Uneven pigmentation – or hyperpigmentation – causes darker patches of skin which makes skin tone look uneven and blotchy
Hyperpigmentation is caused by the over-production of melanin. Melanin is what gives our skin its colour and it’s produced by certain cells. If these get damaged, too much melanin is produced and the result is darker patches on the face and body. You may see these are darker skin around the mouth, around the eyes or top of the cheeks. They can be many shades darker that the rest of the skin on your face and the any size.
So what causes excessive pigmentation?
Excessive pigmentation can be brought on by hormonal changes (known as melasma), sun damage or trauma to the skin. Many women experience hyperpigmentation during pregnancy or post menopause (very common for ladies over 45) – it can also be as a result of taking the contraceptive pill because the pill mimics the hormones you have during pregnancy. Acne can also leave dark spots and uneven skin patches due to scarring.
Can the sun make it worse?
Yes – if you have dark patches or blotches on your skin, they can become way more pronounced when you’re exposed to the sun. It’s really important to protect your skin using a broad spectrum sunscreen (one that blocks both UVA and UVB).
Is there anything I can do to improve it?
Yes! The good news is that there are a number of ingredients that can help with hyperpigmentation and dark, uneven patches on the skin:
Number 1 – Vitamin C
Vitamin C is the best natural skin brightener there is. It has a multitude of uses and is a powerful antioxidant, helping to reduce inflammation and protect against toxins. It also helps to protect against sun damage.
When it comes to pigmentation however, Vitamin C’s power comes from the fact that it significantly inhibits a particular enzyme called tyrosinase which catalyses the production of melanin.
Think of a peeled potato or piece of fruit – how quickly does it turn black when it’s exposed to the air? This is tyrosinase acting as an oxidant. If we can reduce this happening (by applying Vitamin C), we can improve or reduce hyperpigmentation of the skin.
OurCity Defence Vitamin C Moisturiser is packed full of Vitamin C. Try the 'apple test' - cut an apple in half and put City Defence on one side, then see how quickly the untreated side turns brown!
Use the Super Vitamin C range daily to help reduce hyperpigmentation and brighten your skin, naturally.
Number 2 – Chromabright
This is a fabulous skin brightener which, like Vitamin C, inhibits tyrosinase up to 25%. It noticeably decreases hyperpigmented areas, evens out skin tone and reduces melasma.
Chromabright also protects from UV damage and is a safe lightening agent.
Millionaire Super Nova is a super brightening oil that contains Chromabright to reduce pigmentation and even out skin tone.
Number 3 – niacinamide (Vitamin B3)
There are many reasons why Vitamin B3 is good for your skin. It’s an essential nutrient that’s superb for the body, but in the fight against pigmentation, it protects skin from the environment and infrared light (which can stimulate an over production of pigmented cells).
It also reduces uneven pigmentation by slowing down the transfer of melanin to your skin.
Millionaire City Defence contains 7% niacinamide to strengthen the skin and reduce blemishes.
Number 4 - retinol (Vitamin A)
Retinol is super effective at fading out dark patches and evening out skin tone as well as reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
It speeds up the turnover of cells and encourages the production of new ones so it's great for giving a renewed, healthy look to the complexion.
Retinol Max contains 1% retinol which actively breaks down pigmentation and makes skin look brighter and clearer.
Remember – always use a broad spectrum sunscreen after applying any product that contains retinol.
Many of Millionaire Beauty's UK-made skin care products have been developed to target specific skin issues, such as hyperpigmentation, dark patches, acne and scarring.
