Can You Do Anything for Hypopigmentation?

While some women go to great lengths to whiten their skin, others struggle to keep theirs from doing the same. Sadly, for the latter, it’s not just a case of paleness from lack of sunshine. Hypopigmentation is a condition where the cells don’t produce enough melanin to give the skin some color. Is there a treatment for it?

Large patches of skin lighter than the overall skin tone characterize hypopigmentation. A cell called melanocyte produces pigment – melanin – inside melanosomes. You can find these cells mainly in the epidermis or hair matrix. Hypopigmentation occurs when these cells don’t produce enough melanin, hence the decrease in pigmentation. Skin conditions and injuries are the typical culprits.

Certain health conditions can also result in hypopigmentation. An example is vitiligo, a condition wherein melanocytes disappear from the skin. However, unlike general hypopigmentation, which is associated with skin trauma, vitiligo is caused by an autoimmune disorder that destroys healthy cells.

Albinism, on the other hand, is systemic hypopigmentation. This rare genetic condition causes lightening on wide areas of the skin, including the hair and eyes.

Treatment of hypopigmentation depends on its nature and cause. Those that are symptoms of health conditions or genetic disorders, such as vitiligo and albinism, respectively, have no cure. Hypopigmented scars, which are more localized, are also permanent. Scars that result from inflammation or skin trauma, like burns, often improve over time. The Textbook on Scar Management notes, however, that some areas often remain lighter.

In terms of treatment, a 2022 study in the Journal of Dermatologic Surgery found UV laser treatments offer moderate repigmentation, but the results are short-lived. Maintaining the results also requires continuous treatment. Surgical methods are also available. These includeconservative therapy, excisional scar revision surgery, split-thickness grafting, medical tattooing, micro-needling, and melanocyte-keratinocyte transplantation procedure.

Brightening ingredients such as niacinamide, which is used to treat the opposite skin issue – hyperpigmentation – can help make the skin appear more even. It’s not a treatment or cure but a supplementary practice that can improve the quality of the skin and perhaps change how you feel about the scarring.

To even out the skin tone, try POND'S Bright Miracle Ultimate Clarity Day Serum and POND'S Bright Miracle Night Serum. The day serum protects the skin from external aggressors, including UV damage. On the other hand, the night serum encourages cell renewal. Both improve the skin and give it a radiance boost. 

Don’t forget to apply sunscreen to keep your condition from getting worse. Use Vaseline Healthy Bright SPF24 PA++ Sun + Pollution Protection Body Lotion all over your body for everyday protection. Tanning won’t add pigment to these areas because the cells no longer produce enough melanin. It would only make the surrounding skin darker.

Hypopigmentation from skin trauma and other causes may be challenging to reverse (if at all). But this doesn’t mean you can’t still be beautiful or that taking care of your skin is futile. Maintaining a proper regimen and aiming for healthy skin – instead of perfection – may just turn out to be your best friend in this case. Investing in yourself, scars, patches, and all is always worth it.