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Beauty
LifestyleFashion & Beauty

Dark spots, marks and blemishes: hyperpigmentation explained, and five of the best beauty products to treat it

  • Hyperpigmentation – areas of darker skin – can be caused by sun damage, hormones or genetics
  • The condition can be treated with lasers, but less invasive topical treatments are just as effective

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Hyperpigmentation, or dark patches on your skin, has a number of causes and can be treated with lasers, or less invasively with topical creams. Photo: Shutterstock
Divia Harilela

Hyperpigmentation is a common problem. The beauty industry offers a variety of solutions, from invasive laser treatments to topical beauty products aimed at “brightening the skin”.

Experts suggest that the first step in tackling this common issue is identifying the type of pigmentation you are suffering from.

“Hyperpigmentation is a catch-all term that covers a number of different complaints, but I see three conditions more than any other in my clinic,” says London-based dermatologist Dr Sam Bunting.

“Melasma is a disorder of pigmentation influenced by our genetics but often triggered by changes in hormones, UV and visible exposure. It’s most commonly seen in women who tan easily, in a map-like pattern on the forehead, cheekbones and upper lip. I also see a lot of post-acne marks which are essentially the hyperpigmented footprints of pre-existing blemishes,” she says.
Dermatologist Sam Bunting.
Dermatologist Sam Bunting.

“The final common cause is sun damage, leading to what we call solar lentigines, or sun spots – these are fixed round brown flat areas that don’t change much through the year,” Bunting says.

Solar lentigines – the result of prolonged exposure to the sun’s UVA rays – tend to be the most common type among women, especially in Asia. While many dermatologists recommend various laser treatments to tackle the issue, topical treatments can be equally effective.

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