The older we get the more hyperpigmentation problems seem to surface. You may notice that your even skin tone is gone and that you now have larger spots that have begun to surface on your face, hands, and chest.

This blotchiness can lead affect your appearance and self esteem. Hyperpigmentation problems can often appear because of pregnancy or overexposure to sunlight. No matter what the cause may be, most women are eager to find a solution.

When this skin condition presents itself on your face it is known as melasma. Darker skinned women are the most prone to suffer this type of skin problem. Even though it is not as prevalent in lighter skinned individuals, it can be more noticeable.

Most melasma treatments will rely on skin whitening products and procedures to help treat this condition. These procedures strive to reduce and control the amount of melanin in each cell. The most common whitening techniques include laser treatments, chemical peels and bleaching products.

The intensity of a chemical peel can be controlled to best suit your needs, making it a great option in the treatment of melasma. The depth of the peel will depend on the chemicals the specialist uses to perform it, and any discomfort that you may experience will be treated with cooling agents or topical anesthetics.

Even though laser treatments will work on melasma, they can lead to more hyperpigmentation and even hypopigmentation problems. Laser treatment is usually recommended most for darker skinned individuals, but can produce inconsistent results in some people, so be wary.

A bleaching cream will lighten the skin and work best over larger areas of the skin. There are a variety of active ingredients that different bleaching creams contain.

Hydroquinone is one of the best known bleaching ingredients. This ingredient may lead to a few minor problems such as irritation or discoloration, but there are safer alternatives.

Azelaic acid is one such alternative that is also used in acne medication. Kojic acid and glycolic acid have also been proven to be a good alternative to hydroquinone.

Once you've undergone any of these products you should take special heed to the following precaution. Since bleaching procedures are meant to correct skin tone by eliminating melanin - our skin's natural sun block - then it is vital that we use a strong sunscreen to protect it. If you're not sure which SPF is best for you, ask your doctor to recommend one.