Best pigmentation cream to fade age spots and melasma

Hyperpigmentation is a common skin condition that can affect us all, especially as we get older. Apparent as patches of darkened skin, it's something you may feel self-conscious about, but fortunately, there is pigmentation cream available to buy to help improve its appearance. We spoke to the experts; Skin + Me Consultant Dermatologist, Dr Malvina Cunningham, and Award Winning Aesthetician and GP, Dr Ahmed El Muntasar. Using their knowledge, we've found the best pigmentation creams and serums to help fade those darkened areas and help your confidence glow.

Well, some of you may be wondering: what is hyperpigmentation? Dr Malvina says, "Hyperpigmentation is due to an increased amount of melanin produced within the skin that causes dark spots or patches to appear on the skin’s surface. It is a common problem and can be triggered by a number of underlying skin conditions."

Best Pigmentation Cream Shortlist

• Best pigmentation cream bundle: Eucerin Anti-Pigment Regime Gift Set
• Top pick: Skin + Me Pigmentation Repair Cream
• Best for sensitive skin: La Roche-Posay Pigmentclar Anti Dark Spot Day Cream SPF30
• Best for a range of pigmentation causes: SkinCeuticals Discoloration Defense Serum
• Best budget pigmentation cream: Garnier 3.5% Vitamin C, Niacinamide, Salicylic Acid, Brightening and Anti Dark Spot Serum
• Best treatment for melasma on face UK: Skin + Me Azelaic Acid Night Cream

According to Dr Ahmed, it can be both generalised (all over the body), or appear as localised pigmentation. "When it comes to localised pigmentation, this is the one that really affects people the most," says Dr Ahmed. "People think of skin cancer such as melanoma, it can be benign like Seborrheic keratosis, post-inflammatory such as after acne, eczema, or after certain medication."

There are three common hyperpigmentation causes: post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, Solar Lentigo and Melasma. Luckily, there are creams with proven active ingredients, which are either available on prescription or over the counter. From the best treatment for melasma on the face in the UK to skincare budget buys, Yours have searched high and low for the best pigmentation creams and serums to help you glow.

Best pigmentation cream

Pigmentation FAQs

What causes uneven pigmentation?

There are three common hyperpigmentation causes:

Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH)

"Post Inflammatory hyperpigmentation results from acne that heals to leave red to brown marks on the skin," says Dr Malvina. "Picking at spots and sun exposure will further worsen the inflammatory process and increase the risk of pigmentation. Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation is much more common in darker skin types. Melasma presents as brown/greyish patches of mottled pigmentation that develop most commonly on the skin of females. The pigmentary changes are usually bilateral and often symmetrical."

Solar Lentigo

Also known as 'sun spots' or 'age spots', this pigmentation is caused by sun exposure.

"Solar lentigo (sun spots) appear as flat brown spots on the skin like enlarged freckles," shared Dr Malvina, "mostly found over sun-exposed areas such as the nose, cheeks, and temples but they can appear anywhere on the face as well as your chest and the back of the hands.

"While most sunspots are harmless they may occasionally change into precancerous or even cancerous lesions. If you notice a spot that stands out compared to others with an irregular shape, varied colours or changing size, go and see your GP to have it checked out."

Melasma

According to Dr Malvina, "The exact cause of melasma is as yet unknown, but we do know that hormones and ultraviolet (UV) light (from the sun's rays) play an important role."

What to look for in the best pigmentation cream

"Look out for creams with proven active ingredients", says Dr Malvina. "Hydroquinone is a lightening agent that has the best evidence for treating hyperpigmentation. This is available on prescription as a combination cream with the vitamin A derivative tretinoin as well as a mild steroid called hydrocortisone."

In terms of ingredients in pigmentation creams available over the counter, Dr Malvina and Dr Ahmed recommend:

Azelaic acid

Kojic acid

Niacinamide

Resveratrol

Arbutin

Retinoids

When asked about the best vitamins for pigmentation, both recommended Vitamin C.

"There is insufficient evidence," says Dr Malvina, "but some suggest that Vitamin C supplementation particularly if low can be helpful but it is usually recommended in combination with topical treatments."

How to prevent hyperpigmentation?

"One of the most common causes of hyperpigmentation is UV exposure from the sun which you can prevent through sun avoidance, wearing protective clothing, and liberal use of broad-spectrum sunscreens," says Dr Malvina, something Dr Ahmend echoes.

He says, "The best prevention is using high-grade SPF, using SPF50 at least, and something that protects you from UVA, UVB and also thinking of things that can protect you from blue light. There isn't a lot of research to support that it can cause pigmentation but I think just logically we are in front of screens so much these days you wonder whether research later on in life will show it can actually cause pigmentation."

However, says Dr Malvina, "Hyperpigmentation caused by inflammatory conditions such as acne should be prevented by treating the condition itself."

Can I remove hyperpigmentation completely?

Dr Malvina says, "This varies from person to person and depends on the severity of pigmentation. Hyperpigmentation does tend to fade in the winter in most but active ingredients can further improve this process."

"I think of it like a chronic condition," says Dr Ahmed, "as you might not see signs of pigmentation but under the skin it might still be there. I think of it like someone with diabetes, for example. Your numbers might be under control but actually the second you start eating sweets, or something you shouldn't be. It's similar to pigmentation and being in the sun it will come back. So you might not see it on the outside but under the skin and in your body it's still there."