Hyperpigmentation and acne scars are things that many people actively attempt to prevent or minimize. People of all ages, genders, and races struggle with these treatable skin conditions. Many uncontrollable factors cause hyperpigmentation, such as UV exposure, age, acne, and hormones.
But what if I told you that you might accidentally be doing things to make it worse? The skin on our face is like a spoiled princess that must be treated with absolute delicacy. If it doesn’t like how it’s being handled, the skin throws a fit and makes the issues we were trying to fix much worse.
If you are actively treating for discoloration and scarring, there are a few things that you might be doing daily to compound the issues. Here is a list of the five most common mistakes that might be accidentally making your skin hyperpigmentation worse.
Unprotected Sun Exposure
Not wearing sunscreen is a serious offense to your skin. The sun’s extremely damaging rays are a major perpetrator for hyperpigmentation. If you want to limit, reduce, and fade discoloration of the skin, you must wear an SPF of at least 30 or higher. Remember that UV rays are sneaky, so even if it doesn’t seem that sunny, they are still damaging unprotected skin. Make sunscreen a regular part of your daily routine.
Picking at Your Face
It can be very hard to resist but don’t pop that pimple or any of the other ones. The more you pick, the more damaged the skin becomes, and the more likely you are to scar. Hyperpigmentation can be caused by a traumatic event to the skin and it is normal to experience some discoloration after a breakout. This is caused by inflammation to help the healing process. Picking at existing blemishes or healing scars can cause further damage and prolonged discoloration.
Overdoing Skincare
People tend to believe that breakouts are caused by not cleansing the skin enough and while this is true, so is the opposite. You can take too much care of your skin. Your skin has a protective layer called the acidic mantle. If you wash or exfoliate too much, it upsets the balance, causing your skin to dry out. Dryness and irritation can actually trigger an overproduction of melanin, worsening the dark spots that you are attempting to treat. Make sure to follow the instructions on each facial care product. They usually give a limit to the number of times you should use them each week.
Stressing
Most people have heard that stressing can cause weight gain and mess with our hormones and other bodily functions. Did you know it can inadvertently cause hyperpigmentation? When stressed, our body produces cortisol to reduce inflammation. Prolonged stress tires out our adrenal gland, making it hard for it to keep up with the demand for cortisol. Once there is nothing to reduce inflammation, melanin production goes back up, creating more discoloration. So take a deep breath, unclench your jaw, roll back those shoulders, and give yourself a moment to destress.
Foregoing the Patch Test
Getting new products can be really exciting and you might be tempted to skip the patch test before adding them to your daily routine. Don’t! Take the extra time to see if your skin is going to react. If you apply without testing, an allergic reaction may cause trauma to the skin, resulting in hyperpigmentation. Waiting is hard, but patience does pay off in the end.
Once you are aware of what you might be accidentally doing to make discoloration worse, it is important to invest in quality hyperpigmentation skincare products. Toxins and unnecessary additives and scents can further exacerbate existing problems. At Skin Moderne, we understand the necessity for clean skincare that will nourish and protect your skin. Visit our website to learn more about our products designed to combat hyperpigmentation.