They say 'every face tells a story' and that couldn't be truer of mine at the moment. My face tells the story of a woman who has just returned from a week's holiday in Greece, where, despite wearing a factor 50 facial sunscreen every single day, alongside a beautiful wide-brimmed hat that complemented every single outfit, she has the tell-tale signs of sun exposure. There are freckles across the nose and uneven dark patches along the jawline and forehead. Cow print might have had a fashion moment earlier this year, but that sort of pattern across the complexion is evidence of hyperpigmentation.
Hyperpigmentation is, understandably, one of the biggest skin concerns post-summer. Increased UV exposure stimulates our pigment-producing cells (melanocytes) to produce more melanin as a defence mechanism. It can affect all ages and all skin types, but those with a history of freckles, dark sun spots, melasma or post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (left behind from conditions like acne or eczema) will often find that things get worse during the summer months.
