Lightening Creams

Lightening creams are treatments that contain ingredients to help lighten pigmentation. These creams are available over the counter or through prescriptions. They’re usually applied once or twice a day to help lighten the skin over time but these will take a longer time to work.

Common Ingredients found in lightening products include:

• Hydroquinone
• Licorice extract
• N-acetylglucosamine
• Niacinamide

Retinoids

Retinoids are useful in the treatment of pigmentation because they curb the production of melanin and speed up cell turnover. The most commonly prescribed form of retinoid is Tretinoin. You should use retinoids only as instructed by your doctor as overusing may cause irritation, excessive dryness and discolouration of the skin.

Chemical Peels

Chemical peels use a stronger concentration of acids to treat the skin. They reduce the appearance of hyperpigmentation by removing the epidermis. Chemical peels may not be the best option for you if you’re out in the sun on a regular basis, as they can cause your skin to be more sensitive to the sun’s rays and pigmentation may worsen if UV protection is not adequately applied.

Laser

You can consider non-invasive and non-ablative lasers technology to destroy and remove pigment cells, targeting desired layer of the skin without disrupting the skin layers above.

How does the Q-switched Nd:YAG laser treatment help pigmentation?

The laser treatment penetrates into the desired layer of the skin with pigmentation and effectively blasts pigment cells into micro pieces. After that, these pigment cells are naturally removed by the skin by the skin’s natural removal process. At the same time, the laser energy stimulates skin-boosting collagen production and rejuvenates the skin, resulting in better-textured skin, improved pores and reduction in fine lines. By reducing the number of pigment cells, the dark spots will be removed and there will be an overall brightening effect on the face.

Hyfrecator®️

The hyfrecator is used to rapidly and selectively destroy tissue by the passage of an electric current through the tip of s the hyfrecator as it touches the skin. This can be used to burn off the tissue and treat conditions like Seborrheic keratosis.

Skin Supplements

Skin-brightening supplements have risen to popularity as many people have started integrating supplements into their daily skincare regime to complement their topical products for enhanced results. This is especially in Asia where sun exposure is high and contributes to skin pigmentation and aging. They are usually formulated with concentrated doses of active ingredients and antioxidants that work from the inside out to provide both skin whitening and sun protection in each dose.

Some factors to consider:

1. The dosage and concentration of the active ingredients:
   Do they provide synergistic qualities that both protect against UV damage as well as decrease melanin production? Do they have added powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects which can improve skin texture and fight against skin ageing?
2. The country of production: Is it from a reputable country? Any certification to ensure safety in consumption?
3. The reliability of the manufacturers: Are the active ingredients used made from good quality sources and safe for consumption? Any tests run for Product Safety?