Does Exfoliating Help with Hyperpigmentation?
Exfoliation is an essential step in any skincare routine, no matter your skin type. While cleansing, moisturizing, and sunscreen are all equally important, exfoliation will ensure that your skin is the healthiest it can be.
When you exfoliate your skin, you are removing dead skin cells from the skin’s surface. Exfoliating scrubs are able to regenerate skin cells faster, allowing the skin to look smoother rather than rough or dry. By successfully completing this process, your pores will become unclogged, releasing fresh cells and opening a pathway for skincare products to penetrate deeper into the skin.
While exfoliation achieves all of these skincare solutions and more, did you also know that exfoliating the skin has been known to help with hyperpigmentation? If you feel you have tried everything and don’t know where to turn, keep reading below to find out how you can remove those blemishes once and for all.
What is Hyperpigmentation / Causes
Hyperpigmentation isn’t classified as a skin condition, but it can appear as a symptom of other medical conditions. When your skin shows excess pigmentation, it can appear in large patches, small areas, or even across the entire body.
A major cause is the overproduction of melanin—the pigment that gives skin its color. Melanocytes produce melanin, and several conditions, injuries, and even medications can cause excessive melanin production.
The most common types of hyperpigmentation are melasma, sunspots, and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
Melasma is often caused by hormonal changes, including during pregnancy. These patches most often appear on the face or stomach.
Sunspots (also known as “liver spots” or “solar lentigines”) are caused by accumulated sun exposure. They typically appear on the hands and face but can occur anywhere exposed to sunlight.
Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation most commonly results from injury or inflammation, such as acne.
Keep reading below to find out how you can remove those blemishes once and for all.
Exfoliation’s Role in Hyperpigmentation
By incorporating exfoliation into your skincare routine, it can lessen the symptoms of hyperpigmentation and often clear your skin entirely. Exfoliation reduces excess melanin by breaking up pigmented cells and speeding up dead-skin shedding.
Pigmentation tends to accumulate as we get older and our skin sheds dead cells more slowly. This contributes to aging signs such as dark spots and wrinkles.
Now that you’re aware of the benefits of exfoliation, how do you know if you’re doing it properly for the best results?
How to Properly Exfoliate
Generally, it takes about 30 days for the natural skin renewal cycle to occur. This includes generating new cells and shedding old ones.
Home exfoliation remedies like sugar scrubs or professional facials can help. Look for smooth scrubs with micro-exfoliating acids. Avoid harsh scrubbing, which can irritate skin. Gentle exfoliation is always recommended.
For dry or sensitive skin, exfoliate only 1–2 times per week. Toner can help refine pores further by removing leftover makeup or dirt missed by cleansing.
Retinoids also help with hyperpigmentation. Because pigment lies deep in the skin, its natural fading process is slow. Retinoids speed this process by increasing cell turnover, helping smooth and soften the skin.
Conclusion: Does Exfoliating Help with Pigmentation?
If you’re unsure about the exact cause of your hyperpigmentation, consult a dermatologist. At-home solutions such as exfoliating scrubs may temporarily resolve or even fully clear the pigmentation. When using these products, always start with the lowest concentration of active ingredients.
Always patch-test new products on a small area for a few days to detect inflammation or irritation.
In general, hyperpigmentation is usually harmless. With proper sun protection, dark spots may fade naturally without professional treatment. Each person’s skin is different, and it may take trial and error to find what works best for smoother, brighter skin.
