Age Spots Antioxidants diet hyperpigmentation Photoaging Skin management System by Dr. Strauss Skin Renewal skincare UV Exposure Vitamin C

How to Prevent & Reduce Hyperpigmentation Part 2: Prevention – Skin Management System by Dr. Strauss

March 17, 2017

Welcome back to our Hyperpigmentation series! We hope you found Part 1 informative. As promised, our post today will be dedicated to things you can do to actively prevent hyperpigmentation from occurring and/or worsening. Daily prevention is key when it comes to hyperpigmentation because melanin deposits can take 10 to 15 years to become fully visible to the naked eye, which means the damage is accumulating even when you are completely unaware of it. As a result, when it comes to preventing and treating hyperpigmentation, you need to be extra patient and consistent with respect to having a good skincare routine. We all know that it gets difficult sometimes to be diligent with keeping good daily habits, but remember – even though most forms of hyperpigmentation are harmless, dark spots and uneven skin tone can add years to your face. By taking small and simple steps every day to protect your skin now, you will be doing yourself a huge favor in 15-20 years’ time. So, without further ado, here are our top tips for effective hyperpigmentation prevention.

Tip 1: Protect Your Skin from UV Exposure

No, we don’t mean just the summer months. We mean every single day – even in the winter when the sun is out. Hyperpigmentation is an area where a lot of melanin has accumulated. Our skin produces melanin as a natural defense every time it gets exposed to UV rays. Put another way, melanin is the sunscreen that our body naturally produces. In some instances, this melanin production is relatively uniform and the result to the naked eye is a nice, bronzy tan. In other instances, the melanin gets deposited in clusters or non-uniform patterns – thus resulting in dark spots or “sun spots”. Even in cases of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH), the site of inflammation can appear redder, darker, or worsened even as it’s healing when exposed to UV light.

So, what is one to do?

1. As a last step in your morning skincare routine and right before you put on makeup, apply a liberal layer of SPF 30+ UVA/UVB Sunscreen

2. Wear hats and sunglasses when you are outdoors, and try to avoid the sun during the peak hours of 11 am to 3 pm

Tip 2: Have a Skincare Routine that Works for Your Skin and Stick To It

Taking care of your skin includes sticking to a skincare routine that works well with your skin. It does not have to be a complicated routine, but it should do the basic jobs of cleansing, toning, and moisturizing the skin. It is extremely important to cleanse your skin properly every night so that you get rid of all traces of makeup and dust particles. The main reason why it’s so essential to cleanse and rehydrate the skin is that this is a key way to prevent blemishes and pimples from popping up and becoming post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) later on. If you do have acne, do not pop, scratch or pick at the pimples as this will lead to scarring and discoloration. Instead, use an acne spot treatment to help speed up the healing process.

Try our best-selling Anti-Blemish Drying Lotion, which can be dotted directly on individual pimples and left to work overnight as you sleep. Wake up to smaller, less-inflamed blemishes!

Tip 3: Exfoliate on a Regular Basis

Exfoliation goes a long way in preventing and reducing hyperpigmentation. Whether you choose to use a physical or chemical exfoliator, the job of exfoliation is to slough away surface skin cells which may have become discolored over time thus revealing younger, newer cells underneath. Your skin will look brighter and more even-toned following exfoliation. However, be mindful not to over-exfoliate. Two to three times per week is plenty if you are using a physical exfoliator. Chemical exfoliators (chemical exfoliators are those that contain AHAs and BHAs) can be used every two to three days in the beginning, and then once a day as part of your nighttime skincare routine as your skin becomes more accustomed to the formula.

Tip 4: Load Up on Antioxidants

Antioxidants are your best friends for healthy, even-toned, and glowing skin. If you want beautiful skin, you should aim to eat a healthy and balanced diet that includes plenty of antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables. Our skin is the largest organ in our body, and the lifestyle choices that we make every day – such as the kinds of food we put into our bodies – will reflect directly on our skin. Vitamin C is a particularly vital antioxidant in the prevention and treatment of hyperpigmentation. This is because Vitamin C is a tyrosinase inhibitor. It inhibits the activity of tyrosinase, which is an important biological enzyme that is directly involved in the production of melanin. Nowadays, antioxidants such as Vitamin C and E are widely incorporated into skincare products. If you feel that you need an extra boost of antioxidant in your daily skincare routine – in addition to making healthy lifestyle choices, of course – then choosing an antioxidant-rich serum such as our Vitamins C, E and Ferulic Acid Concentrate or the High Performance Vitamin C + Matrixyl^TM 3000 Concentrate to use every night before bed is the best way to go in terms of helping to prevent and diminish signs of photoaging and sun damage.

We hope these tips are helpful. As always, feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns you have about our blog and/or our products! customercare@skinmanagementsystem.com

Beautifully Yours,

Skin Management System by Dr. Strauss