How to Identify and Treat Hyperpigmentation

Hyperpigmentation is one of the most common skin concerns, and one of the most frustrating. It can show up as dark spots, patches, or uneven skin tone, and often lingers long after acne clears or sun exposure fades. If you have hyperpigmentation, you’ve likely tried countless brightening serums and harsh exfoliants but are lacking real results.

That’s because hyperpigmentation affects people differently and doesn’t have a one-size-fits-all solution. In this blog, we’ll help you understand the underlying cause of your pigmentation, how to spot the different types, and which treatments are actually worth your time.

What Causes Hyperpigmentation?

Hyperpigmentation happens when your skin produces too much melanin, which is the pigment responsible for your natural skin tone. There are several factors that can trigger an excess of melanin production, such as:

• Sun exposure  
• Hormonal changes like pregnancy or birth control  
• Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation  
• Genetics
• Skin trauma  

By understanding what’s causing your pigmentation, you’re taking the first step to properly treating it.  

How to Identify Your Type of Hyperpigmentation

Knowing which form of hyperpigmentation you’re dealing with can help guide the right treatment:  

Melasma:

Usually triggered by hormones, melasma shows up as symmetrical patches often on the cheeks, forehead, or upper lip. It’s more common in women as it can be triggered by hormone-related conditions.  

Sunspots (solar lentigines):

These are small, defined dark spots caused by sun exposure, usually on areas like the face, chest, and hands.  

Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PH):

This type of hyperpigmentation is the aftermath of acne, irritation, or injury. These marks tend to be flat and fade slowly without treatment.  

What are the Best Treatments for Hyperpigmentation?  

The most effective treatments for pigmentation do much more than just brightening, they help to calm inflammation, support your skin barrier, and prevent the formation of new pigmentation.

Some key ingredients to look out for include:

• Azelaic acid and niacinamide:
  A dream team for pigmentation, azelaic acid and niacinamide work together to calm inflammation, regulate pigment production, and gently even out skin tone.  
• Tretinoin:
  ‍Tretinoin helps to speed up cell turnover to fade discolouration and reveal brighter skin underneath.  
• SPF:
  Possibly the most important step. Without daily sun protection, any pigmentation removal will be short-lived.  

Remember that pigmentation needs consistency – not intensity. Be sure to avoid DIY solutions, harsh scrubs, and overdoing active ingredients if you want to see real improvement.  .

Why Choose MiQuest to Treat Hyperpigmentation?  

At MiQuest, we’re proud to be transforming complexions all over the UK. We use our medically backed AI to analyse your skin and determine your unique skin type and needs, and from there, our expert prescribers create a personalise prescription routine just for you.  

Whether you’re dealing with melasma, post-acne marks, or dull skin, we tailor treatments using proven active ingredients — all formulated into your very own Q-Stick. It’s a smarter, science-backed approach to pigmentation removal that also works for complex concerns like rosacea or melasma. (And yes, we also offer prescription cream for rosacea if your skin needs more support.)

If you’ve tried everything for pigmentation and nothing seems to work, the key isn’t more products, it’s the right ones. By identifying the type of pigmentation you’re dealing with and building a targeted, personalised routine, real results become possible.

If you're looking for a trustworthy pigmentation removal cream in the UK - you’ve found it. Start your MiQuest journey today for just £2.99!