Effective Ways To Get Rid Of Pigmentation

by Andy Cheng Director

People who suffer from stubborn skin pigmentation often find themselves spending a long time trying to hide them with make up. Trying to cover the uneven skin tone can be quite challenging when the pigments are visible. Some people may choose to leave it alone but these dark pigments often become darker over time.

We seek out one of the most popular medical aesthetic doctors in Singapore to help us understand more about skin pigmentation and effective treatments to improve the overall skin tone and restore the glow without burning a hole in your pocket.

What Causes Pigmentation?

Dr. Siew Tuck Wah: Pigmentation is a common disorder that affects the color of the skin. Our skin gets its color from a pigment called melanin. When the cells that produce melanin get damaged, it affects melanin production.

The skin becomes darker when the body produces too much melanin. Other factors that can cause over-production of melanin include pregnancy, sun exposure, and consuming certain medications. Uneven skin tone occurs when melanin production is more active on some patches of the skin as compared to the surrounding skin.

A significantly larger number of women have skin pigmentation issues compared to their male counterparts. This is because the female hormone, estrogen, stimulate production of melanin.

Can Skin Pigmentation Be Avoided?

Dr. Siew: Unless you can stay out of the sun totally, it is almost impossible to avoid getting some pigmentation on the skin. Even if you can, there are other factors (as mentioned above) beyond your control that might cause dark spots to appear on your skin.

Putting those uncontrollable factors aside, you can do your part to minimize skin damage that may lead to formation of skin pigmentation. Sun protection is key to shield exposed skin from direct sunrays. Make sure you wear protective gear such as sunglasses, hats, long sleeve clothing to avoid exposing your naked skin to the sun.

Don't be stingy with the application of sunscreen. Use at least SPF30 (better yet, use SPF50) broad spectrum sunscreen to protect your skin from UVA and UVB rays. Depending on the type of sunscreen you use, reapplying the sunscreen every 2 to 3 hours may be necessary.

What Are Some Effective Treatments for Skin Pigmentation?

Dr. Siew: Although skin pigmentation may seem like a very challenging disorder to treat, the truth is that there are several effective skin pigmentation treatments in Singapore.

Chemical peel remains one of the oldest and most reliable treatments doctors use to treat pigmentation. It is done by administering a strong chemical solution to the top layer of the skin to induce cell death. After the old skin exfoliates, the new skin below comes to the surface, making your skin look brighter and smoother. In some cases, superficial pigments may be removed by this gentle and affordable treatment.

Microdermabrasion is also an affordable skin exfoliating treatment that removed the top layer of the skin. It uses a wire brush or a diamond wheel with rough edges to gently exfoliate the skin, allowing new skin to grow in its place. This treatment is often used in facial treatment providers.

Laser treatments remains one of the most effective ways to eliminate pigments. Lasers such as Dual Yellow Laser and LASEMD Laser are currently one of the best treatments for skin pigmentation.

Dual Yellow Laser is one of the most advanced laser treatment for skin pigmentation, melasma, acne, and rosacea. Dual Yellow Laser uses a copper bromide laser technology that offers multi-wavelength capability to treat many types of skin pigmentation issues. It is designed to penetrate deep into the dermis to break down the pigments without causing any damage to the surrounding tissue.

Dr. Siew Tuck Wah is a Medical Director of Radium Medical Aesthetics based in Singapore. He is one of the leading doctors in Singapore with more than 10 years of experience in treating a wide range of skin problems and anti-aging treatments such as dermal fillers, botulinum toxin, and thread lift treatment.