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PIGMENTATION AND SKIN DISCOLORATION
Pigmentation and skin discoloration respond well to microdermabrasion treatments. Pigmentation problems can include brown spots or patches, or irregular color across the skin's surface. Moles are a separate issue and should never be ignored, as they can be symptoms of skin cancer.
Pigmentation problems have become more common over the past 20 years and there are two main factors that contribute to this:
Causes of skin discoloration and pigmentation irregularities
It's essential to determine why the skin exhibits irregular pigmentation or discoloration if you want to treat it effectively.
Here are some of the main reasons why your skin's pigmentation changes:
- Environmental factors:
Prolonged exposure to the sun, especially if you use inadequate protection, can result in blotchy skin and brown marks. You can get uneven pigmentation on one side of your face if you're regularly exposed to the sun while
driving. This often occurs with people who spend a lot of time driving their cars. Exposure can be from an open window on the driver's side, but also, to a lesser degree, from the sun's rays penetrating a closed window.
It takes only 12 minutes of exposure to the sun to aggravate pigmentation problems.
- Hormonal Factors
Skin discoloration such as brown spots or patches can develop during pregnancy, after starting a new form of contraceptive pill, or during menopause and other hormonally unstable periods.
A competent beauty therapist will ask questions during the diagnostic phase to determine the cause of the skin discoloration or pigmentation changes. Only then will she determine a treatment plan.
Protecting your skin from the environment
In cases of environmental sun damage, the therapist will usually recommend an effective sun block and also suggest protective screens for car windows. Microdermabrasion works well with and skin discoloration problems, but it's also important to prevent a recurrence by taking precautions. Don't make the mistake of thinking you don't need sunscreen on cloudy or overcast days. The sun's UV rays are still present and bombarding your skin.
It's a good idea to use a moisturizer that includes sunscreen, because your skin needs protection even when you're indoors, which brings us to the subject of lighting.
Check the type of fluorescent lighting you're exposed to on a regular basis. There may not be much you can do about harmful lighting in a work environment, although you could alert the persons in charge to the issue and suggest a solution. But you can change the light bulbs in your home to full spectrum fluorescent light bulbs, or better still, regular light bulbs.
As well as sunscreen, you should also wear polarized sunglasses whenever you go outdoors. Not only will they protect your eyes, but they will also stop you from squinting, which results in brow furrows and crows feet.
Balancing your hormones
With hormonally induced pigmentation changes or skin discoloration, it's important to discuss the situation with your doctor. In the case of a change in contraceptive medication, your practitioner may need to reexamine the choice of medication that he or she has prescribed for you. Hormonal changes during menstruation can also affect the skin.
If you are pre-menopausal or menopausal, discoloration can also become a problem. You might consider natural hormone replacement methods, such as using phytoestrogens from plant sources.
Your beauty therapist needs to work in conjunction with your doctor, ideally one who specializes in women's health. If you have and skin discoloration or pigmentation problems, it's a good idea to have a blood test or saliva testing to assess your hormone levels. Often problems we see on the skin are only the tip of the iceberg, reflecting some form of disharmony that's occurring within the body.
It's counterproductive to try to correct a problem externally when there are internal factors at work. If you tackle it from both ends, you'll achieve a faster and more lasting result.
For more information on microdermabrasion, click on microdermabrasion articles.
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