Facial pigmentation spots are very common and occur frequently, and in the vast majority of cases are completely harmless. Nevertheless, once they appear, brown spots are something most people want to get rid of as soon as possible.    

Pigment spots, old man spots, liver spots – the brownish spots are known by a variety of different names. Two of the names being more accurate than the third. The changes are not related to the liver, so there is no justification for this term. It’s not just old men who get age spots, so neither is that term accurate, but there is some truth in the fact that pigmentation changes often occur with age. The most accurate term is pigment spots, because that’s exactly what they are; pigment concentrated in a defined area that forms a spot.   

In this post, we’ll take a closer look at how you can prevent pigmentation changes and what you can do if you have them. 

What are pigment changes? 

Melanin is the pigment in the skin, the brown colouring that gives us colour and makes us darker/brown in summer. Melanin is the skin’s defence against UV rays and is part of our immune system. Pigment is formed in the epidermis when we are exposed to sunlight to reduce penetration of UV rays into the upper layers of our skin*. UV rays are known to cause great damage to our connective tissue and cells, which is why the body naturally tries to protect itself when the sun is beating down on us, by producing more pigment.   

*However, this is in no way comparable to the effect of the sun factor, so it’s just a little help that the body itself can give us.   

When the skin is exposed to a lot of sun without adequate sun protection, the body goes into survival mode and produces a high level of melanin. This mass production can lead to a build-up of pigment that clumps together to form pigment spots.   

Types of pigmentation 

Freckles: Freckles are also pigment that are defined and closely clustered as tiny spots. Freckles are often genetic and can come and go depending on the time of year.  

Hormone-induced pigment changes: Termed melasma, it typically appears in connection with pregnancy or hormone treatments. It is not as defined as freckles, but often more merged and frequently in larger patchy areas. Typically on the upper lip or forehead where we are exposed to the sun from various angles. 

Sometimes hormonal-related pigmentation will gradually disappear after pregnancy, but in some cases it is permanent.  

Sun-induced pigmentation changes: Also known as melasma. The sun is responsible for the vast majority of pigment spots and this type is permanent and can be exacerbated when the skin is repeatedly exposed to the sun.   

What causes pigmentation changes? 

• Sun: UVA and UVB rays  

• Hormonal factors: Pregnancy, contraception etc.  

• Blemishes and impurities: The new skin cells that form are very sensitive and quickly become more affected by the sun and can show up as small dark spots  

• Age: Skin becomes thinner, more vulnerable and transparent with age and damage becomes more visible.  

• Stress: Psychological influences often make skin more sensitive 

Avoid or remove pigmentation changes 

As far as we’re concerned, there are two ways to tackle pigmentation changes: Prevention and treatment.   

Prevention is by far the easiest, but it can be difficult to completely avoid changes with age.   

Our recommendations for prevention:   

• Strengthen the epidermis: With a strong skin barrier and connective tissue, signs of ageing such as thin and vulnerable skin will be significantly reduced. The skin will be more resistant to external factors such as sun, harmful free radicals etc.   

• Use SPF: Protecting your skin from the sun’s rays is paramount so that melanin production doesn’t get out of control and build up. Daily application of SPF will significantly reduce the risk of pigmentation changes.  

Our recommendations for treatment:   

• Cleanse your skin to get the most out of your skincare products  

• Use a scrub/peel about twice a week, this helps cell renewal  

• Choose serums and creams with Niacinamide, vitamin A and C  

• Remember SPF to avoid aggravating the situation  

• Spot treatment with whitening cream if necessary 

Tyrostase – the must-have for pigmentation spots 

Tyrostase is a product specially developed for the treatment of dark pigmentation spots. The cream is a modern whitening cream that contains brightening ingredients:  

• Arbutin and Diacetyl Boldine: Two ingredients that inhibit the enzyme Tyrosinase and thus production of the dark pigment Melanin. At the same time, the accumulated melanin is dissolved/removed 

• Retinyl Palmitate: A particularly stable type of vitamin A – a vitamin A ester that is transported into the skin with the help of Squalane oil. Vitamin A repairs sun damage, evens skin tone and strengthens the skin overall. 

• A special type of vitamin C, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, which stimulates collagen regeneration and has a lightening effect on dark pigmentation 

The result is a cream that has a threefold effect on pigmentation spots. It is very important that the cream is only used on the dark area(s) as a spot treatment, as the cream lightens any skin it is applied to. However, it’s not the case that the skin lightens immediately and nothing will happen if occasionally, you should accidentally apply the cream to a larger area. 

Treating pigmentation changes requires patience and dedication, even with a whitening cream. The cream should be applied regularly twice a day and will show results after 3 – 6 months. It is essential that the treatment also includes sunscreen/sun protection. In addition, there are also a number of products that can be included in your care routine and treatment of dark spots. 

Bio-Dermabrasion Peeling Wipes:   

• Contain Niacinamide to counteract melanin build-up, promote cell renewal and improve the skin barrier  

• Exfoliate with active ingredients that stimulate cell renewal in the skin  

• Contribute to a more even skin tone  

Serum Symphonique: 

• Contains Niacinamide to counteract melanin build-up, strengthen cell renewal and the skin barrier, making the skin more resilient  

• Contains Carnosine to protect against harmful light (not as a sunscreen)  

• Very gentle exfoliation of the skin with Papain.    

Vitamin C Glow serum:   

• Contains two stable variants of vitamin C that protect against and reduce damage from UV rays, prevent melanin build-up and thus reduce pigmentation changes.  

• Contains extract of Kakadu plum, which is the fruit that contains the most vitamin C and is a powerful antioxidant for protecting the skin   

• Contains Sea Buckthorn extract, which also has a smoothing effect on the skin and reduces pigmentation  

AHA Vitamin C Glow creme:  

• Actively stimulates skin cell renewal  

• Gently exfoliates the skin with lactic acid to allow the restorative ingredients to fully penetrate  

• Contains a stable variant of vitamin C to protect against sun-induced damage  

Stay Beautiful SPF50:   

• Effectively protects against the sun’s rays  

• Unique lightness and fluid formula  

• High factor without you even realising it