It’s Summertime and the Weather is Fine, What About Your Skin?

Summertime usually means longer days, family cookouts, pool parties and plenty of time soaking up the August sun. But what does this mean for your skin?

With all the extra time outside, you may be noticing some changes. The increased sun exposure can cause dark spots, irregular color and uneven tone in your skin all over.   

This is known as hyperpigmentation. Your skin gets its color from a natural pigment called melanin, made by special cells in the skin. Hyperpigmentation is caused by an increase in melanin production. Sun exposure is the number one cause of this increase, as sunlight is what triggers the production of melanin in the first place.

The Causes of Skin Hyperpigmentation

There are many causes for hyperpigmentation including age, hormones, skin injuries and inflammation, but the two main factors are the sun and heat.

Typically, melanin acts as your skin’s natural sun defense by protecting you from harmful rays, which is why people tan in the sun. But excessive sun exposure can disrupt this process, causing skin cells to become damaged or unhealthy. This affects melanin production, causing dark spots and hyperpigmentation.

Some of the other common causes for skin pigmentation include:

·      PIH (Post Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation)

·      Birth control pills

·      Estrogen (HRT)

·      Pregnancy

·      Long term sun exposure

·      Acne

·      Razor bumps

·      Severe sunburn

·      Eczema

·      Electrolysis

·      Rashes

·      Abrasive scrubs

·      Chicken pox

·      Picking and scratching

·      Insect bites

·      Trauma to skin

·      Chemical irritations

Prevention is Key

The first and most important step to help with skin pigmentation is prevention! This means applying a high-quality sunscreen every day, especially before spending time outside.

A good sunscreen will reflect and scatter UVA and UVB rays before they reach the skin’s surface, which can cause accelerated skin damage and aging. However, no SPF blocks 100% of UVB rays. To minimize cancer risk and keep your skin protected it is important to reapply your product and cover up your skin after time in the sun.

We recommend a high-quality sunscreen that includes physical sun protectants like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, available for purchase at Skin Deep.  

Brighten Up

Of course, sometimes it’s too late for prevention if you are already noticing areas of dark spots and hyperpigmentation. There are both at home and in-spa treatments that can help with evening skin tone.

We recommend including a high-quality vitamin C product in your daily routine. Vitamin C has been shown to reduce environmental damage that results in dark spots.

For more advanced treatment, we recommend coming into the spa for a custom skin evaluation. By taking a look at your skin we can create a custom facial that will focus on tackling your unique skin concerns—including brightening and evening skin with hyperpigmentation. We’ll also give personalized advice for your home routine to keep your glow going!

We Can Help

We offer facials, advanced treatments, and a full range of professional grade products that can help with any skin concern you may have, including skin pigmentation.

Contact us by phone at 1-970-232-9793 to set up a consultation. You can also email us or contact us through our website for more information and product recommendations.