Most of the work done to clear hyperpigmentation is done at home, you must stick to the homework I give you, or the in-clinic treatments are not as likely to reach their potential; it would be like going to the gym then eating a burger on your way home! My go to Skincare brand is Obagi Medical.
Individual products
Obagi Professional-C Vitamin C serums areavailable in 10%, 15% & 20% concentrations work to lighten, brighten, and soften skin. They are particularly effective when used in conjunction with the Obagi Nu-Derm® systems.
Arbutin and Hydroquinone
Arbutin is a non-prescription, key ingredient to help reduce hyperpigmentation, such as dark spots / sunspots. The body converts Arbutin and suppresses the enzyme that produces pigmentation helping you on your way to lighter, brighter, more even skin tone. Arbutin is the active ingredient in the Obagi Professional-C Clarifying Serum Fx and Therapeutic Night Cream Fx
Hydroquinone is a prescription only product and is in the Professional-C Clarifying Serum Rx and Therapeutic Night Cream Rx or Obagi Nu-Derm Clear and Obagi Nu-Derm Blender.
Hydroquinone bleaches your skin by decreasing the number of melanocytes present. Melanocytes make melanin, which is what produces your skin tone.
In cases of hyperpigmentation, more melanin is present due to an increase in melanocyte production. By controlling these melanocytes, your skin will become more evenly toned over time.
It takes about four weeks on average for the ingredient to take effect. It may take several months of consistent use before you see full results.
Retinol and Tretinoin
Retinol and tretinoin are both retinoids, which means they are compounds that come from vitamin A. They’re both commonly used in topical creams to treat several skin conditions. Though they’re similar, tretinoin is more concentrated than retinol and is also requires a prescription. When I recommend these products to my patients, I will select the most appropriate dose and will ask you to build up the frequency of uses until you are able to tolerate daily use.
Hydroquinone and retinols work well together because retinols help hydroquinone penetrate deeper into the skin to work more effectively. Retinols can also protect hydroquinone from oxidation, which can cause it to degrade.
Professional-C Night therapy cream and Obagi Tretinoin
Fun Fact: Two of the greatest substances for lightening dark spots are retinoids and vitamin C!
So, to pack a punch using Professional-C Night therapy cream and Obagi Tretinoin will hit that pigmentation hard!!
Skin boot camp Kits
Obagi-C Rx Starter Kit + Tretinoin
Nu-Derm Skin Transformation System + Obagi Tretinoin + Professional C Serum
These kits contain all the products you will need to help you tackle your pigmentation issues. I will work very closely with you and provide you with a personalised treatment plan for your skincare routine.
These videos from the Observ machine show how quickly we can clear pigmentation, in just 6 weeks using a personalised Obagi skincare routine and 2 chemical peels you can see a clear improvement, this patient is undertaking a 24-week program to clear her pigmentation, after this “skin bootcamp” she will move on to maintenance products which will ALWAYS include an SPF!!
Prevention and maintenance
Prevention and maintenance? I can see you now giving me the eye roll, another thing to do!
We all cheat, forget or tell ourselves that we do not have the time for taking care of ourselves because we are either too tired or mostly taking care of everybody else.
Prevention and maintenance are as important as keeping up your daily skin regime!
Remember when we were younger? We were carefree and basking in the sun without a care in the world, who needed suntan lotion? Many of my patients tell me that they wish they had known the damage sun does when they were splashing oils on their skin to get the best and quickest tan!
Youngsters, who are being as my patients were in their youth, take heed of the following:
Distressing fact: hyperpigmentation caused by too much sun exposure can take 10 to 20 years to appear, so if you are now noticing them, they were likely started when you were a youngster!
Wear Sunscreen! No ifs. No buts. It is a must. Protecting your skin is the easiest pigmentation treatment you can do for yourself, daily. Some patients ask me why I advise putting sunscreen on every day, especially in the UK because it is mostly cloudy and rainy. The sun causes pigmentation and excessive melanin formation. So, even after swimming, and sweating, on a cloudy day and in winter: wear sunscreen. Wear it all year round.
If you want to stay fabulous Obagi is for you!
I use and recommend:
Obagi sunshield range
Synergy 6
Need more information?
Why not book a consultation with me at my clinic in Penistone, Sheffield?
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