Pigmentation & Sun Damage

Pigmentation describes any area where the skin produces more melanin, the pigment that gives skin its colour. Sun spots and age spots, sometimes called solar lentigines, are flat brown marks on the face, hands and chest that build up after years of sun exposure. Freckles darken in summer, melasma appears as larger symmetrical patches often linked to hormones, and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation is the dark mark left behind after a spot, burn or injury. Sun damage also shows as rough texture, fine lines and dullness.

Melanin is the skin's natural defence against ultraviolet light. Each time skin is exposed, pigment cells produce more of it, and over decades this protective response becomes patchy and uneven. Hormonal changes in pregnancy or with the contraceptive pill can trigger melasma, while inflammation from acne or eczema can leave lingering marks, especially in darker skin tones. Heat, visible light and some medicines can also make pigmentation worse, which is why it often returns without consistent protection.

Sun spots and texture changes from photoageing often respond well to resurfacing, and most clients see a brighter, more even tone as fresh skin replaces damaged layers. Melasma is different: it is easily aggravated by heat and can worsen after aggressive treatment, so it needs careful assessment and a cautious approach. Whatever your pigmentation type, daily SPF is essential to keep results. At our Southwell clinic we identify what kind of pigmentation you have before recommending any treatment.