Spot treatment
Skincare brands line up to aid women worldwide in the quest for even-toned skin, write Tara Jenkins and Karen Pittar
In the days of miraculous beauty breakthroughs - when stubborn wrinkles can be smoothed away, sagging cheeks resculpted or thinning eyelashes and eyebrows regrown - pigmentation remains a challenge for most women.
While there is much modern foundation and concealer can do to even skin tone and cover hyperpigmentation - the unsightly dark patches that creep across the face - permanently removing it has always been problematic. Hyperpigmentation covers a gamut of issues, ranging from melasma, typically caused by pregnancy hormones, to sunspots triggered by ultraviolet-ray (UV) exposure. It's unsightly and can be frustrating for those wanting even-toned skin, but there is increasingly help at hand.
According to Hong Kong-based dermatologist Dr Tinny Ho, some people are simply more prone to hyperpigmentation than others. But there are some basic steps, such as avoiding UV exposure, that can help keep the dark patches at bay. 'The most important thing is protection from the sun,' she says. 'Use a good sunscreen with both UVA and UVB protection. A well-formulated Vitamin C skincare product is also worth using - although it's not a strong skin lightener, it's excellent for overall anti-ageing and repairing sun damage. Hydroquinone remains the gold standard in this part of the world for lightening pigmentation, but a stronger preparation such as 4 per cent needs a prescription from a doctor.'
Barcelona-based skincare brand Natura Bisse has been at the forefront of research and development in at-home treatments. 'There's a lot of concern out there about pigmentation,' says the brand's international education manager, Tahimi Gonzalez.
'Many factors influence pigmentation; for example, stress, pollution and even diet. If, when younger, we regularly lay in the sun with no protection, the skin inevitably starts to show signs of damage as we age.'
Gonzalez believes the problem has increased in the past few years, particularly among younger people, and global interest in lightening products certainly bears her out.