Skin pigmentation is a common condition that occurs across many individuals, ultimately affecting your body’s melanin production. It is important for those who experience skin pigmentation to understand the causes and the effective solution to the issue. Microneedling for skin pigmentation is a minimally invasive treatment to eliminate the darker patches of skin and bring back the youthfulness of your skin.

The Problem Of Skin Pigmentation

Skin pigmentation involves the discoloration of your skin and a change in your melanin production. The amount of melanin present in the body determines our skin’s pigmentation. When the cells that produce melanin become damaged, this affects your body’s melanin production, thus causing darker patches of skin from occurring.

The two types of melanin present in our bodies determine our skin’s color and tone, eumelanin and pheomelanin. Eumelanin represents brown to black pigmentation and pheomelanin represents yellow to red pigmentation. An equal ratio and distribution of these melanin types are what sets our skin color and tones. Thus, any disruption in this ratio can cause the problem of skin pigmentation.

What Causes Skin Pigmentation?

Skin pigmentation can occur for many reasons. Skin damage like acne, extensive sun exposure, and genetic factors are some of the causes of skin pigmentation. Extreme sun exposure and damage from UV radiation can cause your skin to overproduce melanin causing the development of dark spots. Another common cause of skin pigmentation is acne, which can damage the skin at a cellular level causing acne scarring and skin pigmentation.

Aging can also contribute to the development of skin pigmentation and as we grow older, our melanin production may become uneven, leading to uneven skin tone and dark spots. Understanding the various causes of skin pigmentation is crucial in finding the perfect treatment.

Types of Skin Pigmentation

There are two types of skin pigmentation that occur: Hyperpigmentation and Hypopigmentation.

Hyperpigmentation: This type of skin pigmentation is when there is an increase in your melanin production, thus causing dark spots on your skin. This can occur from sun exposure, inflammation, and skin injuries. Hyperpigmentation can occur in the form of brown patches on the face due to hormonal changes along with darkening areas of the skin that have experienced skin injuries such as acne or burns. Additionally, sun exposure hyperpigmentation occurs in the form of dark spots on areas where your body or skin experienced severe sun exposure leading to sun damage.

Hypopigmentation: This type of skin pigmentation refers to a decrease in melanin production causing lighter spots to appear instead of dark spots. Though hypopigmentation typically occurs due to skin conditions such as Vitilligo and Albinism, it can also form due to chemical burns or exposure causing low amounts of melanin in your skin.

The Solution: Microneedling For Skin Pigmentation Treatment

Microneedling is a minimally invasive, FDA-approved cosmetic procedure that stimulates your body’s natural healing response. Through micro-injuries in the skin using fine, tiny needles, Microneedling triggers the production of new collagen and elastin fibers that repair the skin and bring back the healthy and youthful appearance.

Not only does microneedling help with skin pigmentation, but it also improves your skin’s overall texture and reduces the appearance of wrinkles. Though microneedling is the ideal skin pigmentation treatment, it is still important to consult this with a qualified dermatologist or aesthetician before beginning the treatment procedure.

Possible Side Effects

Though microneedling for skin pigmentation is generally considered to be safe, there are some possible, yet not severe, side effects that may occur. One of the most common side effects is slight redness and swelling on the treated areas due to your body’s response to the micro-injuries created from the procedure.

Sensitivity, dryness, and peeling, is also common as the skin begins to repair itself and activate the healing process. Slight bruising may also occur if the treated areas are near blood vessels.

Lastly, there is a risk of an allergic reaction occurring to any of the products used during the microneedling treatment. This is why it is important and critical to inform your aesthetician of any allergies before the treatment.

Aftercare & Results

In order to get the best results from your microneedling treatment session, it is important to ensure that all the proper aftercare steps are taken.

Keep The Treated Area Clean: Gently cleanse the treated areas with a mild cleanser and avoid any exfoliators or scrubs on the skin.
Avoid Sun Exposure: Protect the treated area from direct sunlight for a week after procedure and make sure to apply high SPF sunscreen to prevent any further sun damage.
Moisturize: Keeping the skin hydrated and moisturized is crucial in getting effective results and assisting your skin with the healing process.
Avoid Makeup: Refrain from using makeup on the treated areas for at least 24 hours after your microneedling treatment in order to prevent your pores from clogging.
Avoid Picking At Your Skin: Allow the skin to heal naturally and stimulate its healing response. Picking at your skin after the procedure can cause scarring to occur and increases the risk of infection.

Maintaining these aftercare instructions will allow for you to receive the effective results you desire. Though results are not immediate, you will notice improvement in your skin pigmentation, texture, and overall appearance within a few weeks. Typically, it takes multiple treatment sessions to see the full effects of microneedling for skin pigmentation.

Start On Your Journey To Healthier and Younger Looking Skin

Begin your skin journey with our microneedling for skin pigmentation treatment. Our professional and trained aestheticians ensure a safe and effective treatment proceudre while adressing all of your concerns. To understand if microneedling is the right option for your skin pigmentation concerns, it is important to talk to one of our licensed professionals.

Schedule a free consultation with one of our highly-traiend aestheticians to begin your journey to healthier and happier skin.