Pigmentation spots. How do I get it? How do I get rid of it?
A pigment spot (medical term: hyperpigmentation) , is an excess of pigment in the skin. It is darker in color than the surrounding skin tissue. White spots on the face (medical term: hypopigmentations) has a different cause and is often difficult to treat.
Actually, everyone has pigment spots on the face to a greater or lesser extent. There are many causes for this phenomenon, and it would go too far to list all of them in this column. I will discuss the most common causes.
Most people have some pigment spots that are caused by sun damage. These are small or larger brown spots. You often get them when you get a bad sunburn, but they can also basically be caused by ordinary exposure to the sun’s rays.
Another form of pigment spots are the age spots. These arise, as the name implies, later in life. These spots have several causes. In some people, the predisposition to age spots is the most important factor.
People who have had acne and are scarred from it often have pigment spots as well. The repeated opening of the skin, during the period of active acne, overstimulates the skin and can also cause pigment activation.
Pigment spots can also appear in women due to hormonal changes (pregnancy, menopause). These are sometimes temporary in nature and usually disappear again after pregnancy, but it is no exception that some of the pigmentary spots persist even after pregnancy.
Finally, there are a number of “pigmentary diseases” but people with these conditions do not come into my practice and are referred to the dermatologist if necessary.
When choosing treatment for pigmentation spots, it is actually not important what the cause is. However, the cause does say something about the expected outcome. Age spots and sun spots are very treatable. Hormonal pigment spots used to be almost impossible to treat. Fortunately, we have a new treatment system for this these days; I’ll come back to this later.
As in all of medicine, prevention is better than cure. In short, with proper rubbing in, you will prevent virtually all sun-induced pigmentation spots. If you do suffer from pigmentation spots, there are very good methods to treat them these days.
For several years there has been a system on the Dutch market, which works excellently against pigmentation spots: The “Obagi System”. For the exact operation of the system, visitwww.bodyclinic.nl/nl/behandelingen/gezichtsbehandelingen/obagi nu derm. This system is a system based on creams, two of which you must pick up at the pharmacy by prescription. It quiets pigment cells. In our practice we see spectacular improvements in pigmentation, even in people who are already under dermatologist treatment. You can also use the system during the summer months, eliminating pigmentation spots even in summer.
In addition to reducing pigment spots, it provides the Obagi system. also to improve skin texture , improve skin circulation and replenish collagen. The skin becomes more even and acquires a healthier color. You no longer need to use any other skin care creams besides the Obagi system. The system consists of two 3-month intensive courses. You should then lubricate twice a day. After 4-6 months, move to a maintenance dosage of 1-3 times a week of lubrication, depending on whether it is winter or summer. Annual costs are around €400 with a maintenance dosage of 2 times a week. Starting cures are €450 per cure.
Bart Biermans
Cosmetic doctor
Check out our blogs here!
