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Understanding Hyperpigmentation with 28Cubed

What is pigmentation?

Pigmentation is what gives your skin its colour and is caused by the presence of melanin. Melanin is the pigment responsible for the colour of our skin, hair, and eyes in all humans and animals- thus, darker skinned individuals have more melanin in their skin as compared to lighter skinned individuals.

Your skins’ pigmentation levels may be affected by a variety of different factors – genetics, your exposure to the sun, hormones, or even inflammation. When this occurs, your skin may become darker, referred to as hyperpigmentation, or lighter, hypopigmentation.

Understanding hyperpigmentation

An example of hyperpigmentation (cr: medicalnewstoday)

Hyperpigmentation occurs when your skin starts to produce an excess of melanin, resulting in a darker skin tone, or patches of unevenly darkened patches of skin around your face or your body. Melanin is a brown pigment, produced by melanocytes which are found in the bottom layer of the epidermis and give us the colour of our skin.
Listed below are the most common forms of hyperpigmentation:

Pigment spots/ age spots/ liver spots

Age spots are often described as flat spots on the skin which are darker in colour – usually dark brown, gray, or black. They develop on areas of your body or face which are more exposed to the sun. It is also believed that skin aging and high levels of exposure to the sun and UV rays are likely causes of age spots.

People most likely to develop such spots are those:

  • Older than 40
  • Those with fairer skin
  • People who spend extended periods of time in the sun
  • Frequent sun bed users

You may keep in mind that these darker spots are not dangerous and do not cause any health issues – however, if you believe that a particular dark spot may be an indication of something more severe, do visit a medical professional.

Melasma/ Cholasma

Also known as ‘the mask of pregnancy’, melasma usually occurs on the forehead, cheeks, and around the mouth area. These dark patches often appear on both sides of the face in a similar pattern. It is associated with hormonal changes and typically lasts until the end of the pregnancy. Women who consume birth control pills may also experience these dark spots from the changes in hormone levels. The chances of you developing melasma may be elevated if you spend extended periods of time in the sun. This is because ultimately melasma are darkened spots of pigmentated which is produced when melanin producing cells are triggered by sunlight or UV rays

People prone to melasma are:

  • Pregnant women
  • Women who consume birth control pills or any other forms of medication that might interfere with hormone levels  

Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation

A temporary form of pigmentation normally occurs when a skin injury heals, or when the skin is triggered by an inflammatory disorder ( e.g. dermatitis, or infections). When this happens, this inflammation and damage to the epidermis or dermis trigger melanocytes to produce excess melanin, forming dark pigmented spots that remain on your skin long after the wound has recovered. This is also known as scarring. It is recommended to apply sunscreen to the affected area to minimise darkening within the pigmented spot.

How does The Lightening Serum help you target hyperpigmentation?

The Lightening Serum by 28Cubed helps you achieve a brighter, more even skin tone by targeting the process of excess melanin production within your skin. This way, your darker spots are corrected from within, using our unique, patented blend of active ingredients – Po3™.

Po3™ works from the inside out, based on the skin’s 28 day rejuvenation cycle, instead of bleaching the skin using acids or peels. This ensures that the surface of your skin remains undamaged and healthy.

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3 Main Reasons for Aged Looking Skin

Light damage

The sun is one of the main reasons for skin damage and make it look older. It is responsible for many different types of skin damage. Skin cancer, age spots, freckles, wrinkles, and discolorations are some of them. Thus, whenever you go out in the sun, use a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 containing ultraviolet protection. Reapply if you stay outdoors for a longer period of time.

Smoking

Smoking also ranks among the main causes of premature aging and skin cancer. In fact, smokers are three times as likely to develop skin cancer. Besides that, they look on average 1.4 years older than non-smokers. But why exactly does smoking accelerate the aging of the skin? Smoking has a negative effect on the supply of oxygen and nutrients by constricting blood vessels and blocking circulation. What’s more, tobacco is full of chemicals that damage collagen and elastin, both of which are essential for a healthy and youthful looking skin. So before you light the next cigarette, think about the harm it inflicts to your skin and kick the habit for good.

Alcohol

Let’s be honest: we all know that drinking alcohol has many negative effects on our body. Yet, have you ever asked yourself what it does to your skin? According to experts, alcohol reduces the level of antioxidants in the skin. This leads to inflammation and free radical damage and subsequently to the formation of wrinkles. Alcohol is also incredibly dehydrating, leaving you with flaky and rough skin. Stay sensible and if you sometimes get a bit too much, make sure to hydrate the next day even more. A healthy way of living is just the start of good skin care. In combination with The Lightening Serum, you can reach your goals even faster.