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Brown patches, uneven skin, and unwanted freckles are the bane of many South African women’s existence.

The reasonably temperate climate in South Africa, which demands free time spent happily in the sun, doesn’t help with these pigmentation issues, either.

That hasn’t stopped many women from thinking deeply about the needs of their skin and taking substantial steps to put their best face forward.

Skin management is a lifelong task, and knowledge is power.

That’s where the medical aesthetics team at Skin Renewal comes in, who knows exactly how to keep you marching forward in your skincare journey, managing skin pigmentation along the way.

The first thing to think about when it comes to your pigmentation concern is sunscreen.

I scream, you scream, we should all scream for sunscreen.

This goes for women with all different kinds of skin tones, too. Even though darker skin types naturally have more melanin (pigment) in their complexions, it doesn’t translate to zero sunburns or no risk of skin cancers.

Many of us forget just how ruthless the sun is when it comes to damaging the skin. With UVA and UVB as its sidekick, its rays can wreak havoc even when you’re sitting inside by a window or in your car.

Winter might make you shiver, but the sun still hits the same, so protection remains vital.

Also, don’t just settle for an SPF 15 in your day cream. Rather, invest in a good broad-spectrum SPF 30 or 50 to apply every day, come rain or shine.

Throw on a hat and some light linen sleeves and you will be on your way to complexion perfection.

There’s also something to be said for avoiding the heat in general.

That’s because even just a hot, enclosed environment in your own home (like a steamy shower) could cause inflammation that in turn stimulates melanin production. This can aggravate patches of pigmentation, and yes, you guessed it, lead to uneven skin tone.

That is really something to think about for all the warmth-seekers and beachgoers among us.

The next thing to be aware of is hormones.

From birth control to pregnancy, a women’s skin is known to mirror what’s happening with her oestrogen levels, and melasma (hormonal pigmentation) can strike out during these moments.

Even after you have given birth, after-pregnancy melasma (chloasma) means this problem may hang around.

Likewise, stopping oral contraceptives doesn’t necessarily mean you will be melasma free.

Luckily, Skin Renewal has decades of experience treating all types of hyperpigmentation, including melasma.

Just give your doctor the lowdown of where you are in your journey, and they will advise and treat, all with a strategic plan to keep your hormonal health in check.

To find out more about the causes and treatments for your pigmentation concern, make an appointment with one of the doctors at Skin Renewal, sooner than later.

In the meantime, don’t forget to wear sunscreen.