Did you know that our skin’s colour is determined by the amount and type of pigment it contains? While skin pigmentation is a natural and beautiful part of our existence, some individuals may experience variations in pigmentation that they wish to address.  Let’s dive in with Dr. Grace Purificacion, Managing Physician of Belo Davao!

What is skin pigmentation?

“Skin pigmentation is one of the most prominent factors when it comes to a person’s appearance,” shares Dr. Purificacion. “In order to treat them, we need to understand the difference between them and how it needs to be treated.”

There are different types of skin pigmentation, to which Dr. Purificacion shares:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Belo Medical Group (@belobeauty)

Hyperpigmentation

Hyperpigmentation refers to areas of the skin that are darker than the surrounding skin. This is due to an excess of melanin, the pigment responsible for skin colour. “These may vary in size and colour, and are noted on areas that are constantly exposed to the sun,” says Dr. Purificacion. Common types of hyperpigmentation include: 

a. Sunspots or Age Spots. Also known as solar lentigines, these are flat, brown spots. These develop on areas exposed to the sun, such as the face and hands. 

B. Melasma: Often called the “mask of pregnancy”. Melasma results in brown or gray-brown patches on the face, typically due to hormonal changes.

The several types of hyperpigmentations have various causes. These include skin injury or trauma, infections, allergies or medications, and hypersensitivity reactions that have healed and left with some form of discolouration behind.

Hypopigmentation

“Hypopigmentation appears as light or pale spots where there is lack of melanin or pigment in the skin,” says Dr. Purificacion. Some common forms of hypopigmentation include: 

1. Vitiligo. Vitiligo is an autoimmune disorder that leads to the loss of melanin in certain areas. These result in white patches on the skin.  
2. Albinism. People with albinism have little to no melanin in their skin, hair, and eyes. These cause them to have very light skin and other characteristic features.

Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation (PIH):

PIH is a temporary type of hyperpigmentation that occurs after the skin experiences injury or inflammation, such as acne, burns, or cuts. It typically appears as dark spots or patches at the site of the injury.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Belo Medical Group (@belobeauty)

How can Belo help?

“For effective long term treatment, it is essential to treat the underlying skin problem that is leading to discolouration,” says Dr. Purificacion. “Initiating early treatment may help hasten its resolution and prevent further darkening.”

In Belo, we have several treatments and topical medications that can speed up the process. These include the following:

Belo Treatments:

1. ADVALight – want a treatment that heals scars, treats hyperpigmentation and removes acne that causes bacteria? ADVALight can do that for you. There are two types: ADVAClear (best for treating acne and acne scars) and ADVAYouth (best for treting scars and wrinkles). ADVALight uses pure yellow and high powered laser energy to treat these concerns
2. Angel Whitening – targets melanin deposits to lighten the target areas, this treatment helps deliver a more even skin tone. This treatment also targets sensitive areas such as the dark circles below your eyes.
3. Revlite – to keep your skin smooth and even-toned, Revlite not only helps whiten targeted areas, but also shrinks pores. [READ: What’s the Difference Between Angel Whitening and Revlite?”]
4. Picosure Pro – uses shorter picosecond pulses compared to its predecessor (Picosure) in targeting pigmentations from melasma. This treatment also improves skin texture.
5. Inbiowhite – administered via Nanosoft® needle to penetrate deeper into the skin. It contains active ingredients such as tranexamic acid (natural inhibitor of melanin), niacinamide/vitamin B3 (retain skin’s moisture), and organic sillicon (generates collagen, maintains skin elasticity).

@vicki_belo did a Q&A last week and I noticed many of you are asking about Retinol ! When used correctly this becomes one of the holy grails of skincare and is definitely something worth incorporating into your routine ❤️ have more more questions ? Drop them below ! #fyp #fypシ #foryou #belo #retinol #retinolskincare #retinoltips #retinol101 #skincare #skintok #vickibelo ♬ Gorgeous – Taylor Swift

Belo Shop Products:

1. ZO Pigment Control Cream / ZO Pigment Control and Blending Cream – contains 4% hydroquinone and glycolic acid. This helps correct pigmentation disorder and alleviate pigment-forming irritations. Available via Belo Shop for manual order.
2. ZO Retinol Skin Brightener 0.5% Retinol 50ML – with retinol as its core ingredient, this contains an antioxidant protection. This helps support natural cellular turnover, targeting skin discolouration.
3. Belo Prescriptives Glycolic Soap 5% 90G – Available in 5% or 10%. Glycolic acid is proven to not just lighten treated areas but also help reverse sun damage to skin.
4. Belo Prescriptives Kojic Acid Cream + Belo Prescriptives Kojic Acid Face Wash – Kojic acid contains skin-lightening properties. This gently cleanses the skin without stripping the skin’s moisture. This combo is great to help speed up in lightening pigmentation
5. Belo Tyrosinase Inhibitor – offers a promising solution for those looking to reduce hyperpigmentation. Additionally, it helps achieve a more even skin tone, can be applied in various areas around the body!
6. Dermese-A Cream 10G – containing tretinoin, this cream helps clear active breakouts as well as its blemishes

Consulting your Belo doctor is a valuable tool. They will help assess your skin condition, understand your specific skin needs and develop a goal in achieving a better version of yourself!  

Ready to treat your skin pigmentation? Give us a call at 8819-BELO (2356) or click here when you’re ready!