It is very important to remember that Melasma is a chronic skin condition that occurs on the face in the form of darkened patches, and it is a dynamic (active) condition that needs lifelong treatment and ongoing management.
While there are many treatment options available for pigmentation and pigmented lesions, some will only yield minimal results as they focus mostly on the superficial skin, but Melasma is most commonly a combination of both superficial and deep pigmentation, which is why it can be so tricky.
It is vital to remember that Melasma is not only a pigmentary condition but will always be accompanied by underlying vascularity, redness, sensitivity and inflammation. For this reason, a combination approach is necessary as we must address all of these issues to succeed.
Due to its hormonal component, supplementation to control inflammation and skin health is also advised.
Melasma treatments may include a combination of the following:
Superficial chemical Peels
Microdermabrasion with Active ingredients that target pigmentation
Limelight (only done in winter and only once a year on Melasma patients, when the skin has been appropriately prepared) – Only on Skin Types 1-3
Laser Genesis
RF Needling with Secret RF or Endymed Intensif
PDT with Tranexamic Acid and brightening ingredients
Transdermal Mesotherapy with Radiance Cream and Tranexamic Acid
MesoBrite™ or MesoBrite Lite™ Depigmenting Mask
Injected Mesotherapy with Tranexamic Acid
Dermapen with tyrosinase inhibitors and/or depigmenting actives
IV Infusions with Glutathione & Vitamin C
Biopuncture for the skin
Avoid hot baths, Bikram Yoga, steam saunas, tanning beds, and dry saunas, as they can cause excessive inflammation and may aggravate hormonal pigmentation.
Use a Tyrosinase inhibitor (pigmentation-inhibiting product) daily to prevent new excess pigment from being produced in the skin.
Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 50+ to block the UVA rays daily to help prevent melasma/hormonal pigmentation.
Avoid sun exposure to your face, neck, and décolleté, and wear a protective hat outdoors for extended periods to further block these rays.
Taking an oral antioxidant supplement such as Heliocare 360 Capsules daily is clinically proven to raise one's level of resistance to the sun and also helps to reduce the melanin content in the skin down the line.
In addition to your sunscreen, you should also apply antioxidants such as Vit C, Vit E, Ferulic Acid, and Phloretin to protect against infrared A
A daily high dose of 4000 mg of MSM per day will increase intracellular Glutathione and help reduce pigmentation in the skin.
There are many possible causes of pigmentation disorders, which are marked by changes in melanin, the pigment in the skin. These may include progesterone (the Mirena), photosensitizing medications, thyroid dysfunction, stress, and dysbiosis.
There's overwhelming evidence that certain medical conditions are key players in your overall health and are the root cause of your pigmentation problems. Failure to address these conditions will lead to failure of your Hormonal Pigment treatment plan and ALSO lead to chronic disease.
Melasma is more prevalent in darker-complexioned individuals though persons of any race can be affected due to the intense sun exposure in South Africa. This condition is seen most frequently in young women from the age of 28 years but can also be seen in men.
At the Renewal Institute, we treat all our patients holistically by dealing with all the issues that may be responsible for their initial presentation of hormonal pigmentation/ melasma at Renewal Institute. After obtaining a thorough history from our patients to exclude medical conditions that could be aggravating the hormonal pigmentation, we include ESSENTIAL supplements into our Hormonal Pigmentation treatment packages for optimal pigmentation treatments and health.
The short answer is that melanin-its amount, quality, and distribution- creates human skin colour. The slightly longer answer is that melanin is produced within melanosomes, organelles located in the cytoplasm of melanocytes (skin cells in the basal layer of your epidermis). The number of melanocytes in human skin is the same in people of all races; in darker-skinned individuals, though, the melanosomes are larger and contain more melanin. Once melanin is produced, melanosomes migrate to the melanocytes' dendrite tips, where they come into contact with keratinocytes, skin cells closer to the surface of the epidermis. The final stage of the pigmentation process, however, wherein melanin is transferred from the melanocytes to keratinocytes, is still poorly understood.
Melasma, also known as hormonal pigmentation, is a considerable problem for South African women. It is a chronic skin condition that occurs on the face in the form of brown patches and is a dynamic (active) condition that needs lifelong management. Its incidence is much higher in Asian and darker-skinned individuals than in fair-skinned people.
Pigmentation disorders such as melasma or chloasma (during pregnancy) arise from increased melanin in the lower layers of the skin and increased free melanin in the skin. Hormonal pigmentation is usually brown with a non-distinct border and is usually found symmetrically on the face or jawline. Melasma can appear on the central facial areas such as the cheeks, mustache, and forehead areas. Melasma affects both men and women, though it is more frequent in women (up to 30% may be affected) and usually starts to appear from the age of 28 years onwards.
Make an appointment to consult with your Renewal Institute Doctor and he/ she will assist you in determining your risk factors for pigmentation and how best to prevent any problems or conditions that you may be susceptible to.
Pigmentation and dark marks are probably the concern we see the most at our skin clinics and if the pigmentation are superficial, they can be quite simple to treat. But pigmentation does sometimes tend to sit slightly deeper, especially hormonal pigmentation. This deep pigmentation are more difficult to treat. But essentially there are 3 steps to successfully treat/minimize pigmentation/dark marks; 1. Daily use of an SPF 50, unprotected sun exposure will induce more pigment to form and the spot may become darker. We recommend Heliocare 360, this SPF will not only protect your skin from UVA and UVB, but also from visible and infra-red light. 2. We need to speed up your cellular turnover rate, to get the pigment out. This can be done by the use of exfoliating ingredients such as Retinol or AHA’s (Alpha Hydroxy Acids).3. We need to ensure that the pigment cells don’t produce any more excess pigment. This is done by the use of pigment suppressing ingredients such as certain peptides, kojic acid and alpha arbutin. Lamelle Luminesce range are a good option for you as it covers step 2 and 3. The range has a cleanser, day and night cream as well as a very potent serum called Brighter Concentrate that can be used daily. As for the dark circles, here we need to look at what is causing it. It might be pigment forming around the orbital area, then it needs to be treated like above, or it can be due to a lack of drainage. We need to ensure that we have sufficient lymph draining around the orbital area, if not, toxins begin to build up and it shows as dark discolorations. Using an eye cream that contain certain peptides as well as Vit K will help with this.
With pigmentation, it can be very tricky. In most instances pigmentation around the mouth or lip area is as a result of one of two thing; 1) Hormonal influence, or 2) Trauma from waxing, threading or whatever form of hair removal is done over the lip area. That is generally the norm, however it is not always the case. There can be other factors influencing this. If it is indeed pigmentation then there are a few things that will help you but not necessarily fully solve the problem:
1) You need to be applying a very good facial SPF every single day;
2) You need to be using a pigmentation prevention product
3) Lastly you need to try and minimise the cause of the issue, so for example if it is because of waxing, then you need to try and find other alternatives for hair removal.
Pigmentation and brown spots forming on the face is NOT always just because of sun exposure. In many cases, pigmentation has a hormonal trigger, and unfortunately, going on to birth control pills can be one of those triggers. these hormonal triggers, such as the pill, HRT and pregnancy can result in the formation of pigmentation on the face.
There are a few things that can help you manage this, however, it’s best to properly investigate your specific case and make the best decision for your skin type, pigmentation severity and budget, by having a proper consultation. In the meantime, it’s definitely worthwhile using a good pigmentation inhibiting product on a daily basis. It’s also a very good idea to be using a good SPF on a daily basis come rain or shine as UV radiation affects everyone, even if you are predominantly indoors.
At the Renewal Institute, we treat all our patients holistically by dealing with all the issues that may be responsible for their initial presentation. One should consult with a Renewal Institute doctor to rule out the possibility of an underlying systemic health disorder that requires medical treatment. There's overwhelming evidence that certain medical conditions are key players in your overall health and are the root cause of your pigmentation problems. Failure to address these conditions may lead to failure of your Hormonal Pigment treatment plan and ALSO lead to chronic disease.
Your Renewal Institute doctor will conduct a physical examination, examining the location, distribution, colour, and appearance of the areas of increased pigmentation.
Your Renewal Institute doctor will also evaluate whether external factors, such as hormones, medications, chemical exposure, or other environmental influences could have contributed to the increased deposition of pigment in the skin. Furthermore, the practitioner will make note of any prior history of pigmentation disorder and its treatment.
We also include ESSENTIAL supplements into our Hormonal Pigmentation treatment packages for optimal pigmentation treatments and health. Schedule an appointment with one of our experienced Renewal Institute doctors to find out what underlying medical condition/ s could be aggravating your melasma/ hormonal pigmentation.
The initial medical consultation at the Renewal Institute will be approximately 30 minutes. A thorough evaluation will be done by your Renewal Institute doctor, who will identify underlying conditions and lifestyle habits that may be aggravating your condition.
The Renewal Institute doctor will decide on a treatment plan or depending on:
Many all-natural, topical skin-brightening agents have been found to be quite beneficial in brightening hyperpigmented areas of the skin. These include alpha arbutin, as well as kojic acid, azelaic acid nicotinamide, and Liquorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra).
Topical applications of natural, fruit-derived alpha-hydroxy acids, including glycolic acid, have been extremely beneficial in combination with the aforementioned bleaching agents. For enhanced results, these products should be used in conjunction with exfoliation treatments such as peels and transdermal pigment brightening Mesotherapy.
The following is a list of skincare ingredients to AVOID due to worsening melasma pigmentation and dark spots.
MSM is a powerful activator of the powerful antioxidant Glutathione. MSM may facilitate the breakup of pigmentation in the skin/ dermis as it is a natural detoxifier of the lipofuscin/lipopolysaccharides/ brown pigment in the skin.
MSM contains sulfur which is necessary for the production of new cells and plays an essential part in the synthesis of collagen and keratin, vital protein substances that are needed to make and maintain hair, nails, and skin. Hair and nails grow faster and stronger with good levels of sulfur. This compound is also responsible for the flexible bonds between cells and helps to block the cross-linking of collagen, an effect responsible for the appearance of wrinkles and aging skin.
Sulfur helps the body to form keratin, the protein that makes up the main part of the outermost layers of your hair and nails. It is a tough, fibrous protein that is very resilient to the effects of damaging chemicals and other harmful agents. Each strand of hair has its own keratin supply, which is stored in the root. Sulfur is also contained in biotin, a B vitamin that is essential for shiny hair and strong nails. You may be interested to know that the natural inclination of hair to be straight or curly is maintained in part by the sulfur amino acids. MSM benefits dry scalp and hair and improves nail growth and benefits your cuticles and nails.
There are many possible causes of pigmentation disorders, which are marked by changes in melanin, the pigment in the skin. These may include progesterone (the Mirena), photosensitizing medications, thyroid dysfunction, stress, and dysbiosis.
There's overwhelming evidence that certain medical conditions are key players in your overall health and are the root cause of your pigmentation problems. Failure to address these conditions will lead to failure of your Hormonal Pigment treatment plan and ALSO lead to chronic disease.
Melasma is more prevalent in darker-complexioned individuals though persons of any race can be affected due to the intense sun exposure in South Africa. This condition is seen most frequently in young women from the age of 28 years but can also be seen in men.
At the Renewal Institute, we treat all our patients holistically by dealing with all the issues that may be responsible for their initial presentation of hormonal pigmentation/ melasma at Renewal Institute. After obtaining a thorough history from our patients to exclude medical conditions that could be aggravating the hormonal pigmentation, we include ESSENTIAL supplements into our Hormonal Pigmentation treatment packages for optimal pigmentation treatments and health.
The short answer is that melanin-its amount, quality, and distribution- creates human skin colour. The slightly longer answer is that melanin is produced within melanosomes, organelles located in the cytoplasm of melanocytes (skin cells in the basal layer of your epidermis). The number of melanocytes in human skin is the same in people of all races; in darker-skinned individuals, though, the melanosomes are larger and contain more melanin. Once melanin is produced, melanosomes migrate to the melanocytes' dendrite tips, where they come into contact with keratinocytes, skin cells closer to the surface of the epidermis. The final stage of the pigmentation process, however, wherein melanin is transferred from the melanocytes to keratinocytes, is still poorly understood.
Melasma, also known as hormonal pigmentation, is a considerable problem for South African women. It is a chronic skin condition that occurs on the face in the form of brown patches and is a dynamic (active) condition that needs lifelong management. Its incidence is much higher in Asian and darker-skinned individuals than in fair-skinned people.
Pigmentation disorders such as melasma or chloasma (during pregnancy) arise from increased melanin in the lower layers of the skin and increased free melanin in the skin. Hormonal pigmentation is usually brown with a non-distinct border and is usually found symmetrically on the face or jawline. Melasma can appear on the central facial areas such as the cheeks, mustache, and forehead areas. Melasma affects both men and women, though it is more frequent in women (up to 30% may be affected) and usually starts to appear from the age of 28 years onwards.
Make an appointment to consult with your Renewal Institute Doctor and he/ she will assist you in determining your risk factors for pigmentation and how best to prevent any problems or conditions that you may be susceptible to.
Pigmentation and dark marks are probably the concern we see the most at our skin clinics and if the pigmentation are superficial, they can be quite simple to treat. But pigmentation does sometimes tend to sit slightly deeper, especially hormonal pigmentation. This deep pigmentation are more difficult to treat. But essentially there are 3 steps to successfully treat/minimize pigmentation/dark marks; 1. Daily use of an SPF 50, unprotected sun exposure will induce more pigment to form and the spot may become darker. We recommend Heliocare 360, this SPF will not only protect your skin from UVA and UVB, but also from visible and infra-red light. 2. We need to speed up your cellular turnover rate, to get the pigment out. This can be done by the use of exfoliating ingredients such as Retinol or AHA’s (Alpha Hydroxy Acids).3. We need to ensure that the pigment cells don’t produce any more excess pigment. This is done by the use of pigment suppressing ingredients such as certain peptides, kojic acid and alpha arbutin. Lamelle Luminesce range are a good option for you as it covers step 2 and 3. The range has a cleanser, day and night cream as well as a very potent serum called Brighter Concentrate that can be used daily. As for the dark circles, here we need to look at what is causing it. It might be pigment forming around the orbital area, then it needs to be treated like above, or it can be due to a lack of drainage. We need to ensure that we have sufficient lymph draining around the orbital area, if not, toxins begin to build up and it shows as dark discolorations. Using an eye cream that contain certain peptides as well as Vit K will help with this.
With pigmentation, it can be very tricky. In most instances pigmentation around the mouth or lip area is as a result of one of two thing; 1) Hormonal influence, or 2) Trauma from waxing, threading or whatever form of hair removal is done over the lip area. That is generally the norm, however it is not always the case. There can be other factors influencing this. If it is indeed pigmentation then there are a few things that will help you but not necessarily fully solve the problem:
1) You need to be applying a very good facial SPF every single day;
2) You need to be using a pigmentation prevention product
3) Lastly you need to try and minimise the cause of the issue, so for example if it is because of waxing, then you need to try and find other alternatives for hair removal.
Pigmentation and brown spots forming on the face is NOT always just because of sun exposure. In many cases, pigmentation has a hormonal trigger, and unfortunately, going on to birth control pills can be one of those triggers. these hormonal triggers, such as the pill, HRT and pregnancy can result in the formation of pigmentation on the face.
There are a few things that can help you manage this, however, it’s best to properly investigate your specific case and make the best decision for your skin type, pigmentation severity and budget, by having a proper consultation. In the meantime, it’s definitely worthwhile using a good pigmentation inhibiting product on a daily basis. It’s also a very good idea to be using a good SPF on a daily basis come rain or shine as UV radiation affects everyone, even if you are predominantly indoors.
At the Renewal Institute, we treat all our patients holistically by dealing with all the issues that may be responsible for their initial presentation. One should consult with a Renewal Institute doctor to rule out the possibility of an underlying systemic health disorder that requires medical treatment. There's overwhelming evidence that certain medical conditions are key players in your overall health and are the root cause of your pigmentation problems. Failure to address these conditions may lead to failure of your Hormonal Pigment treatment plan and ALSO lead to chronic disease.
Your Renewal Institute doctor will conduct a physical examination, examining the location, distribution, colour, and appearance of the areas of increased pigmentation.
Your Renewal Institute doctor will also evaluate whether external factors, such as hormones, medications, chemical exposure, or other environmental influences could have contributed to the increased deposition of pigment in the skin. Furthermore, the practitioner will make note of any prior history of pigmentation disorder and its treatment.
We also include ESSENTIAL supplements into our Hormonal Pigmentation treatment packages for optimal pigmentation treatments and health. Schedule an appointment with one of our experienced Renewal Institute doctors to find out what underlying medical condition/ s could be aggravating your melasma/ hormonal pigmentation.
The initial medical consultation at the Renewal Institute will be approximately 30 minutes. A thorough evaluation will be done by your Renewal Institute doctor, who will identify underlying conditions and lifestyle habits that may be aggravating your condition.
The Renewal Institute doctor will decide on a treatment plan or depending on:
Many all-natural, topical skin-brightening agents have been found to be quite beneficial in brightening hyperpigmented areas of the skin. These include alpha arbutin, as well as kojic acid, azelaic acid nicotinamide, and Liquorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra).
Topical applications of natural, fruit-derived alpha-hydroxy acids, including glycolic acid, have been extremely beneficial in combination with the aforementioned bleaching agents. For enhanced results, these products should be used in conjunction with exfoliation treatments such as peels and transdermal pigment brightening Mesotherapy.
The following is a list of skincare ingredients to AVOID due to worsening melasma pigmentation and dark spots.
MSM is a powerful activator of the powerful antioxidant Glutathione. MSM may facilitate the breakup of pigmentation in the skin/ dermis as it is a natural detoxifier of the lipofuscin/lipopolysaccharides/ brown pigment in the skin.
MSM contains sulfur which is necessary for the production of new cells and plays an essential part in the synthesis of collagen and keratin, vital protein substances that are needed to make and maintain hair, nails, and skin. Hair and nails grow faster and stronger with good levels of sulfur. This compound is also responsible for the flexible bonds between cells and helps to block the cross-linking of collagen, an effect responsible for the appearance of wrinkles and aging skin.
Sulfur helps the body to form keratin, the protein that makes up the main part of the outermost layers of your hair and nails. It is a tough, fibrous protein that is very resilient to the effects of damaging chemicals and other harmful agents. Each strand of hair has its own keratin supply, which is stored in the root. Sulfur is also contained in biotin, a B vitamin that is essential for shiny hair and strong nails. You may be interested to know that the natural inclination of hair to be straight or curly is maintained in part by the sulfur amino acids. MSM benefits dry scalp and hair and improves nail growth and benefits your cuticles and nails.
Great place, with the best service. Amazing doctors and skincare therapists
My experience at Skin Renewal Claremont has been nothing short of sublime. I am always greeted with a smile and a friendly, warm, welcoming atmosphere, which is the cherry on top of how incredible my skin looks and feels. The old saying "love the skin you're in" is probably the best way to describe how this journey at Skin Renewal makes me feel. Thank you, Skin Renewal for bringing back my long, lost confidence.
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They were super accommodating and made me feel very comfortable throughout the day and my procedure. Also very friendly staff that want to help wherever they can.
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I am absolutely blown away by the skin journey I have recently been on. My facial pigmentation has been a real struggle over the years having had much hormonal imbalance and sun damage. I have had an incredible journey at Skin Renewal and visibility has drastically changed! I no longer have the dark spots and blotchy patches. There is a wonderfully even tone that I never thought possible! I cannot recommend Dr Trent Harris highly enough and to top my whole experience off - Sharon (Branch leader) and Beverly (Therapist) have been such great sources of knowledge and comfort throughout. Hoping to see further improvement the way I have thus far. A truly great team and a wonderful experience overall!
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I want to thank Parkhurst Skin Renewal, especially Beverley for making me look my best. On my first visit, I was assessed by the doctor and I was given a treatment plan. Have been coming for my sessions with Beverly. The way I look now, I feel so great, I'm no longer hiding under the mask. I have gained confidence as a teacher. Thank you so much
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I have been seeing Dr Ross and Riekardt for 8 months and cannot believe how my skin has been transformed and enhanced. The texture has improved 10-fold and my pigmentation basically a thing of the past. Their professional yet personal approach has made my skin journey all the better and I cannot recommend Skin Renewal, Dr Ross and Riekardt highly enough. They gave me the gift of skin confidence on my wedding day, which is the biggest gift ever - I will never be able to thank them enough.
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I recommend this hair removal laser to anyone and everyone as I've had spectacular results with it, and prefer it over any other lasers I've tried in the past.
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I come for regular skin treatments at Skin Renewal. Illona and Deone are excellent at their job and always makes you feel at ease.
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