• OTC creams: Try applying those creams on your pigmented spots, which contain the following ingredients:
  1. hydroquinone
  2. licorice extract
  3. N-acetylglucosamine
  4. vitamin B-3 (niacinamide)

If you have any kind of spots or discolored patches, then these might help.
 

• Face acids or skin acids: Such acids help obtain smoother and even skin tone, by shedding the uppermost layer, whenever you exfoliate. Fresh skin cells emerge thereafter, to replace the former ones.
  Favored options are:
  1. alpha hydroxy acids, such as glycolic, lactic, citric, malic, or tartaric acid
  2. azelaic acid
  3. kojic acid
  4. salicylic acid
  5. vitamin C (in the form of l-ascorbic acid)

Works for any kind of hyperpigmentation, as long as it's mild and prevalent on fair skin tones.
 

• Retinoids: Reaped from vitamin A. Their small molecular structure enables them to permeate deeper into the skin and heal the layers beneath the epidermis.
  They have prescription versions too, whereas OTC ones are weaker.

Best line of treatment for wrinkles, but can also help with hyperpigmentation. If you have darker skin tone then confirm from dermatologist.
 

• Chemical Peels: These peels use acids of stronger concentrations to treat the desired area of skin. They diminish the appearance by removing the epidermis. Deeper versions may seep through the middle layer of your skin (dermis) to deliver dramatic results.

Try this if you have sun burn, tanning, spots, or blotchy skin.
 

• Laser peel: This treatment works with targeted beams of light to lessen hyperpigmentation.
  There are two varieties:
  1. Ablative lasers: are intense and they remove layers of your skin, but they also make you prone to side effects.
  2. Non-ablative lasers: target the dermis to boost collagen growth and tightening effects.

Both are concerned with eliminating impurities in your skin so as to ensure that newer skin cells grow back.
 

• Intense Pulse Light Therapy: This is a non-ablative (fractional) laser therapy, which incites collagen growth within the dermis. It requires multiple sittings.
  IPL is used for all pigmented skin issues, but flat spots respond better to this procedure. It might also reduce the appearance of wrinkles, spider veins, and enlarged pores
   
• Microdermabrasion: Microdermabrasion is used to treat hyperpigmentation that affects the epidermis only (superficial scarring).
  During the treatment, your dermatologist will use a drill-like handheld appliance with a wire brush or some other abrasive as its attachment, to swipe over your skin.
  Same will eliminate epidermal scarring. You may need multiple sessions to achieve your ideal result.
   
• Dermabrasion: Involves the removal of your epidermis, but it also manages to reach to a part of your dermis.
  While dermabrasion smoothens out wrinkles, the procedure has been historically used to address texture related concerns.
   

Taking your skin tone, severity of concern and budget constraints into consideration, your dermatologist will work out the best option(s) for you - For every treatment except OTC creams, you would require dermatologist guidance, refer this page to find exceptionally good doctors - Dermatologists in India.

Samruddhi Bhartiya

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