Hyperpigmentation
Melanin is a pigment naturally present in the body, that is responsible for skin tone as well as hair and eye colour. Hyperpigmentation occurs when melanin is overproduced in certain areas of the skin, resulting in patches of darkening or discolouration.
The most common types of hyperpigmentation include sun spots, age spots (liver spots), post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and melasma or chloasma.
Signs & Symptoms of Hyperpigmentation
Our patients present symptoms such as:
- Blemishes of red, brown, pink or purple colour
- Oval spots on the skin, freckles
- Uneven patches of darkened skin that vary in shape and size
All of these symptoms are often exacerbated by sun exposure.
Causes of Hyperpigmentation
To our knowledge, hyperpigmentation can be brought on by:
- Sun exposure
- Age
- Hormonal changes (pregnancy, menopause, hormonal birth control)
- Skin injury from cuts, burns, acne, eczema or psoriasis
- Certain illnesses
- Certain medications
- Exposure to chemicals and pollutants
- Nutritional deficiencies
- Stress
How we treat Hyperpigmentation
As practitioners of Traditional Chinese medicine, we at the Nei Jing center in Jerusalem treat skin problems as an expression of underlying imbalances deeper in the body. To address these imbalances, we use for each of our patients a unique combination of:
- Acupuncture and laser acupuncture
- Chinese herbs
- Tuina massage and cupping
- Reflexology
- Naturopathic advice for lifestyle and nutrition
Over and over, we have found in our practice that these methods very effectively encourage the body to heal itself from within, so that skin conditions can improve on their own naturally.
