As we get older, our skin begins to lose its even skin tone and become covered in small, noticeable dark spots that usually appear on the face and hands. Sometimes, these spots may begin as small and insignificant, but will quickly grow to a much larger and noticeable size.

This darkening in skin tone is referred to as hyperpigmentation. It can be caused by too much sun exposure over a long period of time or it can be caused by hormonal fluctuations, such as those present during pregnancy. Whatever the case, hyperpigmentation can make a huge impact on the way you see yourself.

When hyperpigmentation shows up on certain parts of the face (forehead, cheeks and nose) it is referred to as melasma. It is common in all ethnicities, but it is usually seen more in people with darker or olive toned skins. And among these people, women are usually the ones more prone to suffering this form of hyperpigmentation.

Melasma treatments usually involve the use of some form of skin whitening. The objective is to get correct skin tone by reducing the amount of melanin in the cells and block its production. Here's a short list of some of the most commonly used whitening techniques.

*Laser Treatment

This procedure will work on melasma, but it can lead to more hyperpigmentation and even hypopigmentation problems. Laser treatment is recommended more for darker skinned individuals and may produce inconsistent results in some people.

*Dermabrasion and Chemical Peels

Chemical peels are a great option in the treatment of melasma because the intensity of the peel can be controlled to best suit your needs. The depth of the peel will depend on the chemicals the specialist uses to perform it, and any discomfort that you may experience will be treated with cooling agents or topical anesthetics.

*Bleaching Creams

These products help lighten the skin and work best over larger areas of the skin. There are a variety of active ingredients that different bleaching creams contain.

Hydroquinone is one of the best known bleaching ingredients. It can lead to problems such as irritation or permanent discoloration, however, there seem to be safer alternatives.

Azelaic acid, also used in acne medication, is a common alternative to hydroquinone. Kojic acid in conjunction with glycolic acid has also been proven to be a good alternative to hydroquinone.

Post-Treatment Precautions

It is very important to protect your skin after using any one of the previous techniques or products. Their main goal is to reduce the production of melanin, which is the substance needed to protect your skin from the sun. For this reason always choose bleaching products that contain SPF or apply a sunscreen after any procedure.