Treating Stubborn Pigmentation: Can Oral Supplements Help?

Hyperpigmentation is one of the most stubborn skin issues to treat. Appearing as flat and darkened patches on the skin, these spots can take months or even years to fade. There are also cases where they do not improve at all, or worse, darken over time. This is especially true with UV exposure, hormonal fluctuations, and certain medications.

While certain dark spots do improve with lightening creams and serums, some only produce subtle results and can take a few to several months to see improvements. It is also common for pigmentation to return if you stop the treatment or use aggressive and incorrect products.

Are topical products still worth it?

If you have tried topical skincare with little to no satisfactory results, you may be wondering if there are other non-invasive solutions that can lighten hyperpigmentation. Medical-grade skincare brands can help, especially those that use clinically-proven ingredients that can reduce melanin production. 

A consultation with a dermatologist or aesthetic doctor can help determine which products are suitable for your skin. Professional or medical-grade skincare is likely to produce more visible results than many over-the-counter (OTC) skincare products. Practicing sun-safety measures also helps, especially in preventing those spots from recurring.

How about oral supplements?

Certain oral supplements may also help, especially in treating or improving melasma and other stubborn pigmentation. At Cutis, we have a prescription supplement called Diamond Tomato, which contains clinically-proven ingredients that can help promote radiant skin from within. 

The formulation contains Tranexamic acid and Phytofloral, which are found safe and effective in treating melasma and brown spots, according to clinical studies. They can also protect and rejuvenate the skin from within. 

• Tranexamic acid –  is a natural dietary supplement made from an amino acid called lysine. This is used to treat heavy bleeding, but can also reduce melasma significantly in lower concentrations.
• Phytofloral – is a natural antioxidant that can protect the skin from free radicals and harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. It comes from non-chemical processed tomatoes with phytoene and phytofluene. These are the only carotenoids in nature that are colorless and can absorb UVA and UVB light.

According to clinical studies, results can be seen within eight to 12 weeks. These, however, may still vary from patient to patient. Diamond Tomato is only available through prescription. 

Good skincare habits matter too

Aside from the use of skin lighteners or prescription supplements, it is also important to mind your lifestyle and skincare habits. Below are the things you can do to prevent them or reduce the risk of making existing dark spots darker.

Protect your skin from the sun – As sun exposure can worsen existing pigmentations, it is important to prioritize sun protection. Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 whenever going out. It is also advisable to limit sun exposure, especially during peak hours, between 10 am and 4 pm. 

Avoid touching your face – Picking, popping, or squeezing your blemishes only prolong the healing process. They can also increase your risk of scarring and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. 

Avoid over-exfoliating – While this can help brighten your skin and fade scars naturally, overdoing it can do more harm than good. It can lead to irritation and make your scars and dark spots worse. Go with gentle exfoliating ingredients, as well as mild products that have no synthetic or added fragrance.

Don’t wax– This is especially advisable on areas affected by melasma. Waxing can only trigger irritation or inflammation that can exacerbate your skin condition. If you need to remove excess or unwanted hair in areas with stubborn pigmentation, ask your doctor for other safe and effective hair removal methods. 

How Cutis can help

Apart from Diamond Tomato, we at Cutis also have laser and resurfacing treatments that can lighten different types of pigmentation. We also have depigmentation solutions that can target the pigment buildup in the skin and reduce or eliminate certain blemishes.

If you have long been dealing with pigmentation and want to get radiant or glowing skin, get in touch with us. Contact Cutis Medical Laser Clinics in Singapore and schedule a consultation with our aesthetic doctor to learn more about Diamond Tomato and our other hyperpigmentation treatments.