Skin Sense for Women

Sometimes we may find ourselves trying to cover up blotchy, uneven skin and acne scars. Instead of plastering on heavy makeup to hide your skin flaws, work with your skin care professional on getting to the root of the problem. With various great new products and professional procedures you don't have to live with a blotchy, uneven complexion that keeps you from looking your best. Before you chart a plan of action, it is important to determine exactly what is causing the condition and to make sure you are getting the right treatment based on your skin type.

Melanin is the naturally occurring substance that determines the pigment in our skin. Many times hyperpigmentation, an excess of melanin that causes brown spots, freckling and other uneven skin conditions, comes from an interaction of sunlight and estrogen. This can be a problem in some women who are using oral contraceptives, because they can increase hormones levels. Some pregnant women may also suffer from brown spots and uneven skin tones during, and shortly after, pregnancy for the same reason. Discolorations can also be the result of inflammation caused by severe acne, medication, harsh chemicals or some other scarring or skin trauma.

A skin doctor could very likely offer a melanin blocking cream to help with dark spots. If a melanin blocking cream is not appropriae for your skin, your dermatologist may recommend a chemical peel. A peel is done by applying a chemical solution, an alpha or betahydroxy acid, to the outer layer of the skin. Your favorite facial expert may offer a very light peel but a stronger prescription strength peel can be executed in a dermatologist'[s office. Microdermabrasion is another office procedure that involves the skin being sandblasted by aluminum oxide crystals, vitamin C crystals and other types of mild abrasives to remove the top layer of the skin and the dead skin cells to help even your skin tone and get rid of scarring. Microdermabrasion can help to promote the creation of new cells in the deepest layers of the skin. It may take several treatments to diminish your hyperpigmentation.

One alternative to getting an even skin tone is a laser treatment. Lasers can give great results for deep acne scarring, certain unsightly moles, called papillomas, and remove facial hair that leads to follicular bumps on the face and neck.

Unlike a light peel, a laser procedure should be preformed in a physician's office. Your dermatologist may want to give you a hydroquinone or a kojic acid treatment beore you have resurresurfacing hyperpigmentation. This procedure has been known to successfully remove sunspots and spider veins on the face, often due to sun damage. For increased effectiveness, your dermatologist may use a melanin blocker or chemical peel before a laser treatment is done.

Just as the sun can be the cause of your hyperpigmentation and spotty complexion, it can cause new damage after your treatments attempted. No matter what procedure you and your professional decide to try, you will need to protect your skin from the sun for extra protection against spots. skin that has been treated with peels, resurfacing or vitamin A products designed to exfoliate is particularly vulnerable to damage from the sun. Sunscreens are a must!

If you are dealing with a little uneven skin tome, products that include hydoquinone, a bleaching cream ingredient, can usually help reduce or remove hyperpigmentation. Hydroquinone is actually a blocking agent that prohibits new melanin production as your skin goes through its natural or chemical exfoliation. You can purchase a milder form of the product, a 2 percent hydroquinone, over the counter, but it takes longer to yield results unless it is combined with glycolic acid. The prescription form, 4 percent hydronquinone, a dermatologist prescribes may work faster and more effectively. Pay close attention ot how your skin reacts to this or any product you ise. Many people are allergic to hydroquinone. And no matter what strength you are using, don't expect to see big results right away. It usually takes six to eight weeks to start to see a big change.