I'd like some advice from those level 3 skincare geeks please! My mum has patches of pigmentation on her skin and the ones on her face are really bothering her as they have started getting worse.

In the past she has used various lightening creams etc which haven't been very effective and she would like to know what advanced facials she should have which would help.

She is 58 years old and although she has used sun screen for as long as I can remember, and isn't a sun worshiper, she just has skin that is more prone to pigmentation. She has normal skin (which use to be oily) and takes good care of her skin.

Any info would be really good thanks.x

This must be a frustrating condition for your poor old mum

When you say pigmentation are these patches or spots of dark colour.

When you say the ones on her face are bothering her..do you mean simply the look or are they sore or itchy etc?

What skin type is she,eye and hair colour?

She has patches of darker skin. No they aren't itchy or anything, she just doesn't like what they look like!
She has dark hair, brown eyes and olive skin, with a normal skin type.

Pigmentation growth is something all of us will suffer from the older we get and unfortunately is unavoidable....thank goodness its just pigmentation growth and not something else

So having tried to lighten the pigmentation colour and given that your mum is of a dark complexion has she considered darkening her paler skin...this could be achieved with a moisturiser that contains a DHA additive.
If she is of olive skin type ,brown eyes and dark hair this may well look quiet natural for her.

Just a long shot but maybe one worth considering or at least trying

Mmmm - I do not agree with this. Tanning products enhance pigmentation not diminish it. Even people who use sunscreen do not always a) use enough b) use it regularly - every few hours c) buy a good one with antioxidants.

Your Mum needs to use a specific lightening range (I use Nimue with good results) Deep pigmentation will take longer to treat and it may look darker as it comes to the surface. Hormone medications and perfumed products can cause pigmentation in conjunction with UV light so investigating these can help pinpoint causes. Ageing is a factor but you can certainly diminsh pigmentation whilst preventing more.

Thanks for your reply's. I have a skin care qualification, so I'm aware of why and how this happens. I was just hoping someone might be able to point us in the right direction of what stronger treatments would be beneficial.
I've researched it and found that either microdermabrasion or laser treatment might be good, but there are so many different sorts I was hoping for a bit more guidance.

I don't think she would want to go any darker and I too am not sure how that would help, surly the area of pigmentation would darken also?

P.S Collin my mum is only 58 not not 88!

I would look for a cosmeceutical skincare range, and think about committing to say, a course of 6 facials (weekly) then a monthly facial for maintenance, also use of recommended homecare, and not expect overnight results. I would actually get in the mindset that it might take, say 2 years, and I would definitely take before, during, and after pics! When our skin improves, it's easy to forget how unhappy we were with it, so photos are great to actually see improvement.

I agree with Zoe.
Environ is a range which gets good result for pigmentation. You could try and find a salon local to you.

I get dark patches on the side of my face especially in the sun. I used an avon cream and it really helped! Can't remember the name at the mo but will check in my bathroom and post it later. Couldn't believe how good it was!

Hmm, not sure I like the idea of promoting Avon. It is not a range which comes with qualified, professional advice just for YOU, so we ought really stick to recommending pro products.

Thanks for everyone's reply's.x

Hyperpigmentation is worse in people who have more melanin in thier skin. The problem with lightening cream's or peel's is that as soon as you go out in the sun the process starts over. There can be many reason's for the hyperpigmentation such as sun exposure, melasma (caused from hormones) or the wrong chemical peel's. That right, a chemical peel on a person with a lot of melanin in the skin can cause it too. You have to look at heritage before deciding on peel's. You can be fair skin but have ancestor's with dark skin that you never even met and all of a sudden that ancestor pop's up on your face. At the age of 58 you are chasing your tail around in circles to fix that problem. Fade creams will help but the best thing would be to consult a Dermatoligist and get some laser treatment's. They have many different lasers now and the treatments would be more effective than a cream. The lasers are not as expensive as they used to be.

I have been using the new Dermalogica Chroma White TRx range on my clients with pigmentation with fantastic results.

Hi

I would recommend your mum to try the MD Formulations range.

The products contain Glycolic Acid which is derived from sugar cane and will help to exfoliate the pigment off. There are also other 'correct' products in the range which are specifically formulated to illuminate.

MD do starter packs and there is one availiable for pigmentated skin MD Formulations by Bare Escentuals: Illuminating Skin Solution Kit for only £49.95 and contains everything you need to help lighten pigmentation.

I would also recommend her to have a course of MD Forumlations Alpha/Beta Skin Peels to help lighten that pigmentation even more. Typically you would have a course of 6 (1 per week) but you may need more depending on how deep/dark the pigment is. Definatley take photos before commencing with any treatment.

Another piece of advice is if you see no improvement in the pigmentaion within 3 months maybe try laser resurfacing as it will be deeper. Also be aware that when treating pigentation you may notice it getting darker first of all, this is because the pigment is slowly making it's way to the surface of the skin.