermis.
The epidermis is made up of five mini-layers called
stratums. As the dermis pushes the skin cells to the top
through the layers of stratums, the cells become flattened
and die. The top layer – called the stratum corneum – is
made up entirely of dead, flat cells that shed every couple
of weeks.
How does it work? A chemical peel pushes the process along
a little, helping to shed the excess melanin that's
blossomed in the epidermis. On top of that, a chemical peel
doesn't affect the entire epidermis layer. Rather, it just
skims off the stratum corneum, leaving the living cells at
the top, which promotes more cell growth. This means that
the chemical peel strips the dead cells away, leaving only
plump, healthy cells behind. It's those cells that provide
the warm, fresh glow you want, anyway.
At its most basic level, a chemical peel is the application
of a chemical to slough – or burn – off the topmost layers
of the skin. While it may sound terrifying, the truth is
that chemical peels rarely hurt, and certainly don't damage
your skin. They are, after all, just a deeper version of an
exfoliation, something you do in the shower or bath when
you use your washcloth. The difference is in the depth of
exfoliation, the process, and the form of product used.
Just like the coarseness of the washcloth decides how much
exfoliation takes place in the shower, the type of
chemicals determines just how many dead cells are stripped
off.
What are my options? Known as a light, medium, or deep
peel, each has its purpose. For mild discoloration, a light
peel applied once every month or so may well alleviate the
melanin over time, leaving behind a smooth, mono-color
appearance. If you're experiencing more profound darkening
of the skin, a medium peel may be needed. Like the light
peel, this procedure is still fairly painless, but because
it burns away more of the epidermis, there may be a slight
increase in discomfort during the procedure. A sedative may
be given, though most patients don't feel a need for it. It
may require two or three sessions for the desired results,
depending on the condition of your skin.
For those with severe discolorations or those not wanting
to go back for multiple appointments, a deep peel may be
warranted. In that case, a mild sedative will likely be
given during the procedure along with a pain medication.
Unlike the light or medium peel, the deep peel will likely
continue to cause some discomfort for a day or so. Deep
peels have been used to help treat the beginning stages of
skin cancer, as well as to correct severe skin
discolorations from birthmarks. It rarely takes more than
one session to achieve the desired results.
Spending a day at the spa rejuvenates, rebuilds, and
sometimes, resurfaces a body. It's a time to take care of
the ravages of the sun and wind on the skin. Your cosmetic
surgeon is a wealth of information for you on spas and
medical spas tha
----------------------------------------------------
Dr. Barry Lycka is one of North America's foremost
authorities on cosmetic, skin cancer, reconstructive and
laser surgery of the skin. He is founder of The Canadian
Skin Cancer Foundation (http://www.CanadianSkinCancer.com )
and the Ethical Cosmetic Surgery Association
(http://www.ecsaonline.com )
Peel Away that Hyperpigmentation!
No matter where you live, the weather can cause problems
that exfoliating just can't correct. The sun, wind and dry
air combine to rob the skin of what you need while
increasing what you don't want. As time and the elements
affect the skin, they can sometimes cause a problem called
hyperpigmentation.
Liver spots, freckles, pregnancy masks, and dark spots from
acne damage are all forms of hyperpigmentation. However it
shows itself, hyperpigmentation of any name is the result
of the same thing: a build up of melanin – the pigment that
creates color in your skin – in the outer layer of skin
called the epidermis. The melanin is supposed to be there
in your epidermis, but occasionally, for various reasons,
it concentrates in specific places in the skin. Then it
goes to work, absorbing as much of the ultraviolet rays of
the sun as it can. This is what creates a suntan, but when
the melanin is too concentrated, those areas soak up too
much sun, causing areas that are darker than the
surrounding skin.
So, can my skin handle a peel? Because the epidermis is so
thin – barely the thickness of a guitar pick – it's
possible to correct hyperpigmentation through the use of a
chemical peel. Don't panic, though. Even if the epidermis
is only about .75 to 1.5 mm thick, it's the top layer of
three that actually make up the skin. This layer consists
of the dead and dying skin cells that have been pushed up
from the middle layer called the dermis.
The epidermis is made up of five mini-layers called
stratums. As the dermis pushes the skin cells to the top
through the layers of stratums, the cells become flattened
and die. The top layer – called the stratum corneum – is
made up entirely of dead, flat cells that shed every couple
of weeks.
How does it work? A chemical peel pushes the process along
a little, helping to shed the excess melanin that's
blossomed in the epidermis. On top of that, a chemical peel
doesn't affect the entire epidermis layer. Rather, it just
skims off the stratum corneum, leaving the living cells at
the top, which promotes more cell growth. This means that
the chemical peel strips the dead cells away, leaving only
plump, healthy cells behind. It's those cells that provide
the warm, fresh glow you want, anyway.
At its most basic level, a chemical peel is the application
of a chemical to slough – or burn – off the topmost layers
of the skin. While it may sound terrifying, the truth is
that chemical peels rarely hurt, and certainly don't damage
your skin. They are, after all, just a deeper version of an
exfoliation, something you do in the shower or bath when
you use your washcloth. The difference is in the depth of
exfoliation, the process, and the form of product used.
Just like the coarseness of the washcloth decides how much
exfoliation takes place in the shower, the type of
chemicals determines just how many dead cells are stripped
off.
What are my options? Known as a light, medium, or deep
peel, each has its purpose. For mild discoloration, a light
peel applied once every month or so may well alleviate the
melanin over time, leaving behind a smooth, mono-color
appearance. If you're experiencing more profound darkening
of the skin, a medium peel may be needed. Like the light
peel, this procedure is still fairly painless, but because
it burns away more of the epidermis, there may be a slight
increase in discomfort during the procedure. A sedative may
be given, though most patients don't feel a need for it. It
may require two or three sessions for the desired results,
depending on the condition of your skin.
For those with severe discolorations or those not wanting
to go back for multiple appointments, a deep peel may be
warranted. In that case, a mild sedative will likely be
given during the procedure along with a pain medication.
Unlike the light or medium peel, the deep peel will likely
continue to cause some discomfort for a day or so. Deep
peels have been used to help treat the beginning stages of
skin cancer, as well as to correct severe skin
discolorations from birthmarks. It rarely takes more than
one session to achieve the desired results.
Spending a day at the spa rejuvenates, rebuilds, and
sometimes, resurfaces a body. It's a time to take care of
the ravages of the sun and wind on the skin. Your cosmetic
surgeon is a wealth of information for you on spas and
medical spas tha
----------------------------------------------------
Dr. Barry Lycka is one of North America's foremost
authorities on cosmetic, skin cancer, reconstructive and
laser surgery of the skin. He is founder of The Canadian
Skin Cancer Foundation (http://www.CanadianSkinCancer.com )
and the Ethical Cosmetic Surgery Association
(http://www.ecsaonline.com )