What is uneven skin?
At its simplest, “uneven skin tone” basically refers to any area of the skin that is darker than the skin surrounding it. This typically occurs when the skin produces excess melanin which may take the form of age spots or sun damage
Discoloration due to sunspots, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, and other causes can create dark patterns or markings on the affected area. Additionally, unevenness can be seen in terms of texture, such as dry or flaky patches or built-up dead skin cells.
Despite looking different than normal skin around it, these visual and textural details are relatively minor issues compared to the root cause of why they first appeared.
Cause of uneven skin tone
Melasma:
It is a commonly-encountered form of hyperpigmentation which results from increased hormone levels. The condition generally affects the face and is characteriszed by dark, symmetric blotches of discoloration. These patches are caused by an increase in melanin production triggered by hormonal stimulation – for example, during pregnancy or as a side effect of certain medications.
Sun Exposure:
Too much time spent in the sun without protection may cause dark or brown spots, also known as ‘sunspots’. These pesky marks on your skin are caused when too much melanin is produced; this acts like armour against those UV rays!
Pollution:
Particles and gases from traffic-related air pollution can penetrate the skin and lead to dark spots, particularly on the face.
Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation:
It can be seen as darkening of the skin from scarring, post skin injury or acne lesions.
How to treat uneven skin?
Exfoliate: Exfoliating will help lift and remove dead skin cells, dirt, oil, and other impurities that accumulate on your skin throughout the day. It also promotes a youthful glow by stimulating cell turnover to reduce the appearance of dark spots and other discolorations.
Sun protection: Even if dark spots have already appeared on your face, you still need to apply sunscreen to prevent further damage. Both physical protection such as bringing an umbrella, wearing covered clothing and masks and chemical protection such as oral or topical sunscreen will help endlessly. Reapply sunscreen every 2 hours for best protection.
Medical aesthetic treatment: Most pigmentation can be removed effectively with laser treatment in a few sessions with some requiring prolonged treatment durations. A few laser treatments suitable for targeted for hyperpigmentation includes: Pico Laser, Sylfirm X, Pro Yellow Laser, Carbon Laser