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The older we get the more our skin begins to lose its even skin tone giving way to noticeable small, dark spots that appear on your face and hands. Oftentimes, these seemingly inoffensive spots can be quite large and noticeable.

This darkening in skin tone is referred to as hyperpigmentation and is commonly caused by excessive solar exposure for prolonged periods of time and hormonal fluctuations, such as those present during pregnancy. Whatever the case, hyperpigmentation can make a huge impact on the way you see yourself.

When hyperpigmentation shows up on your forehead, cheeks and nose it is referred to as melasma. It is a very common occurrence in all ethnicities, but it is usually seen more in people with darker or olive toned skins. And among this group of people, women are the ones most prone to suffering this form of hyperpigmentation.

Melasma treatments will usually involve forms of skin whitening. The objective is to get correct skin tone by reducing the amount of melanin in the cells and block its production. Here's a short list of some of the most commonly used whitening techniques.

*Laser Treatment

Laser treatment will work on melasma, but it can also lead to more hyperpigmentation and even hypopigmentation problems. The results can also be inconsistent. Laser treatment is recommended more for darker skinned individuals.

*Chemical Peels and Dermabrasion

The intensity of a chemical peel can be controlled to best suit your needs, making it a great option in the treatment of melasma. The depth of a peel will depend on the chemicals used by the specialist performing the procedure. If at any moment you experience any discomfort, they specialist may use cooling agents or topical anesthetics to treat the problem.

*Bleaching Creams

These products help lighten the skin and are best suited to treat larger areas of skin. There are a variety of active ingredients that different bleaching creams contain.

Hydroquinone is one of the best known bleaching ingredients. It can lead to problems such as irritation or permanent discoloration, however, there seem to be safer alternatives.

Azelaic acid is one such alternative that is also used in acne medication. Kojic acid in conjunction with glycolic acid has also been proven to be a good alternative to hydroquinone.

Post-Treatment Precautions

It is crucial that you protect your skin after using any one of the previous techniques or products. Their main goal is to reduce the production of melanin, which is the substance needed to protect your skin from the sun. For this reason always choose bleaching products that contain SPF or apply a sunscreen after any procedure.