Hyperpigmentation on black skin: Causes, treatment, and more
Looking for solutions to remove dark spots on your skin? You are not alone. Also called brown spots or hyperpigmentation spots, dark spots are one of the main beauty concerns of black women. They can appear on the face and body.
What causes these spots? How to remove them safely and effectively? We tell you everything in this article.
Hyperpigmentation is a phenomenon resulting in a darker color of the skin in certain areas, due to an overproduction of melanin,
Black and olive skins have a high concentration of melanin which allows it to age better and less quickly than Caucasian skin . However, this high concentration of melanin also makes them very sensitive to external aggressions.
Indeed, in the event of aggression, black skin defends itself with an overproduction of melanin (hyperpigmentation) leading to the appearance of dark and brown spots. You must therefore take this specificity into account in your care routine.
Different factors can cause the appearance of pigment spots:
The sooner pigment spots are treated, the greater the chances of making them disappear completely. If your dark spots are due to acne for example, you will first need to address the cause.
Once the acne is treated, you then need to set up a routine to specifically treat the spots. Pay great attention to the choice of your products, avoid whitening products at all costs.
It is possible to reduce or eliminate pigment spots on dark skin. There are in fact several products against brown spots. Pay great attention when choosing your products. Some contain potentially dangerous ingredients that could also bleach your skin.
Know that there are healthy alternatives that remove your spots while preservingyour complexion and your health.
Before talking about the treatment of hyperpigmentation spots on black skin, it is important to know the specificities of black skin.
Whether we have black or white skin, we all have 2 types of melanin:
The difference lies in the proportion of each pigment. People with black or olive skin have predominantly brown pigment, while people with white skin have predominantly light pigment.
You will understand later why this detail is of capital importance when choosing a dark spot treatment.
Brown pigment, unlike light pigment, tends to “get carried away” too much. In fact, the slightest aggression (irritation, acne spot, injury, insect bite, irritating products) causes an overproduction of brown pigment, which causes the famous dark spots that we hate so much!
For an anti-dark spots serum to work on black/olive skin, it must target mainly the brown pigment, since this is the pigment that predominates in these people. For optimum effectiveness, it must of course target the light pigment in 2nd place.
You understand why you need products formulated specifically for black skin.
The majority of dark spos serums mainly target light pigment (the production of which is controlled by tyrosinase). They have no effect (or very little) on the brown pigment (the production of which is controlled by TYRP1). This explains the famous rebound effect: pigment spots that come back when you thought you had treated them!
And that's where IN'OYA's anti-spot serum sets itself apart from the rest. It has been formulated with this specificity of black skin in mind. It targets both brown and light pigment.
it works only where it detects overproduction of melanin, i.e. on spots. So it's not a skin-whitening product. What's more, results are visible as early as 28 days of use.
Here is a routine you can adopt to treat hyperpigmentation spots on black skin effectively and safely.
Morning and evening, gently cleanse your face. Cleansing helps rid the skin of impurities and fatty substances. If you have sensitive or dry skin, we recommend Inoya micellar water. For combination to oily skin, use the purifying cleansing foam instead.
Exfoliate your skin 1 to 2 times a week, with IN'OYA exfoliating cleansing gel , ideally in the evening before applying treatment. Exfoliation helps remove dead cells, thereby encouraging the skin to produce new cells (cell renewal). Which has the effect of boosting the spot treatment.
On cleansed skin, apply INOYA anti-dark spot serum to the spots and massage well to make the product penetrate. With Inoya anti-spot serum, you will see results after 28 days of application if the spots are recent (less than 3 years old). For older spots, allow 2 to 3 months for optimal effectiveness.
In temperate climates, black skin suffers from dehydration. They are destabilized and try to adapt. Black skin also produces more sebum than others. You must therefore hydrate them without greasing them.
Choose your product according to your skin type (dry, normal, combination, oily). We recommend the IN'OYA mattifying unifying Corrector if you have combination to oily skin or the IN'OYA moisturizing unifying Corrector if you have normal or dry skin. This treatment smoothes the skin texture, unifies and naturally brightens your complexion.
We can't stress this enough: dark skin needs sun protection too. This is even more important during an anti-spot treatment. If you go out in the sun without protection, your spots will darken even more, which will delay your anti-spot treatment. We recommend INOYA SPF 50 sunscreen fluid. It leaves no white marks on black skin.
Discover our INOYA anti-spots pack
If your spots persist, we recommend that you consult a dermatologist. Choose one who specializes in black skin .
If you opt for salon treatments to treat your pigment spots, be aware that they are not all suitable for black skin. Always seek the advice of your doctor before starting.
The duration of treatment for hyperpigmentation varies from person to person. Several factors also come into play: the extent of the spots, how long they have been present, their severity, your treatment. But generally speaking, treatment for hyperpigmentation takes several months.
Be patient and persistent in your routine. With Inoya products, you will see an improvement in your hyperpigmentation after 28 days of treatment.
You can adopt simple actions to prevent the appearance of pigment spots on your skin.
Although it may be tempting to touch your pimples, you should definitely avoid it, as this could cause superinfection of the lesions and lead to the appearance of black spots.
Contrary to popular belief, dark skin also needs sun protection. For optimal protection, use SPF 50 sunscreen before exposure to the sun.
Whitening products attack, weaken and unbalance the skin. They also cause the appearance of spots in addition to being potentially dangerous for your health.
It is recommended that men space out shaves and moisturize the skin daily with suitable products. Our products are suitable for both men and women.
Do you need help taking care of your skin or choosing suitable products?
Book your free telephone consultation.
You will receive personalized advice and a tailor-made routine.
Will hyperpigmentation go away?
Hyperpigmentation spots may fade over time on their own or with treatment, but if the original spots were deep, they may be permanent.
Why does hyperpigmentation occur?
Hyperpigmentation is caused by excessive melanin production.
What Triggers Hyperpigmentation?
Several factors can trigger an increase in melanin production: exposure to the sun without protection, hormonal influences, age, skin lesions or inflammations. People with dark skin are more likely to develop hyperpigmentation.
What are the types of hyperpigmentation?
There are 3 main types of hyperpigmentation: post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, HPI (more common on black skin), melasma or mask of and lentigo or age spots.
Why is my face darker than my body?
4 reasons can explain why the skin on the face is darker than the rest of the body: not using sun protection, not exfoliating, using products that are too aggressive, genetics.
Where does hyperpigmentation occur?
Hyperpigmentation can appear on any part of the body, but it most commonly appears on the face.
Will hyperpigmentation fade on its own?
Hyperpigmentation may go away on its own, depending on the cause, but it can take a long time to fade. Some cases can even be permanent.
Will hyperpigmentation from acne go away?
Acne-related hyperpigmentation occurs when a brown/black spot appears in place of a pimple that has disappeared. This hyperpigmentation may fade over time, but if the original spots were deep, it may be permanent.
How long will it take for acne-related hyperpigmentation to fade?
If you are undergoing treatment for acne-related hyperpigmentation, be aware that it may take time. Some spots may fade without treatment, allow 6 to 12 months.
Who is affected by hyperpigmentation?
Although hyperpigmentation can affect people of all skin types, people with dark skin are more likely to develop hyperpigmentation.
Ultimately, hyperpigmentation can have several causes. There are specific treatments for black skin to remove these pigment spots. For optimal treatment, take care of them as soon as possible.
It is important to choose products suited to your skin type. Pay close attention to the ingredients. Choose treatments made from healthy ingredients that are respectful of your skin and your melanin. It is the assurance of beautiful and healthy skin.
