PROMOTIONAL FEATURE
Managing pigmentation
Hyperpigmentation is one of the most challenging skin concerns for clients and beauty therapists – here is the experts’ advice
Whether it’s due to sun exposure, hormones or post-inflammatory responses, managing hyperpigmentation requires a tailored approach.
1. Understanding the causes
To provide effective treatment, therapists need an understanding of what causes pigmentation. Lesley Corridan, education manager at Dermalogica UK, explains that hyperpigmentation occurs when excess melanin is produced in certain areas. “Triggers range from UV exposure, which increases melanin production, to inflammation, where the skin’s healing response can leave darkened marks,” she says. Hormonal fluctuations are another factor. “During pregnancy or with hormonal contraceptives, elevated levels of oestrogen and progesterone can increase melanocytestimulating hormone,” Corridan says. “This can lead to pigmentation, often appearing as the ‘mask of pregnancy’.”