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Best ways to treat pigmentation

Skin treatments compared: What’s the best for Pigmentation?

Pigmentation is a pigmentary disorder that can be treated with various in salon treatments accompanied with potent ingredients that will result in the best treatment outcome. I’m a skin therapist and see many clients that are concerned with pigmentation disorders so I will be explaining the best treatments and ingredients to be using on your skin to improve and or prevent the formation of unwanted pigmentation.

How is pigmentation formed?

When treating pigment disorders, we must understand how they are created within the skin. Our cells naturally produce melanin (pigment) to protect our keratinocyte cells (epidermal cells) from external damage. Once our Melanocyte cells become over stimulated, they produce excess amounts of melanin leading to the over formation of unwanted pigmentation. If the Melanocyte cell is over producing melanin so much that our keratinocyte cells cannot hold them, the melanin will form at the basal layer (deepest layer of the epidermis) and can “leak” into the Papillary dermis causing dermal pigmentation disorders. Many causes of over stimulation of the melanocyte cell can be large amounts of UV exposure, medications and some internal factors like hormonal imbalances.

Treatments for Pigmentation:

The most effective treatments for pigmentation would be Cosmelan, O Cosmedics Professional Peels, IPL Skin Rejuvenation and Skin Needling and this is why:

Cosmelan: Cosmelan is a targeted depigmentation treatment that corrects hyperpigmentation while inhibiting the development of new dark spots, effective for all skin phototypes. Treating photo damage, age spots and hormonal melisma with a 95% reduction. It is a non-invasive treatment and is safe for all skin tones and ethnicities that involves an in-salon mask application followed by a strict at-home maintenance regime. Being a highly active peel, it can cause noticeable peeling of the skin and redness for the first 3-5 days.

Cosmelan Before & After


O Cosmedics Peels: The O Cosmedics Pumpkin Enzyme, Bio White Peptide, Catalyst Retinol and Alpha Beta peels are all pigmentation focused peels treating from the inside out, breaking up and preventing the formation of pigmentation with highly potent ingredients. Treating thickened photodamage, melasma and age spots and suitable for most skin types with minimal to no peeling of the skin. To optimise results and prepare the skin for treatment, following a strict at-home skincare regime is required.

IPL Skin Rejuvenation: Intense Pulse Light (IPL) uses highly controlled flashes of filtered light directed into the skin, The IPL is absorbed by the melanin in pigmentation breaking up the bonds between the cells to lighten the patches and disperse the cluster of pigment over time. This treatment is suitable for photodamage, freckles and age spots but not melasma. It is also not suitable for all skin types. IPL is a non-invasive treatment with minimal to no downtime required but results are best achieved by adhering to post treatment care.

Before and After 4 treatments

Skin Needling:  Skin needling uses multiple fine needles entering the skin repetitively to break up pigmentation and reduce the formation of pigment, slowly lightening off age spots and photodamage over a course of 4-6 treatments. This treatment is suitable for all skin types and does require minimal down time including slight redness and a sun burn feel that can last 1-2 days. As with all advanced skin treatments, following a strict at-home skincare regime is required.

Products/Ingredients to target Pigmentation:

O Cosmedics: Vitamin C Hemp seed oil
O Cosmedics Vitamin C hemp seed oil is formulated with 10% Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate which is a highly stable form of Vitamin C, making it a strong tyrosinase inhibitor that protects against melanin transfer and distribution, to even out skin tone and giving the skin its radiance. Use morning and night as a treatment.

O Cosmedics: Concentrated brightening serum
The O Cosmedics Concentrated brightening serum is formulated with brighlette a marine ingredient that reduces both the production and disposition of melanin in the skin by targeting key steps of the pigmentation process. Specifically targeting pigmentation it is perfect for uneven skin tone. Use morning and night as a treatment.

O O Cosmedics: B3 Plus
B3 plus is formulated with 12% niacinamide for the reduction of pigmentation formation and slowing the over stimulation of the melanocyte cell which will regulate melanin transfer decreasing the over production of pigmentation. Use during the day for optimum protection.

O Cosmedics: Mineral Pro SPF 30+
Protection is key to skin health and integral to treating pigmentation.  The O Cosmedics  mineral pro SPF 30+ is formulated with 21% zinc oxide a physical sunscreen that protects against UVA & UVB damage, protecting melanocyte cells from UV damage causing over production of pigmentation. Use daily for overall protection.

If pigmentation is a concern that you struggle with, I would recommend booking a complementary skin consultation to speak to one of our specialised skin therapists to discuss the possible treatment and products required to improve any pigmentation concerns. There are a lot of options to target and treat this concern and we are here to help you on your skin journey and share our knowledge and expertise so do let us know if you have any concerns at your next appointment or book in for a free skin consultation.



Tegan has been in the beauty industry for 6 years and has recently enrolled to do her graduate diploma of dermal science. She has a passion for all things advanced skin and eyelash extensions. Her goal is to educate her clients on their skin whilst helping  them achieve their skin goals, so when they leave the salon you can see the confidence radiating off them. When she isn't in the salon she is either travelling with her partner or hanging out with friends and family. 

Tegan
Manager
Complete Skin & Beauty Bendigo