Treatment modalities for hyperpigmented skin lesions: A brief overview

Abstract

Skin hyperpigmentation involves a broad range of skin conditions, including epidermal pigmented lesions, dermal pigmented lesions, and mixed pigmented lesions. Treatment includes various modalities such as brightening cream, chemical peeling, and laser therapy. Responses to various treatment modalities can be quite varied depending on the type of treatment and the degree of pigmentation. Sometimes a lesion can lighten or even partially disappear, while other lesions may recur. This paper provides a brief overview of treatment modalities available for hyperpigmented skin lesions including the importance of photoprotection, various types of brightening creams, suitable types of chemical peels, specific laser therapies targeted for skin hyperpigmentation, and surgery.

Lightening Effect of Skin Lightening Cream Containing Piper betle L. Extract in Human Volunteers

“…Hyperpigmentation is a skin disorder that causes the skin to darken in small patches of certain area or it may cover a large area of the body. This skin disorder is caused by the excessive production of melanin by melanocytes of the skin epidermis [1]. It can also be caused by active melanocytes proliferating, thus increasing the number of melanocytes.…”

“…It can also be caused by active melanocytes proliferating, thus increasing the number of melanocytes. This overproduction can be caused by an overabundance of sun exposure, hormonal changes in pregnancy, certain medications as well as endocrine diseases [1,2]. Solar lentigines, melasma, freckles, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and any other dark mark on the skin are examples of hyperpigmentation, as shown in Figure 1 [3].…”

“…A study on the impact of pigmentary disorder on quality of life found that nearly half of the population studied felt self-conscious, unattractive and that other people were focusing on their skin, thus they put effort into hiding skin hyperpigmentation [4]. Some of the treatment modalities for hyperpigmentation include topical skin lightening agents, chemical peeling, laser therapies and also surgery [1]. Based on guidelines, the use of topical skin-lightening agents acts as a first line therapy to tackle this matter [2].…”

“…The most common skin lightening agents are chemical based such as hydroquinone, arbutin, tretinoin and alpha hydroxyl-acids (kojic acid, gycolic acid and lactic acid). All of these agents act by inhibiting the activity of the tyrosinase enzyme, which in succession leads to the reduced production of melanin, hence the depigmenting or whitening effect [1]. However, these agents may cause adverse effects including skin irritation, contact dermatitis, ochronosis, permanent depigmentation and increasing the skin's UV sensitivity [2].…”

Hypolaetin-7-O-β-D-xyloside from Juniperus communis Fruits Inhibits Melanogenesis on Zebrafish Pigmentation

“…Visible pigmentation in mammals results from the synthesis and distribution of melanin [1,2]. Excessive melanin synthesis can cause serious pathologic and esthetic skin problems such as freckles, age spots, and melasma [3,4]. Out of several melanogenic enzymes, tyrosinase and tyrosinase related proteins play a pivotal role in melanogenesis [5].…”