Pigmentation Treatment in Surrey: What Actually Works for Brown Patches and Sun Spots?

Have you noticed new brown patches appearing on your face, your freckles getting darker or existing pigmentation becoming much more obvious?

Pigmentation is one of the most common skin concerns we see at our clinic in Surrey, and it can become particularly noticeable after periods of increased sun exposure.

So what causes it, and more importantly, what can you actually do about it?

Why does pigmentation appear?

A little science lesson for those of you that don’t know lol.

When your skin is exposed to UV rays, it stimulates your melanocytes – the cells that produce melanin, which is what gives your skin its colour.

This increase in melanin is what gives you a tan, but it can also darken existing pigmentation and stimulate new areas of pigment.

Those little brown patches we often call sun spots? They’re essentially signs of sun damage.

And this can still happen even if you’ve been religious with your SPF – just imagine how bad it would be if you hadn’t!

SPF is one of the most important things you can do to protect your skin and prevent pigmentation from getting worse, but it doesn’t block 100% of UV exposure.

So after months of sunshine or being away on holiday, it’s very normal to start noticing changes in your skin.

What is the best treatment for pigmentation?

The good news is there are lots of options, but it all depends on the type of pigmentation you have.

For sun-induced pigmentation such as freckles and sun spots, IPL is one of our favourite treatments.

It allows us to specifically target areas of excess pigment using light energy.

The pigment initially darkens before gradually breaking down and coming away, leaving the skin looking clearer and more even.

And the results can be SO satisfying, particularly when you have lots of those little areas of sun damage that skincare alone just isn’t shifting.

Can IPL treat all types of pigmentation?

No, which is why we always want to look at your skin properly before deciding how we’re going to treat it.

Melasma, for example, is hormonally influenced pigmentation and needs a much more careful approach.

Treating it too aggressively can actually make it worse, which is why knowing exactly what type of pigmentation we’re dealing with is so important.

A treatment that can be amazing for sun spots and freckles isn’t necessarily going to be the right choice for another type of pigmentation.

Can skincare help with pigmentation?

Absolutely.

Skincare can play a huge part in improving existing pigmentation and helping to prevent it from getting worse.

The right ingredients, such as vitamin C or hydroquinone, can help improve existing pigmentation and suppress excess pigment production, while daily SPF helps protect the skin and prevent pigmentation from becoming darker again.

For many people, the best results come from combining the right skincare with professional treatment.

Can you have pigmentation treatment during summer?

Yes – but it depends on your sun exposure.

If you currently have an active tan, we can’t professionally treat the pigmentation just yet.

We recommend that your face has been kept out of direct sun for at least 4 weeks before starting treatment. If you’ve been keeping your face protected and out of the sun, we can absolutely carry out treatments during the summer months.

But if you do have a tan, that doesn’t mean we can’t get started.

We can assess your pigmentation now, recommend the right skincare to start working on the pigment and put a treatment plan in place ready for when we can start professional treatments.

Autumn and winter are definitely our favourite times of year for treating pigmentation, as it’s generally much easier to keep your skin out of direct sun.

Looking for pigmentation treatment in Surrey?

If you’re fed up with your pigmentation and want to know what we can actually do about it, come and see us.

At Bellissima, we offer Skin Consultations to properly assess your pigmentation before recommending treatment. Depending on your skin and the type of pigmentation you have, this could include IPL, professional skincare, chemical peels or a combination of treatments.

Click here to book a Skin Consultation at our Surrey clinic and come in for a chat about your skin.