Skin whitening sits at the border between cosmetic procedures and dermatological ones. This is probably the reason for which you will find skin whitening treatments both in the dermatologist's office and in the cosmetic offices. Depending on the type of hyperpigmentation you want to treat, one or the other locations is recommended. For example, if you have only some brownish spots to treat, a cosmetic salon or spa may do the job quite well, but if the hyperpigmentation is accentuated, you may want a professional doctor to take care of this procedure and supervise it along the way.

There are many treatments which can be done by professionals in order to remove the stains from your skin and whiten the patches of skin affected by hyperpigmentation. One of the most common treatments is the one which presupposes the chemic exfoliation of the upper layer of skin affected by hyperpigmentation. For this you will have to go previously to the office and ask the dermatologist what type of chemical substance would better suit your skin. AHA, BHA and Retinoid are only some of the most used substances which can exfoliate the skin. Once the substance which is going to be used is chosen, the skin will be thoroughly cleaned, so that no impurities are left on the face. Then the substance is placed on the area to be treated and left there for about 10 to 30 minutes, depending on the concentration of the substance as well as your type of skin and the severity of the issue to be treated.

Then, the substance is gently removed, the skin is cleaned again carefully so that no substance will remain on the skin and a moisturizer is applied to soothe the skin and avoid dryness. In a couple of days the skin will become flaky and will start to peel off. Do not pick at it as you may scar the skin. You will also have to stay away from the sun and use sunscreen if you have to go out. Particular indications will be given to you by the dermatologist according to the type of skin and the substance which has been used for treatment.

Other professional treatments include laser treatment, microdermabrasion or bleaching treatments. Bleaching treatments are quite similar to the ones presented above, with the exception that the skin will not be peeled off, but rather will start to discolor in time. The laser treatment includes the cleaning stage, the actual stage where a gel is placed on the skin and the laser light is applied on the skin. Then the gel removed and some indications are given to the patient. This treatment usually involves more than one session, but this is something which must be discussed with the dermatologist.

Professional treatments are quite safe if they are done by specialists. However, the costs are quite big and not everyone can afford them.