Dermarolling against hyperpigmentation

[SarahVaughter]

> Could I ask your advice on treating hyper pigmentation?. Over a year

> ago I had in grown hairs from epilating which I panicked and tried to  

> treat with in grown hair lotions. I ended up with hyper pigmentation  

> from over use of the lotions. Its over a year ago now and although the  

> in grown hairs have gone the pigmentation has not. Would using your  

> derma roller help to get rid of the pigmentation?. If so how do you  

> suggest I use the derma roller to treat it. I'm really fed up of being  

> ashamed of it and have been to some cosmetic surgery clinics for  

> advice but the prices were totally out of my reach.  

    Hyperpigmentation doesn't have an easy solution.  It looks like you have quite sensitive skin because in-grown hair lotions normally should not cause hyperpigmentation  (I do not know what ingredients your one had though) so I have to be careful with my advice.

Usually, hyperpigmentation is due to locally excessive melanin production.  Melanin is the pigment that determines the color of our skin and when our skin is exposed to the sun, the skin produces more melanin as a protection – melanin absorbs UV.  Uneven/excessive melanin production can also be the result of skin trauma - burning, acne, cuts etc.



     Make a homemade vit. C ( it is a mild skin lightener and an anti-inflammatory) serum according to our dermarolling guidelines . Vit. C is a good antioxidant.   Continue using it.

 

People who do not have sensitive skin can try to dry shave the pigmented skin. Just use a new disposable shaver and shave the pigmented skin. The skin should be dry. Be very careful not to cut yourself.

        Roll with a 0.2 or 0.5 mm roller and use some skin lightening cream - for example Retinoic acid (start with very low percentage or dilute it and gradually increase. Do not  apply it immediately after rolling but wait one hour. Later you can  gradually shorten the waiting time between the application  and rolling.

If the pigmentation is too deep for short-needled rollers, use a 1.0 dermaroller (every 10-14 days). You will see if the pigmentation gets better.

            If your hyperpigmented spots are localized, you can make dense pricks into the pigmented spots (not to the surrounding skin) with our custom made single needle. The needle is very thin with a long taper and pricking the pigmented spots should result in intense peeling and new collagen production. You don't have to prick deep because pigmentation does not occur in deep skin layers.

By all means   - whatever method(s) you use, do a test patch first before you do larger areas. Your skin seems to be sensitive and you must first find out how your skin will react and how it will heal.



A good overview of skin lightening and depigmenting agents:

https://http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1068091-overview#aw2aab6b4

https://http://www.pgdermatology.com/downloads/documents/Current_Topical_Ingredients_for_Treating_Hyperpigmentation.pdf

         0.5 mm roller is very good for pigmentation because  this kind of pigmentation is usually not very deep. You should roll two or three times a week with 0.5 mm and protect your skin from the sun as much as you can. Under no circumstance should you go outside

  in the sun immediately after rolling. Roll before going to bed and apply a high factor sunscreen in the morning.  We have some customers who improved their pigmentation even with a 0.2 mm roller. This took about 6 months.

     The problem with pigmentation is that it is often caused by excessive melanin deposits and every time you expose it to the sun, the pigmentation will re-appear or get worse. Skin produces melanin as a protection when exposed to the UV (melanin absorbs UV). When there is locally uneven concentration of melanin, you end up with pigmentation. Uneven melanin concentration is frequently a result of injury, acne, inflammation etc.Freckles are also concentrated melanin spots.

         



Also, when you use a sunscreen (I hope you do), use one that has only physical blockers and no chemical blockers.

Physical ones reflect UV whereas chemical ones absorb UV and convert it to heat, which can make melasma and other pigmentation worse.

To read about the difference between physical and chemical filters, read this:

https://http://forums.owndoc.com/dermarolling-microneedling/Sun-protection-with-dermarolling    

 

Pharmacies often sell a sunscreen with physical filters for people who are allergic to chemical filters.