Depigmentation is one of the skin conditions that affect one in twenty people and can wreak havoc on your self-esteem. White patches on your hands, arms, face, or the inside of your mouth and nose, to name a few places where you can see it, affect millions of people worldwide. If you’ve been struggling with depigmentation and wondering how to solve it in the best way, we have a few suggestions.
Signs of Depigmentation
One of many signs of depigmentation is a patchy loss of skin color. The face, hands, area around the nose, mouth and other body openings are the places where depigmentation is most commonly shown. With it comes premature whitening or graying of the hair on the scalp, beard, eyebrows and eyelashes. Furthermore, you can notice the tissue that lines the inside of the mouth and nose losing color too. Depigmentation affects people worldwide, from Australia to America, regardless of skin color, while it’s more prominent in people with darker skin color.
Causes of Depigmentation
Infection of the skin, inflammation and injury are the most common causes of depigmentation. Aside from that, medical conditions and medication use can contribute to depigmentation. Discoloration in the skin will also happen if the skin has gone through some kind of trauma, like injuries that caused scarring. Whether we’re talking about blisters, pimples, infections, burns or scrapes – all of those can cause white patches on your skin due to scarring.
Vitiligo is one of the most prominent skin conditions including white patches on the skin. The cause of vitiligo is the lack of melanin production pigments in the skin. For some people, melanocytes eventually stop producing melanin, which results in hair and skin whitening. The condition is more prominent in people with dark skin tones because the patches of skin become lighter or completely white. A disorder of the immune system, skin trauma and stress are the most probable causes for melatonin to stop being produced.
Treatment Options
Discoloration in the skin can be overwhelming, making you feel less confident. However, there’s no need for insecurities because we’re all beautiful regardless of how our skin looks. If you’re experiencing depigmentation, there’s no need to feel desperate and lock yourself in the house. The following treatments can help you regain your confidence and feel beautiful again.
Chemical Peel
Experts in Australia point out that the use of SPF is essential for people with depigmentation because the whiter patches of skin will burn more quickly and easily due to the lack of melanin in the skin. Aside from protecting the skin, there’s a treatment that can help minimize the visibility of your skin patches. Namely, a chemical peel is one of the skin care treatments known to offer fast results with minimal side effects and pain. If you’re from Australia and you turn to an expert cosmetic surgeon, you’ll get the best results with no downtime. A chemical peel is gentle for all skin types. It will accelerate the skin’s cell turnover, resulting in the reduction of the signs of depigmentation, hyperpigmentation and melasma.
Skin grafts
Another way to treat depigmented skin is a skin graft. The doctor moves pigmented skin from one area of your body to the one that lost color. While it may not sound like the easiest and most painful process, it is, in fact, very successful and not that uncomfortable.
Makeup
Makeup has shown as very successful in concealing depigmented facial areas. Whether you go for a foundation or tinted cream, you’ll need to apply makeup daily to camouflage the discolored patches. A self-tanner will change the tone of your affected skin, so consider this solution too. Before you apply it, consult your dermatologist and check whether the product is suitable for the facial area as it is for other parts of your body.
Light Therapy
You’ve probably thought about laser therapy for treating depigmentation. According to experts, light-emitting devices, including lasers, have helped reverse depigmentation from vitiligo, in previous years. Namely, the excimer laser treated the condition faster than other light therapies. Do your research and consult your dermatologist before you try out any new treatment because every skin is different.
Tattoos
When we say tattoo for depigmentation, we don’t mean traditional tattoos. Namely, tattoos for discolored skin are a form of micro-pigmentation that adds pigment to the depigmented skin. This treatment is perfect for anyone whose lips were affected by depigmentation.
Depigmentation is one of those conditions that doesn’t affect your physical health as much as your mental well-being. While you may feel less confident than before, we have to say that in the 21st century, you can rely on many treatments that can successfully bring a smile back to your face. Whether it’s a chemical peel or a tattoo for your mouth area, so long as it will make you feel good in your skin again, go for it after consulting your dermatologist.
Diana Smith is a full time mom of two beautiful girls interested in health and beauty related topics and alternative medicine. In her free time she enjoys long walks in the woods, hard exercising and preparing healthy meals for her family.
