Hyperpigmentation problems begin to affect us as we age. You may notice that your even skin tone is gone and that you now have larger spots that have begun to surface on your face, hands, and chest.

This blotchiness can lead affect your appearance and self esteem. Hyperpigmentation problems are often caused by hormonal issues that may appear during or after pregnancy and can also be caused by over exposure to the sunlight. No matter what the cause may be, most women are eager to find a solution.

When hyperpigmentation problems present themselves on the face it is known as melasma. Darker skinned women are the most prone to suffer this type of skin problem, however, it is more noticeable in lighter skinned individuals.

The most common types of melasma treatments usually rely on skin whitening products and procedures. These procedures strive to reduce and control the amount of melanin in each cell. The most common whitening techniques include laser treatments, chemical peels and bleaching products.

The intensity of a chemical peel can be controlled to best suit your needs, making it a great option in the treatment of melasma. The depth of a peel will depend on the chemicals used by the specialist performing the procedure. If at any moment you experience any discomfort, they specialist may use cooling agents or topical anesthetics to treat the problem.

Laser treatment will work on melasma, but it can also lead to more hyperpigmentation and even hypopigmentation problems. Laser treatment is usually recommended most for darker skinned individuals, but can produce inconsistent results in some people, so be wary.

A bleaching cream will lighten the skin and work best over larger areas of the skin. Bleaching creams contain a variety of different active ingredients.

Hydroquinone is one of the best known bleaching ingredients. This ingredient may lead to a few minor problems such as irritation or discoloration, but there are safer alternatives.

Azelaic acid, also used in acne medication, is a common alternative to hydroquinone. Kojic acid in conjunction with glycolic acid has also been proven to be a good alternative to hydroquinone.

After having undergone any of these products you should pay special attention to the following precaution. Since bleaching procedures correct skin tone by eliminating melanin, our skin's natural sun block, it is important to use a strong sunscreen product. Ask your doctor to recommend the best SPF for your particular case.