Skin
pigmentation

Everything you need to know about skin pigmentation

Read Time

7 min

In short:

What is Skin Pigmentation?
What are Skin Pigmentation Spots?
What Causes Different Types of Skin Pigmentation?
Pigmentation On Face
Skin Pigmentation on Face Caused by UV Rays
Home Remedies to Remove Pigment Spots on the Face
Professional Treatments for Facial Discolouration
NIVEA Luminous630® Cellular Anti-Dark Spot Face Treatment Serum
Try Makeup for a Quick Fix

What is
skin pigmentation?

Skin pigmentation, or dark spots, can be frustrating – especially skin pigmentation on your face. Read on to find out what skin pigmentation spots are and how you can get rid of pigmentation. We'll also dive into some of the most common causes of pigmentation on the face and which creams, cosmetics and NIVEA solutions can help you.

What is pigmentation?

What are
skin pigmentation spots?

Melanin is the pigment responsible for giving your skin its colour. Skin pigmentation happens when your skin produces more melanin than normal. The excess pigment gives the affected area a darker look than the skin around it, leading to uneven pigmentation – otherwise known as hyperpigmentation.

Uneven skin tone or colour – known as pigmentation or hyperpigmentation – is a common skin condition in which dark spots (often called sun or age spots) or larger dark patches appear on the skin. It often appears in areas that are regularly exposed to the sun, resulting in skin pigmentation on the face, hands and arms. It can show up in smaller patches, cover larger areas, or even affect the entire body. Hyperpigmentation can affect people of all ages and all skin colours.

What causes different
types of skin pigmentation?

What is pigmentation and why does it matter? The way skin pigmentation spots appear on your body has a lot to do with what causes them, your skin type and colour and other factors, including genetics. Later on, we'll delve into how you can get rid of pigmentation. Until then, here are some examples of different types of skin pigmentation spots:

AGE

Melanocytes are cells in your body that produce melanin. As your skin starts to mature, after the age of 30, the number of melanocytes in both sun-exposed and unexposed skin decreases by 8% to 20% each decade. But the cells that do remain increase in size and “hold” more melanin. This can cause sun or age spots.

SUN EXPOSURE

Sun exposure is the primary cause of skin pigmentation spots, as UV rays trigger the production of melanin that causes uneven pigmentation. Melanin, the brown pigment that determines the colour of your skin, is the body's defence against damaging UV rays. Your body releases more melanin to protect the skin when it's overexposed to UV rays. This rise in melanin levels is what causes a tan. So sun spots – also called age or liver spots – are caused by overexposure to the sun. Freckles are also a very common form of sun pigmentation. In some cases, the sun can also cause melanin (the skin pigment) to break down unevenly, creating darker patches where it accumulates more. In this case, discolouration may occur not only on your face, but also on your neckline or arms.

Exposure to UV rays also accelerates ageing because it interrupts complex cellular structures, causing the skin to lose its firmness and elasticity.

The skin on your face is thinner and more delicate than the skin on your body – so the cells are more easily damaged. When they are damaged by exposure to the sun, they'll often release more melanin. This leads to the formation of discolouration on the face after sunbathing. These spots are small and circular in shape. Remember, your face is exposed to the sun every day – not only in summer and not only on the beach. Even if you're not sunbathing, try to use a face cream with SPF – like Cellular Luminous630 Anti Dark-Spot Day Moisturiser SPF50 – to protect yourself against the harmful effects of UV radiation and the formation of discolouration.

Also, don't forget the skin on the rest of your body, which may react in a similar way. In the sun, always make sure you're using a sun lotion suited to your skin type.

HORMONES

During pregnancy, changes in hormones can create instances of skin pigmentation on your face. Melasma – also known as chloasma – is a larger area of skin pigmentation that develops mostly on the face, especially around the mouth and forehead. It can also appear on the stomach. Hormonal changes trigger melasma and it is particularly common in pregnant women, affecting as many as half of all pregnant women. In a significant proportion of cases, post-pregnancy facial discolouration disappears spontaneously when your hormonal balance is restored. To help prevent skin pigmentation spots during pregnancy, you can use creams with UV filters, which you should apply whenever you leave the house. We also recommend our NIVEA Cellular Luminous630® range, which is safe during and after pregnancy.
This kind of pigmentation can also occur during the menopause and can affect women using hormonal contraception and hormone replacement therapy. Another cause of discolouration on the skin of the face may be a malfunction of the ovaries, adrenal glands or thyroid gland. However, in this case, discolouration does not normally occur in small spots but is indicated by a change in the overall skin tone.

INFLAMMATION

Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) refers to dark or red marks or spots left behind after the skin has been damaged or irritated. This can happen after an inflammatory skin condition, such as dermatitis or psoriasis, as well as after acne or a burn – really, anything that has caused trauma to your skin. PIH is also common in people who suffer from eczema. Try to avoid scratching or picking at acne, scabs or spots, as this can lead to inflammation and areas of skin pigmentation. If this is something you think you may have, it's a good idea to seek professional medical advice.

POST- ACNE

Skin pigmentation on your face can often appear after bouts of acne – especially if a blemish was squeezed or irritated. If you've used particularly strong measures to fight blemishes, they might have affected the biology of your skin, breaking melanin down unevenly and creating lighter spots in places.
Unfortunately, acne discolouration can be difficult to remove as the scars can be quite deep. Skin pigmentation creams, microdermabrasion ointments, trichloroacetic acid and laser therapy can improve the appearance of acne scars over time. You can find out more about acne and scarring here.

DISEASE AND MEDICATION

Medications – including certain antibiotics – can lead to skin pigmentation. This happens due to a reaction with melanin in your skin, resulting in areas of skin pigmentation. Again, we recommend seeking medical advice if you think this applies to your particular situation.

Pigmentation On Face, and
NIVEA Products to Help You Fight It

Meet the
NIVEA CELLULAR LUMINOUS630^®

The innovative Thiamidol ingredient helps balance the production of melanin in your skin. With regular use of the range, you can both lighten and reduce the surface of discolouration.

• NIVEA Cellular Luminous630^® Anti Dark-Spot Even Tone Night Cream
• NIVEA Cellular Luminous630^® Anti Dark Spot Day Moisturiser SPF 50
• Cellular Luminous630^® Anti Dark-Spot Face Treatment Serum
• Cellular Luminous630^® Anti Dark-Circles Eye Treatment Cream

The entire series is designed even for sensitive skin, for all complexions and for all skin types.

The specially designed serum is a great skin pigmentation treatment and has even been proven to reduce discolouration by as much as half in just two months.

Skin Pigmentation on Face
CAUSED BY UV RAYS

The skin on your face and neck is extremely delicate. Plus, these areas are usually the most exposed parts of your body. That's why most skin pigmentation on your face and neck can actually be attributed to UV rays.

WHAT IS ONE THING YOU CAN DO TO PREVENT SKIN PIGMENTATION?

As they say, prevention is better than cure. That's why it's so important to properly protect your skin against solar radiation. It's vital that you apply products designed to block harmful rays.

While finding the right sunscreen for your skin type is important, your application technique can affect your results too. Click here for our top tips on how to apply sunscreen.

Sunscreen should be applied 30 minutes before you plan to head outside – and you need to repeat the application process every 2 hours for the best results.

While not all forms of skin pigmentation can be prevented, limiting your exposure to and protecting yourself against damaging UV rays is the most effective way of reducing your chances of developing skin pigmentation.

Try using sunscreen daily – not just on the beach or by the pool – as it is essential in helping to prevent pigmentation and hyperpigmentation. Choose a “broad spectrum” sunscreen, which means it will protect against UVA and UVB rays. Get into the habit of wearing sunscreen regularly to help protect yourself from skin pigmentation.

What helps fight against pigment spots?

Home remedies to
remove pigment spots on the face

Ready to find out how to get rid of pigmentation? Looking for a good skin pigmentation treatment? Here are some wonderful home remedies you can try.

HOMEMADE MASKS

If you're struggling with the problem of facial discolouration, try homemade masks. They're very easy to prepare and – most importantly – effective.

Some natural ingredients, like turmeric, help to reduce skin discolouration, treat acne and can even have anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties (which helps to reduce post-inflammatory discolouration). To make a mask like this, you'll need turmeric, lemon juice, honey, yoghurt and olive oil. Mix the ingredients together, apply to your face for 20 minutes and then rinse thoroughly with warm water.

A mask created from honey and egg yolks can be an equally effective skin pigmentation treatment. The honey exfoliates the epidermis, brightening your skin and stimulating its regeneration processes. And the egg yolks are an excellent source of nutrients – even when applied topically to skin. To prepare this mask, combine the honey and egg yolks, apply to your skin and rinse thoroughly after 15 minutes.

LEMON FOR SKIN DISCOLOURATION

These are homemade remedies too. When you ask how to get rid of pigmentation, lemons should be on your list. They're so effective that we think the great lemon deserves its own little section.

Mix lemon juice and a spoonful of mashed papaya. Apply to a clean and dry face and leave for 30 minutes. Rinse thoroughly and, for best results, use this concoction 3 times a week.

Another way to treat skin discolouration is a baking soda and lemon face mask. To enhance the brightening effect, you can add a little hydrogen peroxide (but be careful). Mix the ingredients together until combined and apply to your face. Leave for about 10 minutes and rinse thoroughly with cool water afterwards.

A word to the wise: after using baking soda, your skin may become a little red. If this happens, make sure you apply a protective cream and a sun cream before going outside. Try not to use baking soda skin treatments more than once a week.

Another way to use lemon juice as a skin pigmentation treatment is to simply rub the juice of this fruit into the skin on your face. After about 10 minutes, wash with warm water. You can also add lemon juice to other face masks you use or prepare a toner with lemon juice. A simple recipe: mix lemon juice with boiled water in a 1:1 ratio.

CUCUMBER

This is an easy one. You've probably seen people using cucumber slices on their eyes – and they do it for good reason. It'll help fade skin pigmentation. Just slice a cucumber and apply it to previously cleansed facial skin for about 15 minutes. To enhance the effect of the cucumber, sprinkle a little lemon juice over it. This vegetable also has a moisturising and refreshing effect. What's more, it can even soothe irritations and reduce redness.

YUMMY YOGHURT SKIN TREAT

Yoghurt is great at helping with skin discolouration. Simply put a little on your skin. After 20 minutes, rinse with warm water. Interestingly, yoghurt has exfoliating properties and, what's more, it moisturises the skin, tightens pores and disinfects wounds.
You can also try a honey and almond paste to lighten skin pigmentation. Mix honey and ground almonds in a 2:1 ratio, apply for ten minutes and rinse thoroughly for a radiant complexion. Delightful.

Professional treatments
for facial discolouration

If you're searching for how to get rid of pigmentation, there are also professional skin pigmentation treatments at cosmetic salons. Some of the most popular are microdermabrasion and targeted facial peels. But for those of us who aren't aestheticians, what do these treatments really do?

MICRODERMABRASION
Microdermabrasion is a skin pigmentation treatment procedure involving the mechanical removal of a layer of the epidermis. For this purpose, special diamond or corundum crystals are used.

CHEMICAL PEELS
Various types of medical chemical peels and treatments based on the use of vitamin C and fruit acids are also very popular.

LASER THERAPY
The most effective skin pigmentation treatment tends to be laser therapy. It's extremely versatile and can be used for all types of skin pigmentation. For this treatment to be effective, you'll need several sessions. In the vast majority of cases, discolouration is no longer visible after 3–5 visits to a beauty salon.

WHICH ONE IS THE BEST FOR SKIN PIGMENTATION ON THE FACE?
You should always discuss treatments with a licensed professional in order to find the one best suited to your skin and pigmentation concerns.

Daily Habits to Help Protect Against Pigment Spots

NIVEA Luminous630^® Cellular Anti-Dark Spot Face Treatment Serum

NIVEA Luminous630^® Cellular Anti-Dark Spot Face Treatment Serum is a lightweight serum that acts on existing pigmentation while balancing new melanin production to help prevent its reappearance for more even and luminous skin. Enriched with Hyaluronic Acid and NIVEA's patented Thiamidol ingredient, this serum helps deeply hydrate your skin, leaving it smoother and more radiant.

Try makeup
for a quick fix

While it isn't a skin pigmentation treatment, a well-matched concealer is a good way to quickly mask skin pigmentation on your face. We often recommend concealers in shades at the other end of the colour scale to conceal pigmentation properly. A product in a green shade will effectively hide red acne scars appearing as a result of acne lesions.

It can also be used if you struggle with reddening of the skin.

If your pigmentation spots are a darker brown in colour, look for a violet concealer. If you have purple bruise-like discolouration, use a yellow concealer.
A full-coverage foundation on top of these will help you conceal any skin pigmentation you're trying to cover.

Skin pigmentation

What is skin pigmentation?

What are skin pigmentation spots?

What causes different types of skin pigmentation?

Pigmentation On Face, and NIVEA Products to Help You Fight It

Meet theNIVEA CELLULAR LUMINOUS630®

Skin Pigmentation on Face CAUSED BY UV RAYS

Home remedies to remove pigment spots on the face

Professional treatments for facial discolouration

NIVEA Luminous630® Cellular Anti-Dark Spot Face Treatment Serum

Try makeup for a quick fix