Retinoids
Hydroquinone is often paired with other topical ingredients, mainly retinoids and steroids, which can also help treat psoriasis. But sometimes they’ll use a retinoid alone, “which has been shown to help with the post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation,” Dr. Wieder says.
If your dermatologist thinks multiple ingredients may help, they might prescribe a compounded cream with the ingredients combined for you. This reduces the need to apply multiple products, which can feel overwhelming or cumbersome, and ensures you’re getting the exact percentage of each ingredient your skin needs. “A brightening agent that has the steroid combined with the hydroquinone and the retinoid is actually helpful for both the psoriasis and the hyperpigmentation,” Dr. Evans says. Dr. Miller agrees, noting that these ingredients tend to work better when combined.
Again, you’ll want a dermatologist to guide you through this treatment. Retinoids such as tretinoin can help, but “tretinoin and even hydroquinone can be irritating,” which could lead to more post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, Dr. Wieder says. “I’ll lower the retinoid amount in people who have sensitive skin, but if you keep the retinoid prescription at 0.025%, sometimes certain insurances do cover those compounds.”
Sun protection
While sunscreen won’t reverse hyperpigmentation, proper sun protection is crucial to treating it. “Hyperpigmentation is pigmented skin,” Dr. Evans says. “All pigmented skin likes to get more pigmented with the sun, so keeping out of sunlight is helpful to prevent it from getting worse.”
Dr. Miller even likes to schedule his patients’ hyperpigmentation treatment during a time when they’re at a lower risk for sun exposure—like the middle of winter, provided there are no sunny vacations on the horizon. “We don’t want people to be exposed to natural sunlight if we can avoid it,” Dr. Miller says.
In-office treatments that can help with hyperpigmentation
Although sunlight can worsen hyperpigmentation, derms recommend certain light-based in-office treatments—for both psoriasis and any residual dark patches—if topical treatments haven’t been fully effective. “The laser that can help psoriasis is called an excimer laser,” Dr. Wieder says. “That laser does not help the discoloration that a plaque of psoriasis leaves, but truly treats the psoriasis only.” But, as previously mentioned, treating psoriasis early and aggressively can reduce your chance of developing residual hyperpigmentation.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: www.allure.com
