what causes uneven skin tone?
An uneven skin tone, called hyperpigmentation, is irregular darkening of the skin. The cause: overproduction of melanin, the pigment responsible for skin and hair color. The resulting dark patches and spots are typically perceived as “aged skin” and can make you look more than 12 years older.
How is uneven skin tone caused?
Sun exposure: When your skin is repeatedly exposed to UV light, sun damage occurs. Brown spots and uneven skin tone develop as a result of too much melanin being produced to help protect your skin from UV light.
Pollution: Particles and gasses from traffic-related air pollution are able to penetrate the skin and lead to formation of brown spots, particularly on the face.
Hormones: Melasma is hormone-related hyperpigmentation caused by increased hormone stimulation. It’s most commonly experienced by women who are pregnant (which is why it’s also known as the “mask of pregnancy”) or taking contraceptives, but can also be a reaction to cosmetics or medications.
Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation: This is a darkening of the skin as a result of scarring, which can be caused by acne lesions or skin injury.
Treatment
Micropigmentation, also referred as semi permanent make-up or dermal-pigmentation, is a process whereby completely natural inorganic pigments are implanted beneath the epidermis (top layer of skin), into the dermal layer (second layer of skin), by needle micro insertion. This technique has been medically developed and specifically designed for a safe semi permanent application. Permanent cosmetics is a safe and natural-looking alternative to the expense and daily routine of applying makeup upon waking in the morning and often times throughout the day. It is a state-of-the-art technique of applying long lasting makeup via intradermal micropigmentation. Properly applied by an experienced physician, nurse or technician, micropigmentation will be more natural and realistic in appearance as compared to conventional cosmetics. The medical grade pigments used have been specially formulated for this kind of procedure.
Why Micropigmentation is not Tattooing?
Most of people refer to micropigmentation as cosmetic tattooing, which is incorrect. The principle seems to be similar to tattooing in that a pigment is implanted into the skin, but the aesthetic result is quite different. Micropigmentation cannot be done with tattoo pigments, it would result in pigment migration between the layers of the skin, leaving dark spots or even blotches. Tattoo machines are not appropriate to do this delicate job: tattoo needles reach a deeper layer resulting in cold undertones (Ex: blue/gray eyebrows and eyeliners, purple lip liners). Tattoo techniques are not able to provide natural effects, like hair by hair (stroke by stroke) and multidimensional eyebrows and lips corrections.
Micropigmentation is done in 2 or even 3 sessions. Initially a sketch is done with regular make-up once the shape and color will be defined and the client will have a close idea about the final appearance. The touch up is done 30 days after to enhance the color and give a perfect finish. Sometimes, a second touch up is required when the client wishes bold eyeliners or darker eyebrows. Micropigmentation procedures are much more tolerable than tattoo. On micropigmentation numbing anesthetic cream is generously applied 20 minutes before the procedure and is reapplied to avoid any uncomfortable pain.