The good news is: IPL reduces the appearance of Dyschromia. Another alternative treatment which yields good results is chemical peels.
As the name indicates, Dyschromia is a skin pigmentation disorder. The main cause is hyperpigmentation: darker patches surrounded by lighter patches on the skin. Normally, these darker skin patches occur on areas of the skin which are commonly exposed to sunlight, such as the face, hands and arms.
Causes
Age or liver spots are the most common form of Dyschromia. Meanwhile, Melasma and Chloasma have larger darker patches on the skin as a result of hormonal changes.
More
melanin in the skin can also be the result of other factors such as heat, heavy
metals, hormones and trauma from ionising radiation. Mottled skin is another
type of Dyschromia in which blood vessel changes cause a patchy appearance.
Many things can cause Dyschromia, but by far the most common is accumulated sun exposure, especially recurrent sunburns or suntans. In some cases, certain medications heighten sunlight sensitivity.
Other
causes are post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) as a result of wound or
skin infection healing. Generally, the darker your complexion, the darker your
PIH will be. Café-au-lait spots, Mongolian blue spots, seborrheic keratosis,
moles, malignant melanoma and radiation therapy can also cause Dyschromia.
Treatment
By far the best treatment is to avoid exposure to direct sunlight. Use an SPF50+ sunscreen, cover legs, arms and hands and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
If you suspect that you suffer from Dyschromia, consult a dermatologist. Once the condition is diagnosed, he/she may prescribe topical creams such as hydroquinone and/or tretinoin and steroid creams. But do check whether you’re a suitable candidate for IPL, because it’s definite that IPL reduces the appearance of Dyschromia. You may need more than one session to truly see a good result, but it will be worth it in the end.
Chemical
peels also are a good alternative. And again, a series of peels may be
necessary.
So,
although Dyschromia is mentally traumatic, there is light at the end of the
tunnel.
Photo:
stemcellreference.com
