Melasma – meet your match!

Do you suffer from hormonal pigmentation? Symmetrical, blotchy hyperpigmented patches on the face (cheeks, bridge of nose, forehead and upper lip)? Like somebody took brown paint and splattered it on the skin then painted on a permanent moustache?

Here are Dr Vanessa Lapiner’s ABCDE’s to target pigmentation and prevent it from rearing its head again.

A = AVOID triggers such as sun exposure, oestrogen-containing oral contraceptives, blue light from devices and heat.

B = BLOCK OUT THE SUN: Wide-brimmed hats, sun-avoidance behaviour and mineral sunscreens such as root4’s gloriously creamy 3D Defense SPF50 Mineral Sunscreen. Boost your sunscreen’s efficacy with antioxidants such as Vit C, E, Ferulic acid, resveratrol and niacinamide found in the Complete Serum or Face Crème Originale.

C= CHEMICAL EXFOLIANTS: Gently lift away the pigmentation and encourage a faster skin cell turnover cycle by exfoliating twice weekly with the root4 MultiMasker containing lactic acid.

D = DEDICATED TYROSINASE INHIBITORS such as alpha-arbutin found in the Mask Antidote which targets tyrosinase: the critical enzyme in the pigmentation pathway.

E = EAT PHOTOPROTECTIVE FOODS AND SUPPLEMENT WITH THE MELANO-CORRECT SKIN PODS: Target pigmentation from the inside-out with sun-protective carotenoids (tomatoes, pumpkin, carrots), goji berries and foods high in Vitamin E such as sunflower seeds together with root4’s innovative skin pods which brighten and fade dark spots.