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Below are some of my top pics for pigmentation, I've listed them in the order that they should be applied but by no means do you need all of them if its not in the budget. You can always start simple and add on as needed. You can find a full list of products to help target pigmentation here or feel free to book a consultation or email us for assistance in finding what is best for you.
Pigmentation takes time to form and time to clear, so be patient, as it can sometimes take months to see results, slow and steady wins this race! Many laser and peel treatments can give rapid results but may make things worse in the long run, especially if you are dealing with melasma which is a common hormonal pigmentation that can worsen with intensive treatments.
To help prevent sun damage I suggest eating more lycopene and antioxidant rich foods, in the summer months especially: tomatoes and watermelon are great options but nature has a rather obvious way of communicating with us, and foods that are yellow, orange and red tend to be the ones that will offer the most sun protection and repair. Try to make a point of getting early morning sun, and sunset sun on your skin while avoiding being out unprotected (with clothing or a hat) in mid day sun, especially before getting a natural tan.
Pigmentation spots that appear almost in a line down the side of the face may be more liver and gall bladder related. For this I suggest liver supporting foods and herbs like celery juice (avoid this if you are someone who feels cold often), starting your day with fresh lemon squeezed into a glass of water, burdock or milk thistle are supportive herbs (talk to your health care professional first) or dandelion leaf in smoothies, salads or teas are gentle options to support liver health. Be sure you aren't suppressing too much frustration or anger as this can also impair liver function. Every emotion is important and needs to be expressed!
Hormonal pigmentation, which is called melasma or chloasma, can be very common when pregnant, entering menopause or taking birth control pills, but also with any hormonal or reproductive issues. It can come on with certain medications, whenever there is a lot of inflammation in the body or you can simply be genetically predisposed. You can usually distinguish melasma from other forms of pigmentation as it generally presents as symmetrical patches typically seen on the upper lip, cheeks or forehead and may have a slightly purple or grey cast. In general I prefer to address melasma with topical products and doing what we can internally before opting for more intensive treatments, as these can sometimes make things worse. There is a lot in our environment that effects hormonal health and can aggravate melasma. One simple thing you can do to help is avoid any fragrances as these are known endocrine disruptors (I'd start with your detergents and cleaning products). Dietary wise, do your best to avoid canola, soy and corn oils, as these can lead to more inflammation and are very damaging for the skin. Some clients get great results doing this dietary protocol by Karen Hurd, especially if you are experiencing PCOS and hormonal acne along with melasma. There can also be a lot of "information" that lives in the womb space and it is very common for this to be passed down from previous generations as well. If you have tried all the things for melasma and its not clearing, I invite you to get curious about what emotions or traumas may be ready to be explored. The identity shift in the transition from maiden to motherhood, how we really feel about our relationships or a secret miscarriage or abortion are unexpected and surprising culprits sometimes, I find etiotherapy can be very helpful for this.
As always, with any advice or recommendations, take what feels right and leave the rest!
Here for you, please don't hesitate to connect!
Colette
