Pigmentation and Age Spots
Contact Us TodayPigmentation is the darkening of the skin usually in patches. It often occurs on sun exposed sites and can be known as age spots or liver spots. In addition, during pregnancy or use of the oral contraceptive there is another condition known as melasma which causes patches of pigmentation.
Pigmentation is caused by melanin over-production. Melanin production is stimulated by sun exposure, inflammation or can be hormonal. Pigmentation can be really upsetting and can significantly affect self-confidence at any age. Often patients have tried many alternative routes to treating their pigmentation before they come to optimise aesthetics and feel fed up that nothing has really worked for them.
Treatment options include:
- Medical grade skin care targeted at reducing melanin deposition and brightening the skin.
- Medical grade chemical peels targeted at pigmentation including the Tranexamic Acid or TXA peel.
- Topical therapies
- SkinPen Microneedling
What will happen during a consultation?
Whether your consultation is virtual or face to face is essential to identify the areas of concern, what you have tried so far, potential causes, medical history and any allergies or previous reactions to past treatments, current medications and lifestyle and nutrition. Dr Bye will discuss all these areas with you and examine your skin to gain an overall picture of your condition and concerns and how best to move forward for you. Treating skin conditions such as pigmentation involves a personalised and holistic approach for the best results. Following your consultation, Dr Bye will put together a treatment plan for you.
Remember that for skin conditions such as pigmentation it is helpful for you to be make-up free or keep make-up to a minimum for the consultation so that Dr Bye can examine your skin effectively
Which treatment option is best for me?
Every patient is different. Your treatment will very much depend on what is discussed and seen during your detailed consultation. Some patients get great results with a change to their skin care routine and the addition of topical creams which prevent pigmentation while others require a course of chemical peels and or SkinPen Microneedling.
Why choose Dr Bye?
As both a GMC registered GP and JCCP registered aesthetics doctor with additional training in cosmetic dermatology, Dr Bye’s approach to treating skin conditions such as pigmentation is holistic. Her extensive aesthetic training and microsurgical experience enables her to gain results that are safe and personalised with minimal or no discomfort. As both a GP and aesthetics doctor her holistic approach allows her to use multiple modalities to treat your pigmentation ranging from changes to your skin care routine to treatments such as chemical peels and/or SkinPen Microneedling. She will discuss fully any concerns you have prior to treatments and will be open and honest about how to achieve the best results for you.
Book NowFrequently Asked Questions
How do you get rid of skin pigmentation?
Reduce pigmentation with a combined approach: start with medical‑grade skincare containing topical retinoids, antioxidants and targeted lightening agents, use professional chemical peels to accelerate epidermal renewal and lighten superficial pigment, and add microneedling to enhance product penetration and stimulate remodelling for deeper or mixed pigmentation. Strict daily sun protection and a staged treatment plan from a clinician deliver the best, lasting results.
What does pigmentation look like?
Pigmentation presents as flat, darker patches or spots on the skin ranging from light brown to deep brown or grey; common forms include sunspots, post‑inflammatory hyperpigmentation and melasma. Superficial pigment tends to appear well‑defined and more responsive to topical and peel treatments, while deeper or mixed pigmentation is often patchy, less uniform, and requires combined in‑clinic procedures such as microneedling plus professional skincare.
What are the three types of pigmentation?
The three main types are epidermal pigmentation (superficial, responds well to topical agents and peels), dermal pigmentation (deeper, harder to treat and may need combined in‑clinic approaches), and mixed pigmentation (both epidermal and dermal components that require a tailored sequence of medical‑grade skincare, chemical peels and microneedling).
Can vitamin C remove pigmentation?
Topical vitamin C helps inhibit melanin production and improves overall tone but rarely removes deep pigmentation on its own. Vitamin C is effective as part of a protocol using medical‑grade skincare plus professional treatments such as chemical peels or microneedling to achieve more significant and lasting lightening.
What triggers skin pigmentation?
Pigmentation is commonly triggered by ultraviolet (UV) exposure, inflammation (acne, injury), hormonal changes (e.g., melasma), certain medications and ageing. Repeated sun exposure is the principal driver, so prevention with daily broad‑spectrum SPF and early intervention with medical‑grade skincare and in‑clinic treatments reduces progression.
Can a dermatologist treat pigmentation?
Yes. A dermatologist or qualified clinician will assess pigment depth and cause and then recommend evidence‑based options including prescription medical‑grade skincare, professionally administered chemical peels and microneedling. They will also rule out atypical lesions and create a staged plan with maintenance and sun‑protection advice.
Can stress cause hyperpigmentation?
Stress can indirectly worsen hyperpigmentation by aggravating inflammatory skin conditions and altering hormonal or immune responses, which increases the risk of post‑inflammatory pigmentation. Managing inflammation and following a clinician‑led regimen of medical‑grade products and professional treatments helps control stress‑related pigment changes.
What happens if hyperpigmentation is left untreated?
Untreated hyperpigmentation can persist for months to years and may darken with continued sun exposure or repeated inflammation. Superficial marks may fade slowly, but deeper or mixed pigmentation often remains without active intervention, so early professional treatment and consistent sun protection improve long‑term outcomes.
Can you get rid of age spots?
Age spots (solar lentigines) can be significantly lightened and often removed with professional methods. Effective options include chemical peels to resurface pigmented epidermis, microneedling to improve texture and support lightening, and maintenance with medical‑grade skincare; treatment choice depends on spot depth and skin type.
Why am I suddenly getting age spots?
A sudden increase in age spots is commonly linked to recent or cumulative sun exposure that stimulates melanin production, hormonal shifts, or post‑inflammatory responses. Review sun‑protection habits and seek early assessment; medical‑grade topical agents and in‑clinic treatments such as chemical peels or microneedling reduce progression.
How do you tell the difference between age spots and melanoma?
Age spots are typically flat, uniform in colour, round or oval and appear in sun‑exposed areas; melanoma often shows asymmetry, irregular borders, multiple colours, rapid change or bleeding. Any new, changing or atypical pigmented lesion should be examined promptly by a clinician to exclude melanoma before cosmetic treatment.
What vitamin makes age spots go away?
No single vitamin guarantees removal of age spots, but topical antioxidants like vitamin C help reduce pigmentation by inhibiting melanin synthesis and supporting repair. For meaningful fading, combine vitamin C–containing medical‑grade skincare with professional chemical peels or microneedling as indicated.
What vitamin deficiency causes age spots?
There is no direct single‑vitamin deficiency that causes age spots. However, inadequate antioxidant support and low vitamin C can impair skin repair and collagen synthesis, making sun‑induced pigmentation more pronounced. Focus on topical medical‑grade antioxidants and clinician‑supervised treatments to manage and prevent age spots.