From The Straits Times    |

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IMAGE: Life-Foto/Westend61/Corbis Images

Despite my diligence in applying sunblock from a young age, I’ve recently been told that I actually have a lot of brown spots waiting to emerge on my face. You see, I took a skin test that captured the layers under my skin. The test uses a computer to analyse the many layers of skin and then shows levels of melanin, wrinkles, and elasticity. What the computer does is go beneath what the human eye cannot see ─ skin problems waiting to occur.

The photo basically showed my melanin production working on overdrive. Meaning that if the test were to be believed, my entire face will be speckled with sun spots as I grow older. Trust me when I say I did not take this piece of news well.

I spoke to Dr Low Chai Ling of the Sloane clinic regarding this predicament ─ how did I end up with potentially hyperpigmented skin despite being so religious in my sunblock?! She simply said that hyperpigmentation and acne are the main skin problems for Asians. Unlike Caucasians who mainly deal with wrinkles and skin elasticity, our genetic makeup makes us prone to melanin issues.

The main question then is: How do we solve this problem?

SUNBLOCK
The most obvious form of protection, be sure to cover yourself in a UV protector every day (and reapply!). The UV shields prevent further UV damage, and I’ve even heard of a personal experience where pigmentation spots disappeared just through the long term use of sunscreen! This may have happened due to other factors (for example, if the hyperpigment was a result of hormonal fluctuations) but you can never apply too much sunblock ─ really.

VITAMIN C
Not the oral supplements, but the one you can apply on your face. Vitamin C is a great skin brightening agent, and a lot of facial products try to encapsulate it in creams. Due to its great efficacy, beauty products with vitamin C often cost more ─ but you can actually make vitamin C boosters in the comfort of your own home.

Just mix 1 part of L Ascorbic Acid powder (the true form of vitamin C) to 2 parts water, and store the mixture in a dark glass bottle. The only downside of this DIY option is that its shelf life is a month, as vitamin C is not very stable without added chemicals.

Vitamin C is also credited with being able to even out skin elasticity and wrinkles; which is why its often included in anti-ageing products too. What are you waiting for? Make your own serum or just buy a vitamin C booster already!

EXFOLIATE
Exfoliating your skin will help to break apart pigmented cells, helping you remove nasty skin cells bit by bit. If you aren’t fond of mechanical exfoliators (clarisonics and beady scrubs), opt for peels instead.

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For gentle removal of dead skin cells, I’ve written about Skin Inc’s Pure Revival Peel, otherwise, my current fancy is Sloane Inc’s Skin Superfood Pumpkin Purifying Peel S3.6. The product is said to use fruit enzymes to unclog your pores, give your skin a burst of antioxidants, and exfoliate at the same time!

GO PROFESSIONAL
Seeing an aesthetic doctor is possibly the quickest way to deal with pigment spots. If you aren’t a fan of invasive treatments such as lasers, doctors might prescribe products containing Hydroquinone, a prescription skin lightening ingredient. The ingredient acts like a bleach on your skin, and is very effective in ‘de-pigmenting’ the skin. The downside is that it can cause your skin to be sensitive, so be sure to share your concerns with the doctor if your skin is more prone to sensitivity.

Prevention is certainly better than cure when it comes to hyperpigmentation, so don’t be like me and wait until it’s too late!

 

Skin Inc Pure Revival Peel, $104 for 100 ml, is available at all Skin Inc stores and Sephora Ion. For more information, visit www.iloveskininc.com and follow the brand on Facebook.

Sloane Inc. Superfood Pumpkin Purifying Peel S3.6, $70, is available from The Sloane Clinics, and online at www.sloaneshop.com. For more information, visit www.sloaneclinic.com and follow the brand on Facebook.

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