When it comes to skin discoloration, most people just think of sun damage. While UV exposure is a major culprit, it’s far from the only one. Dark spots can be triggered by a variety of factors, and if you don’t know which one you’re dealing with, you could be wasting time and money on treatments that don’t work.
Let’s break down the three most common types of pigmentation: sun spots, PIH, and melasma.
Sun Spots (Solar Lentigines)
Sun spots develop from cumulative UV exposure over time. Even if you wear SPF daily, years of outdoor activities, driving, and unprotected moments in the sun can add up, especially living in Arizona. These spots are typically flat, brown, and love showing up on sun-exposed areas like your cheeks, nose, and hands.
Best treatments:
- IPL (Intense Pulsed Light): Targets brown pigment directly, breaking it up so your body can naturally remove it.
- CoolPeel CO2 Laser: Resurfaces and brightens the skin while refining texture.
- Medical grade brightening skincare: Vitamin C, retinoids, and pigment-inhibiting formulas help maintain results, and SPF to prevent new spots.
Sun spots are the easiest to treat, but they’ll come back quickly if you skip sunscreen. So remember to protect your investment and wear SPF daily!
PIH (Post Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation)
Post Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation appears after your skin experiences inflammation or injury like breakouts, bug bites, or even minor scratches. Your skin responds by producing excess pigment in the healing process, leaving behind a lingering mark.
Best treatments:
- Chemical peels: Speed up cell turnover and fade pigment without irritating the skin.
- Microneedling: Stimulates collagen and helps even out tone.
- Targeted topical treatments: Ingredients like azelaic acid, tranexamic acid, and niacinamide can fade pigment safely.
Treat the root cause of the inflammation first, or new spots will continue to form.
Melasma
Melasma is a chronic pigmentation condition often triggered by a mix of hormones, heat, stress, and sun exposure. It tends to appear as symmetrical patches on the cheeks, forehead, and upper lip, and is often referred to as “pregnancy mask”.
Be mindful that most lasers and heat-based treatments can make melasma worse. Aggressive treatment can also trigger rebound pigmentation.
Best treatments:
- Topicals first: Start with pigment-inhibiting skincare, like the Noon Brightening Kit.
- Peels and microneedling: Used cautiously and in combination with topical therapy.
- Year-round sun protection: A must, even minimal sun can trigger melasma flare-ups.
Think of melasma as a managed condition, not something that’s permanently cured.
Why an Accurate Diagnosis Matters
Pigment isn’t one size fits all. If you treat melasma like sun spots, you risk worsening it. If you treat PIH like melasma, you may waste months without improvement. The best way to achieve clear, even skin is with a customized plan based on the type of pigmentation you have.
At Curated Medical, we start every pigmentation treatment plan with a thorough skin assessment. From there, we match you with the safest and most effective options, whether that’s lasers, peels, microneedling, or medical-grade skincare.
Not all dark spots come from the sun, and not all should be treated the same way. The key is knowing your pigment type, then targeting it with the right approach for long-term results.
