Many of us throw caution to the wind during the summer months when it comes to sun protection. That’s understandable. Canadian winters are long and at the first sign of warm weather, we’re out there enjoying the outdoors. Applying a full-spectrum sunscreen before every outing is not always top of mind.

Unfortunately, as fall comes around, we may notice some unpleasant side-effects of our unprotected frolicking in the sun. The most evident is hyperpigmentation, which can take on many forms: sun spots, melasma and sun damage.

The good news is that you don’t have to live with pigmentation changes permanently. The following proven treatments and home care products can help to reverse the damage and improve your skin’s appearance.

Microneedling Smoothes Texture and Fades Pigment

Recent findings confirm that Microneedling (especially when combined with pigment-inhibiting skincare products) can significantly even out skin tone. The treatment works by stimulating a healing response in the deep dermis.

During your microneedling session, an automated device such as the eDermaStampⓒ is used to deploy microscopic needles into your skin. The medical injury created by the tiny micro-punctures promotes cellular repair and regeneration, causing healthy new cells to travel to the surface. As new cells replace the old, the appearance of hyperpigmentation is noticeably improved.

An added benefit of this treatment is increased collagen production, smoother skin texture and an overall healthy complexion. If you have acne scars, or even surgical scars, microneedling can also help to make these less noticeable.

For optimal results, we recommend anywhere from 3-5 sessions of microneedling, spaced four weeks apart.

Intense Pulsed Light (IPL)

Another excellent option to tackle hyperpigmentation is Intense Pulsed Light or IPL. This treatment is specifically designed to alleviate more advanced types of pigment, so if that’s your primary concern, IPL may be your best bet.

IPL sends out broad spectrum light that’s attracted by the pigment in your skin. Some of the light is captured by brown pigment (melanin) while other spectrums are attracted to red pigment (hemoglobin). Once the pigment absorbs the energy, it gets vaporized by the intense heat. Your body then naturally sloughs away pigmented lesions over the next couple of days, revealing healthy, even-toned skin.

The biggest benefit of IPL is that it can successfully treat dark spots and red pigment such as broken capillaries, redness and rosacea. As with microneedling, a series of 3-5 sessions are recommended to achieve the desired results.

The Importance of Home Care

A good skincare routine can go a long way to boost the effectiveness of your professional treatments. That’s because we’re subjected to UV exposure all year round, even during the cold winter months. While your microneedling or IPL treatments will help to treat existing pigment, it will not prevent new lesions from returning.

Your first line of defence is a good sunblock which should be worn daily. To help with hyperpigmentation specifically we recommend any of the following products: Lyteraⓒ 2.0 Pigment Brightening Serum, Vivier Radiance Serum or Vivier Advanced Skin Lightening Serum.

The products above contain plant-based ingredients which help to inhibit melanin production, thereby slowing down any new pigmentation from appearing. We’ll be happy to recommend a product that’s most suitable for your skin type.

Give us a call at 613-342-0220 to find out more about hyperpigmentation treatment, and any special offers here at BrockvilleMediSpa. We invite you to book a personalized consultation with Dr. Steyn or Nurse Vicki. Look better without looking different!