Today, we will look at what is causing the problem, how we can treat it, and what is required for the treatments to have lasting results. Plus, how can you protect your skin from now on?

Sun exposure is the number one cause of hyperpigmentation.

The damaging power of the sun is absolute, and no one argues against that anymore. We’ve all heard that the sun can cause premature ageing, but what does it mean? Well, as an image can speak a thousand words, I will share the famous picture of a french truck driver. (I have it saved in my photos and pull it out each time I have a discussion about SPF). Source: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMicm1104059
[image caption description: You can clearly see how one side of this poor man’s face looks significantly older than the other. We can’t blame the genes here or the diet. That’s what premature ageing looks like. Now, look at his younger-looking side and think how much younger he could look if he had used sun protection products. ]

Premature ageing is all that happens to the skin as we age but fast forward. Sun is one of the strongest, biggest causes of pigmentation or so-called age spots. Those are often the first to show on our skin followed by loss of firmness and finally deep lines. Sunlight triggers the production of melanin in our skin in the first place. Melanin acts as your skin’s natural sunscreen by protecting you from harmful UV rays, which is why people tan in the sun. But excessive sun exposure can disrupt this process, leading to hyperpigmentation. Today, we understand that skin discolouration and dullness visually ages us just like lines and wrinkles do. But the pigmentation can appear on our skin much sooner than lines. There are also other reasons you might have skin pigmentation from hormonal changes to acne scarring. 

Treatments and skin sensitivity

Today, we understand that skin discolouration, and dullness visibly ages us just like lines and wrinkles do and so we act upon it. No matter if the pigmentation is caused by sun damage, hormonal changes or acne scarring, you can try various treatments which help to reduce the appearance of pigmentation. The most effective are salon treatments like chemical peels, dermabrasion or laser treatments. Even home use chemical peels, enzyme exfoliators and retinol treatments can significantly improve the appearance of skin and reduce the intensity of brown spots. That’s why those treatments are so popular, but all of them leave your skin exposed and even more sensitive to skin damage caused by sun exposure.

We are all born with healthy skin, which is why protection is so powerful. 

Protection is critical to keep the results of your skin treatments and to keep your skin in the best condition you can for the future. Protect it with the right product, and you will age gracefully. Your moisturiser just isn’t enough. Right after the treatment your skin is so exposed you need at least SPF 30 or more. Most companies would love us to believe that SPF in our moisturiser does the job. It helps to sell the product. True, your moisturisers are, in fact, effective as tested in the same way as sun protection products. However, the problem is we don’t use enough of it. Often the texture or formula of the cream means we use significantly less product than is required to achieve the protection stated on the tub. According to experts, using daily SPF products is the safest and most effective way to protect your skin.

Those products have a lightweight formula. It is much easier to use the recommended amount and fully protect your skin. Then, you can choose your moisturiser to suit your skin type or skin concerns. 

Hope you have a great skin day, stay safe in the sun and till the next blog post. 

EVY Team 
Don’t forget to follow @EVY on Instagram for daily info and inspiration about sun protection.