Pigmentation
Pigmentation yes, we all have it, we all need it, as it is what gives our skin, eyes and hair it’s colour. We are genetically wired for it, and it gives us our individuality. But what happens when pigmentation becomes marred on our skins like an infant child’s drawings, misshaped and not making sense? This is not the pigmentation we desire.
There are many causes and types of pigmentation ranging from darker discolorations likes a spattering of freckles, a sun spots, a smudge of melasma or on the flip side a void of colour all together like vitiligo or hypopigmentation. All are the results of either hormone, sun damage, age, medications, trauma and genetics on our skin cells.
So, what is this skin cell called? the “Melanocyte” the cell responsible for pigmentation, and it is our 4th line of protection in our skin’s barrier defence, this cell is there to help protect our cells from damage, so it serves a very important purpose.
We all have about the same actual number of melanocytes within our skin regardless of skin type, and it is the overproduction of melanin within the melanocyte that causes pigmentation changes.
When the melanocytes are damaged or not functioning adequately, this action starts affecting the melanin production (either by stopping production or increasing production). the cell can lose its ability to switch off and is a constant state of panic, thus causing the cell to over produce and pigment granules to spill over into the lower layers of the skin. And with no mop up team to act on its behalf, it in turn leaves us with pigment puddles. No one likes a puddle mess.
The melanocyte cell is a long living dendritic cell, and this is another reason it is more susceptible to oxidative stress and eventually DNA damage due to its long cycle. It really is quiet a tricky little cell, hence why it’s tricky to treat.
Let’s take a little look at some of the different types of pigmentation.
Epithelia’s aka Freckles:
are small, harmless marks that appear on the skin. Genetics and sun exposure are the primary causes of freckles.
Sunspots:
Age spots or solar lentigos
These results from sun exposure and age-related changes in melanin production.
Melasma:
A Hormonally driven and a having a genetic predisposition is at the core of this pigmentation and is triggered by heat and sun exposure. Melasma is difficult to treat but can be controlled.
Post inflammatory hyper (PIH):
Post inflammatory pigment changes can occur to the skin after a trauma, as a result of excess melanin being produced by means of protection.
Vitiligo (hypopigmentation):
Is triggered via an autoimmune disease when the body’s immune system attacked or destroys the melanocyte during some form of illness resulting in patches of hypopigmentation.
So, what can we do to help with pigmentation you may ask?
Well, it is going to take a multifaceted approach yes you can hit it with lasers and peels and all those quick fix approaches but that is only a Band-Aid fix. Yes, it will temporarily remove the evidence, but it will not change the cell, nor will it teach the surrounding cells to communicate more efficiently and unfortunately it will more than likely come back with a vengeance. You need to find the trigger, calm the cell, prevent more and then remove and sustain.
Find yourself a kick ass therapist that understands the cells, gut health and ingredients that will work with the cell and not cause more of an inflammatory response and ultimately more triggers.
And understand it will be a journey anywhere from 3 to 6 months or more as we have a lot of work to do with the barrier always first in line then the cell itself to retrain and calm. But it’s a challenge worth winning.
Written by Cristy Viney