Why Pigmentation Gets Worse With Age (and How to Reverse It)

Summary

Biohacking Beauty: The Anti-Aging Skincare Podcast Episode: Why Pigmentation Gets Worse With Age (and How to Reverse It)
Release Date: August 13, 2025
Host: Amitai Eshel
Co-Host: Anastasia Hojai

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Introduction

In this episode of Biohacking Beauty, hosts Amitai Eshel and Anastasia Hojai delve deep into the topic of skin pigmentation, exploring why it becomes more pronounced with age and how to effectively reverse its effects. The discussion is anchored in scientific insights and practical biohacks aimed at achieving a more youthful and even skin tone.

Understanding Pigmentation and Its Worsening with Age

Anastasia Hojai kicks off the conversation by defining pigmentation and explaining its increase as we age.

“Pigmentation isn’t just cosmetic. It’s often a reflection of underlying cellular stress.”
— Anastasia Hojai [00:49]

Pigmentation, or hyperpigmentation, occurs when melanocytes produce excess melanin, leading to dark spots such as sunspots, melasma, or post-inflammatory marks from acne or injury. Anastasia emphasizes that while sun exposure is a major trigger, hormones, medications, inflammation, and oxidative stress also significantly contribute. As skin ages, its ability to regulate melanin production diminishes, making pigmentation more persistent.

Cellular Mechanisms Behind Pigmentation

Amitai Eshel delves into the cellular processes that exacerbate pigmentation with aging.

“UV exposure and inflammation activate tyrosinase, the enzyme that drives melanin production.”
— Amitai Eshel [03:29]

He explains that UV rays and inflammation trigger tyrosinase, an enzyme that stimulates melanocytes to produce melanin. Aging cells accumulate oxidative stress, further enhancing this process through pathways like WNT Beta and, in certain conditions, JAK Stat. This cellular stress leads to persistent and more stubborn pigmentation, especially in deeper skin tones where post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation can last for months.

Misconceptions and Comprehensive Approaches to Pigmentation

Anastasia Hojai addresses common misconceptions, asserting that pigmentation is not solely due to sun damage.

“The real fix requires addressing both external triggers and internal imbalances.”
— Anastasia Hojai [04:51]

She emphasizes that to effectively manage pigmentation, one must tackle both the external factors (like sun exposure) and internal issues (such as hormonal imbalances and inflammation). Ignoring these internal mechanisms can lead to rebound pigmentation despite external treatments.

Tracking and Identifying Triggers

Amitai Eshel suggests practical methods for tracking pigmentation to identify triggers.

“Start by tracking your pigmentation. Log when spots appear after sun exposure, acne, or hormonal changes.”
— Amitai Eshel [05:09]

He recommends taking weekly photos under consistent lighting to monitor changes and identify patterns related to sun exposure, acne breakouts, or hormonal fluctuations, such as those during the menstrual cycle or hormonal therapy.

Hormonal Influence and Estrogen Creams

A significant portion of the discussion focuses on the impact of hormones, particularly estrogen, on pigmentation.

“Estrogen stimulates WNT Beta, which can drive hyperpigmentation.”
— Amitai Eshel [06:01]

Amitai highlights an often-overlooked issue: individuals undergoing hormone replacement therapy and using estrogen creams may experience increased pigmentation as estrogen activates the WNT Beta pathway. Anastasia notes that while estrogen creams can be beneficial, it's crucial to mitigate the associated photosensitivity by using protective measures like SPF.

The Crucial Role of Sunscreen (SPF)

Both hosts underscore the indispensable role of sunscreen in managing pigmentation.

“UV exposure is the most consistent driver of melanin production. Daily SPF use can reduce post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation by up to 98% in skin of color.”
— Amitai Eshel [07:24]

Anastasia elaborates on the multifaceted benefits of SPF, explaining that it not only blocks UV rays but also contains physical blockers like zinc oxide and anti-inflammatory agents like iron oxide. These components help reduce flare-ups in conditions such as melasma. She advises using broad-spectrum SPF 40, emphasizing the importance of proper application to ensure full coverage. Additionally, Anastasia reminds listeners that physical sunscreens need to be reapplied after activities like sweating or washing the face.

Skincare Ingredients for Managing Pigmentation

The discussion transitions to effective skincare ingredients that help regulate pigmentation.

Classic Pigment Regulators

Anastasia Hojai introduces well-researched pigments regulators:

• THDA (Lipid-Based Vitamin C):

  “THDA is a stable, lipid-soluble form of vitamin C that inhibits tyrosinase and reduces oxidative stress, performing on par with hydroquinone for some users with fewer side effects.”
  — Anastasia Hojai [13:17]

• Ergothioneine:

  “Ergothioneine addresses hyperpigmentation by inhibiting melanin synthesis and neutralizing reactive oxygen species.”
  — Anastasia Hojai [13:24]

• Kojic Acid: Blocks tyrosinase and is especially useful for post-acne marks but is more effective for non-sensitive skin types.

• Azelaic Acid: Comparable to hydroquinone, particularly effective for darker skin types but less so for lighter skin.

  “Azelaic acid did not perform better than placebo with Caucasian skin.”
  — Amitai Eshel [14:54]

• Tranexamic Acid and Licorice Root Extract: Plant-based options that offer multi-pathway inhibition of pigmentation without side effects.

Deeper Acting Longevity Molecules

Anastasia discusses molecules that not only regulate pigmentation but also promote overall skin health:

• Resveratrol: A potent antioxidant that inhibits tyrosinase and reduces inflammation, making it a suitable alternative to hydroquinone for sensitive skin.

• NAD+ Precursors and Spermidine: These support DNA repair, mitochondrial function, and clear cellular waste, creating an environment conducive to even skin healing.

Honorable Mentions

Amitai Eshel touches upon additional ingredients like glycolic acid and retinol, which accelerate skin turnover and aid in pigmentation management.

Advanced Treatments: Laser Therapy

When pigmentation becomes stubborn, laser therapy emerges as a viable option. The hosts discuss the nuances of laser treatments:

“Lasers work by breaking up melanin clusters so your body can remove them naturally.”
— Anastasia Hojai [23:26]

Anastasia explains different types of lasers:

• 730nm Titanium Sapphire Lasers: High efficacy (up to 88%) for melasma and dermal pigmentation.
• High Nanometer Lasers (e.g., 1000nm): Ideal for deeper lesions.
• IPL (Intense Pulsed Light): Suitable for more superficial spots.

Amitai emphasizes the importance of matching laser technology to individual skin types:

“Find a provider experienced with your specific skin type to avoid adverse effects.”
— Amitai Eshel [28:01]

Anastasia advises thorough preparation and aftercare, including the use of tyrosinase inhibitors, NAD+ precursors, spermidine, sunblock, and ergothioneine. She also suggests adopting a low-inflammatory diet and incorporating antioxidants like Glycidin during the laser treatment period.

Skincare Protocols and Recommendations

The hosts outline a comprehensive skincare protocol to manage pigmentation effectively:

1. Morning and Night:

   • Apply serums containing ergothioneine and/or THDA vitamin C.
   • Use NAD+ APEX products to support DNA repair and mitochondrial function.

2. Daily Protection:

   • Consistently use broad-spectrum SPF 40 with zinc oxide.
   • Reapply sunscreen after sweating or washing the face.

3. Dietary Support:

   • Boost NAD+ through consumption of foods like wild salmon, poultry, and fermented vegetables.
   • Increase spermidine intake via wheat germ and other spermidine-rich foods.

4. Advanced Supplements:

   • Incorporate supplements such as Glycidin and ergothioneine (both topical and oral) to enhance antioxidant defenses.

5. Tracking Progress:

   • Take before and after photos to monitor the effectiveness of the protocol.
   • Consider blood panels if introducing new supplements to track bodily responses.

Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Wrapping up the episode, Amitai Eshel and Anastasia Hojai reiterate the importance of a multi-faceted approach to managing pigmentation. They emphasize combining external treatments like SPF and targeted serums with internal support through diet and supplements. For those considering laser treatments, they advise thorough research and professional consultation to ensure safe and effective outcomes.

“Your skin deserves the future, not just another cream.”
— Anastasia Hojai [27:06]

The hosts encourage listeners to implement the discussed strategies diligently to achieve healthier, more youthful skin.

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Notable Quotes:

• Anastasia Hojai [00:49]: “Pigmentation isn’t just cosmetic. It’s often a reflection of underlying cellular stress.”
• Amitai Eshel [03:29]: “UV exposure and inflammation activate tyrosinase, the enzyme that drives melanin production.”
• Anastasia Hojai [04:51]: “The real fix requires addressing both external triggers and internal imbalances.”
• Amitai Eshel [07:24]: “Daily SPF use can reduce post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation by up to 98% in skin of color.”
• Anastasia Hojai [13:17]: “THDA is a stable, lipid-soluble form of vitamin C that inhibits tyrosinase and reduces oxidative stress.”
• Anastasia Hojai [23:26]: “Lasers work by breaking up melanin clusters so your body can remove them naturally.”
• Anastasia Hojai [27:06]: “Your skin deserves the future, not just another cream.”

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Resources Mentioned:

• Products: Yungoos BioShield SPF 40
• Experts: Dr. Molly Malouf, Dr. Amy Keelan
• Supplements: Glycidin (available on Amazon), ergothioneine (e.g., Quicksilver Scientific)

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Connect with Biohacking Beauty: For more insights and personalized skincare solutions, visit yungoos.com and explore their range of scientifically-backed products designed to rejuvenate and maintain youthful skin.

Transcript

[Amitai Eshel]

All right, welcome to Biohacking Beauty, where we unpack the science behind skin longevity and give you practical tools to reverse aging without fluff. I'm Amitai Eshel, co founder of Young Goose Skincare, and I am joined today by my co founder and longtime partner in both science and life, Anastasia Hojai. And I'm sure people will notice. It's because every time you're on the podcast, the podcast studio is significantly more.

[Anastasia Hojai]

Impressive than yes, I have much higher standards.

[Amitai Eshel]

Exactly. That is correct. In science and in life.

[Anastasia Hojai]

Yeah. And all of the above. I'm setting the standard around here, so. So thank you, Amitay. I'm really looking forward to today's topic. If you've ever noticed dark spots that seem to stick around no matter what, this is for you. Pigmentation isn't just cosmetic. It's often reflection of underlying cellular stress. So by the end of this episode, we'll walk you through a protocol that uses longevity science to restore and maintain an even healthy skin skin tone.

[Amitai Eshel]

And yes, listeners, don't forget to get. Oh, don't forget you get and get 10% off all Yungoos products. You get it. Including, well, you know what, everything. Anyway, I botched that. Guys. If you want to get 10% off, go to yungoos.com use podcast10 and@the [e-mail].

[Anastasia Hojai]

And you get get 10% off.

[Amitai Eshel]

10% off.

[Anastasia Hojai]

Anyway, and before we start, I'd love to share a listener's review and, and I, I. This is not Amitai's favorite part to brag.

[Amitai Eshel]

I mean reading the reviews I like, but.

[Anastasia Hojai]

But I have to do it because.

[Amitai Eshel]

Not in front of everyone. Yeah.

[Anastasia Hojai]

So lovely, lovely person that goes by Puppy Kittens. It's true. Love this sweet review.

[Amitai Eshel]

Love every product from Young Goose. I've tried and diving into the education behind them through this podcast. Thank you, Amitai and Anastasia. I am a fan. My face is glowing and I'm excited to follow you on the skin biohacking journey.

[Anastasia Hojai]

Thank you so much.

[Amitai Eshel]

Look what you did. You made me read a review. Anyway, we appreciate it. We love you. That's how we can reach more people and help more skins stay younger. Anyway, let's start with the basics. What exactly is pigmentation and why does it seem to get worse as we age?

[Anastasia Hojai]

For sure. So pigmentation or hyperpigmentation occurs when melanocytes produce excess melanin. It can show up as sunspots, melasma, or post inflammatory marks from. From acne or injury. Sun exposure is a major trigger but hormones, medication, inflammation, and oxidative stress also play a major role. So as we age, our skin's ability to regulate melanin production declines, making pigmentation more persistent again.

[Amitai Eshel]

Yeah. And on a cellular level, UV exposure and inflammation activate tyrosinase, the enzyme that drives melanin production. So that is the enzyme that stimulates this pigment cells, which again work less evenly as we age. There is an. From that dopaquinone is formed. Okay. So dopaquinone is then converted into different types of melanin. Aging cells accumulate oxidative stress or an oxidative load, which. Which further stimulates the process, especially through, if anyone wants to do like a deep dive, especially through WNT Beta. And to some extent, if you're talking about conditions with, let's say like vitiligo or something like that, through something called JAK Stat. J A K Stat. So if anyone is in that category, this is a different podcast, but just take a look at the relationship with something called JAK Stat, which is a different signaling pathway. But then mainly through WNT Beta. And in deeper skin tones, post inflammatory hyperpigmentation can linger for months. That's what actually happens to myself.

[Anastasia Hojai]

Yeah. So there is a misconception that pigmentation is only about sun damage. But if you ignore the aging and inflammatory mechanisms behind it, you can. You'll see rebound spots again and again. So the real fix requires addressing both external triggers and internal imbalances.

[Amitai Eshel]

Yeah, I would say start by tracking your pigmentation. So I would log when spots appear. So after sun, acne, or hormonal changes, like either your menstrual cycle or if you're doing hormonal therapy, for example, to.

[Anastasia Hojai]

Identify like, once that triggers.

[Amitai Eshel]

Exactly. You could take weekly photos. You do want to make sure that they're under consistent lighting because that really is affecting the ability to track results when we're talking about pigmentation. But yeah, that's kind of what I would do to start for sure.

[Anastasia Hojai]

And you actually mentioned like hormonal imbalances and menstrual cycle. And. Yeah, there are certain phases where prostaglandins go up and they make your skin much more photosensitive. And there are other things too, you know, going on internally.

[Amitai Eshel]

Yeah, I would actually say. And. And maybe we want to get back to get it, get into it like a little bit later. But I think there is a very big undiscussed issue right now with people who are under. Who are undergoing hormone replacement therapy and are using estrogen creams on their face. Because estrogen actually stimulates WNT beta. So technically speaking, there is a subset of people that have hyperpigmentation and are unaware that the reason, the kind of the, the driver of that is their estrogen cream that they apply on their face because no one talks about it. Instagram definitely doesn't talk about it when they, you know, quote a study about estrogen creams.

[Anastasia Hojai]

A lot of people ask me if we're ever going to do estradiol cream. Like a lot.

[Amitai Eshel]

That is one of the reasons why I think it's a tricky one for sure.

[Anastasia Hojai]

And we have friends in the industry that have their own extra dial cream. So we're not saying those are bad for you or anything like that, but it's important to mitigate the extra photosensitivity for sure. So to get into some of the ways that, you know, is the foundation kind of like of pigmentation management, that would be spf. So I mean, why is it essential?

[Amitai Eshel]

That's a good question. Are you asking it? Because you're the one that makes sure I apply it every time anyway.

[Anastasia Hojai]

So yeah, I'm literally running after every time with the SPF everywhere. And we have it like in our car by the door. Yeah, in his gym bag. Yeah.

[Amitai Eshel]

Well that is because UV exposure is the most consistent driver of melanin production. Okay. So UVA and UVB rays damage DNA, they trigger inflammation and directly stimulate tyrosinase in melanocytes, which was what we alluded to earlier. But what's often missed is that blue light can also worsen pigmentation, especially in people with melasma. And again, those with olive skin tones and beyond. Yeah, yes, that's correct. It's just obviously if you're darker it's less apparent. So yeah, where you'd see people being affected more is like that, that Fitzpatrick3.4 type. So recent studies show that daily SPF or above reduces post inflammatory hyperpigmentation and by up to 98% in, in skin of color, which is another, you know, to, to what you were saying.

[Anastasia Hojai]

Yeah, so and also SPF doesn't just block rays, it acts upstream in the melanin production pathway. So formulations containing physical blockers like zinc oxide and anti inflammatory agents like iron oxide, like our BioShield SP of 40 shout out to our Bio Show SP of 40. Those can reduce flare ups in conditions like melasma. So we recently recorded the, the podcast about SPF and I, I kind of talked extensively there about it, but it's worth repeating. So even on a cloudy days, UVA rays penetrate and silently trigger pigmentation. So the practical protocol would be to choose a broad spectrum SPF with zinc oxide. Apply a good layer, make sure that you know your skin is covered for for hours by show that SPF 40 is kind of like one finger worth because of our special type of zinc oxide that we use, which is micronized so you get full coverage with less product. For some other conventional zinc oxide, you will need two or three fingers worth of, you know, four fingers of to cover your face and neck. And then when we're talking about physical sunscreens, remember that the reason they're called physicals because they're physically shielding your skin. So when they're on your skin, that's when they deflect the rays. So for whatever reason you worked out, you sweated out, you washed your face, it's no longer there. It's not like chemical that absorbs so you which is a good thing. But you got to re up if it's no longer on your face.

[Amitai Eshel]

Yeah. So. But the good thing is that it stays there if you are not. Yeah, yeah.

[C]

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[Amitai Eshel]

Anyway, let's move into the second tier if you would, which is skincare ingredients. So I would say like, you know, the way that we thought to do this podcast behind the scenes here is that we said let's start with what you kind of have to do and then we can go further out like what you can do. And even we're going to have a third tier. No spoilers here. But we're going to talk about what you can do even more. But for now let's talk about like skincare and skincare ingredients and what, you know, what you want to.

[Anastasia Hojai]

So let's do it.

[Amitai Eshel]

So, so let's. I'm just going to. Let's split this into like classic pigment regulators, deeper acting longevity molecules and maybe some honorable mentions.

[Anastasia Hojai]

Okay, let's do it. So I'll start with the well research lightning agents. So there are lipid. What Something that we recommend would be lipid based vitamin C like thda, which is a stable. It didn't. I loved how Dave Asprey you. You. You told him about it.

[Amitai Eshel]

It blew his mind. Yes, thda. All the estheticians felt so smart. You know, we got so many messages.

[C]

Of like I can't believe he doesn't.

[Amitai Eshel]

Know what is tha.

[Anastasia Hojai]

Yeah, well, THD is stable form of vitamin C, lipid soluble and it inhibits tyrosinase and reduces oxidative stress. So studies show it performs on par with hydroquinone for some users with far fewer side effects. Another great addition will be ergothionine that addresses hyperpigmentation by inhibiting melanin synthesis and neutralizing reactive oxygen species.

[Amitai Eshel]

Yeah, there. There's also another thing which is Kojic acid which directly blocks tyrosinase. Right. So before we, we talked about. So this is a little bit different than vitamin C or, or ergothioneine and it's especially useful. Useful for post acne marks. So that would be for that Azelaic acid is another one that's clinically shown to. To be comparable to hydroquinone. But that would be especially for darker skin types. So actually lighter skin types. There was a study with azelaic acid antioxidants which I can't remember right now which one they were and placebo and actually azelaic acid did not perform better than placebo with Caucasian skin. So there's a lot of hype around it on the worldwide Internet. But it's important to know that it's not that effective for lighter skin types.

[Anastasia Hojai]

Yeah, that's a good point.

[Amitai Eshel]

Yes.

[Anastasia Hojai]

Well, speaking of hydroquinone that you mentioned.

[Amitai Eshel]

Or even olive skin types by the way, like you need to be like darker.

[Anastasia Hojai]

Yeah, yeah, I'm definitely the kind of olive skin tone skin type. Well, I want to talk a little bit about hydroquinone, you're more like a.

[Amitai Eshel]

Grape than an olive because you're also so plump.

[Anastasia Hojai]

And olives are plump too.

[Amitai Eshel]

Never mind. I'll try to make a joke. Yeah, go ahead.

[Anastasia Hojai]

I'm definitely not a raisin. That's what you were trying to compare? Well, third time I'll try to speak about the hydroquinone here. Once it was considered the golden standard, but unfortunately it can lead to rebound pigmentation and irritation if overused. So it makes it less favored for long term use. We can talk about resveratrol which is a potent antioxidant from sources like grapes, which also inhibits tyrosinase while reducing inflammation, making it preferred over hydroquinone for sensitive skin or just long term due to like lower, lower irritation risk. And it also has added anti aging benefits. I think all the biohackers will know about resveratrol and resveratrol actually pretty mainstream with some mainstream skincare companies using it. So it's definitely not news. Really?

[Amitai Eshel]

Yeah.

[Anastasia Hojai]

Longevity still then speaking of azelaic acid, that could be better for acne related hyperpigmentation. And Kojic acid that you talked about is great for spot fading for the non sensitive skin types. So there is another one, another acid to add. Tranexamic acid or licorice root extract. Those are plant based options that offer multi pathway inhibition without side effects. Actually loved your episode with Neride Joy back in the day a couple of.

[Amitai Eshel]

Months back, shout out to Nerita Joy.

[Anastasia Hojai]

Yeah, so she really likes licorice root extract. If you don't know Nerida Joy, she's a go to facialist for celebrities and she was on our podcast. Yeah, I love that podcast episode. So yeah, so the ingredients, you know that we talked about, they kind of like a lot of the times are, you know, good alternatives to hydroquinone. And then also don't overlook gender exponential exfoliators like glycolic acid and retinol which does, as you probably know, accelerate skin turnover as well.

[Amitai Eshel]

All right.

[C]

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[Amitai Eshel]

Now let's go a little bit deeper. Deeper. Okay, so nad, especially our nad APEX has been shown to reduce pigmentation by regulating melanocyte activity via as you said before, the. Actually you didn't say it on this podcast. Was a different podcast Anyway, via cyclic AMP camp and that pathway that I mentioned before, which is called WNT beta. Clinical studies show a visible reduction of age spots and an eight year improvement in skin appearance.

[Anastasia Hojai]

Which is mind blowing.

[Amitai Eshel]

Which is mind blowing. That's correct.

[Anastasia Hojai]

I want to say this. Permitine complements this by enhancing autophagy. It helps skin clear out damaged cellular components and reduce the chronic inflammation, a driver of pigmentation. Studies show spermidine supports healthy melanin synthesis while boosting collagen and skin barrier strength.

[Amitai Eshel]

Yes. And I would say that spermidine also clears senescent cells. And one of the most susceptible cells to develop senescence is melanocytes. So there is an added like longevity type bonus there. I would think about it this way. Lighteners, which we talked about, those acids, vitamin C, thda, all of that, they remove excess. Not excess, excess longevity molecules prevent it from building back up. If you would. Nad, for example, supports DNA repair. It supports mitochondrial function. Spermidine clears out cellular waste, senescent cells, gives our skin the environment that it needs to heal evenly.

[Anastasia Hojai]

Mm.

[Amitai Eshel]

So you know, I think it's important to kind of combine everything you mentioned. Ergothioneine. So ergothioneine is an incredible. Actually it kind of does both. Ergothioneine is incredible. It also acts on kind of the first section which is removing excess and providing a more youthful environment. If you would. So let maybe Anastasia, let's talk about the protocol. How does the protocol look like?

[Anastasia Hojai]

Okay, well an easy three steps skincare protocol could be you guys apply serum with ergothioneine and or th day vitamin C morning and night. So ergothione in. For those of you that use young goose are we have ergothione in. In our youth reset Youth daily, we have it in all of our youth products. Really?

[Amitai Eshel]

Ladder.

[Anastasia Hojai]

Ladder.

[Amitai Eshel]

Yeah.

[Anastasia Hojai]

Yeah.

[Amitai Eshel]

But as far as, like a serum, it would be you three set, right?

[Anastasia Hojai]

Yeah, but you could also use Ladder serum. Yeah, yeah. Like now when we recently had, like, staycation, I used both actually Utah set and Ladder daily. Because ladder is activated by the.

[Amitai Eshel]

By the sun.

[Anastasia Hojai]

Yeah, by the sunlight. It's best to use with red light for the controlled portion of light and the. The benefits of the red light therapy. But you can. It also is activated by sunlight, so it kind of has preventative properties. And then use the product with NAD plus Apex twice daily. And that's the same products for you guys. So that's easy. You know, that's the same youth products. And then obviously spermidine as well. With. When it comes to spermidine and it comes to boosting your NAD plus, you can also do it through diet. So to boost NAD plus through diet, you will consume nice enriched foods, which can be, you know, wild salmon, poultry, and others like fermented vegetables. When it comes to spermidine through diet, it can be wheat germ and many other foods. And then the most important thing, like track your results, you know, so with everything, you know, you're always n of 1. So we kind of give you protocols, but it's for you to take before and afters, which I love when you guys do that, and send them to us. So my favorite. But just really for yourself, you know, when you start some kind of challenge, some kind of protocol, it's really, really good to take pictures before and after, especially if in this case it's about skin. You know, in other areas, you can do blood panels right before you, like when you introduce some kind of supplements and just like, really track how your body responds.

[Amitai Eshel]

Yeah. Okay, so for stubborn pigmentation, when is it time to turn to lasers?

[Anastasia Hojai]

Yeah, that's actually. That's. Yeah. I'm really glad you asked. So lasers work by breaking up melanin clusters so your body can remove them naturally. Because second lasers, like 730nm titanium sapphire leading the field with close to, you know, 90, say. They say 88% E efficacy in melasma in dermal pigmentation. There are other lasers that have higher nanometers, like, you know, 1000 and laser. Yes. Those are ideal for deeper lesions, and IPL works for more superficial spots.

[Amitai Eshel]

Okay, so what's important in matching the technology to your skin type? Like, I'm obviously asking, like, a question. I'm trying to lead the discussion Here. But how should people make decisions according to their skin type and the type of laser?

[Anastasia Hojai]

Yeah, well, first of all, I think, you know, don't take our word for it. Talk to your trusted dermatologist and you know, help assess your skin type and skin issues and match the right laser. But laziness should never be seen as one. And done fixed. Without proper prep and aftercare, pigmentation can reform, like return and reform, change and worsen. So I think if you're going for the laser treatment, which I personally like, I'm 35 years old, I live in Florida, I have never done laser. I might do it down the line. I would like giving medical advice on this podcast, but there are really cool various doctors online that's doing lasers and you can track their, their journey. So one of them is Dr. Molly Malouf. She's actually doing laser treatment right now. She's posting about, she's very vocal. She decided not to do CO2 laser or IPL and she went, she in particular went with Fotona and she found it to be the best bang for her back. There is also Dr. Amy Keelan that's done all sorts of lasers and shared her journey as well. You can find her reels about it.

[Amitai Eshel]

Um, yeah, I'm not sure but I think Fotona is ND ag. Fotona is like, is a brand name but I think it's an NDAG laser. But in any case could be the.

[Anastasia Hojai]

Point that I was trying to make that lasers are just kind of like, you know, we asked the question, okay, when should you go to lasers and should you go to lasers? And I think it's a very personal choice. But if you do decide to go for, for laser, just know that you have to do extensive prep, you have to prepare your skin and you have to do extensive aftercare. So that's, that's really what you will help you support the post treatment barrier support for best outcomes and you know.

[Amitai Eshel]

Beforehand, you know, two to four weeks with the tyrosinate inhibitor which we me mentioned here. Two to four weeks for sure. If you're not using NAD precursors and spermidine, that would be almost, I would think almost mandatory. Sunblock, which we mentioned here, definitely try to find a way to incorporate ergothioneine because it covers so many bases. Whether it is through using our products or using it orally by company like Quicksilver Scientific. I would really up my ergothioneine game.

[Anastasia Hojai]

Yeah.

[Amitai Eshel]

And yeah, and I think it's important to find a doctor that specializes in your skin type, which normally I don't. I think it's overhyped. Like if it would be an internist or if it would be whatever. But when we talk about lasers, when we talk about light, light absorbs completely differently in different skin types. So an aesthetic doctor that specializes in light based light emitting medical devices like lasers or BBL is by the way, broadband light, ipl, intense pulsed light, any of those things. We have heard horror stories when doctors just didn't know how to deal with a specific skin type or skin tone. So go for ones that, that have a lot of experience with it.

[Anastasia Hojai]

Yeah. And there are also like very different regulations per state of who can perform laser. It's not even always a doctor.

[Amitai Eshel]

Yeah.

[Anastasia Hojai]

But regardless you just really. Yeah, I think that's really a good piece of advice to find somebody who lives and breathes lasers and the most.

[Amitai Eshel]

Like you need to breathe oxygen.

[Anastasia Hojai]

Really ask a lot of questions. How many, how often do they do laser treatment? See before and after. Try to collect some references because if laser goes wrong, that could be a very permanent damage. But we've also seen, you know, really good results from laser, whether it's thinning out your skin long term and what it does. You know, I'm not going to go there now but as Amit I said, I think if you find the right provider, if you really take it as often says, like be the Tom Brady of, of laser treatment, like really come prepar train your skin, be just very diligent and disciplined with supplements along the way. Protection, really protect your skin from the sun afterwards, obviously. I mean I think it's easy for me to say, oh, I've never done lasers, I'm 35 years old, which I also have never had serious pigmentation or melasma and I do work hard to avoid that and prevent it. But if I maybe was somebody who, who let's say during my pregnancy has gotten the mask of pregnancy which is, you know, melasma, I was really suffering, maybe I would have turned to laser. And if I did, this is what I would do. Like I would really find the right provider and just provide myself the best condition to succeed by.

[Amitai Eshel]

Amen.

[Anastasia Hojai]

Yeah. Caring for it before and after.

[Amitai Eshel]

Amen. Low inflammatory diet.

[Anastasia Hojai]

Yeah.

[Amitai Eshel]

I'll give you one supplement that I think would be important which would be a company called Glycidin, which is a form of antioxidant. You can buy it on Amazon. Glycodin, that's important for around that period of the laser we mentioned. Ergothioneine both topical but also oral. Again, high levels of nad. Reduce stress. Reduce oxidative stress. Relax, sleep, Think positive thoughts.

[Anastasia Hojai]

Deep breathing.

[Amitai Eshel]

Deep breathing. Breathe. Oxygen.

[Anastasia Hojai]

Okay.

[Amitai Eshel]

Live and breathe. Lasers and oxygen.

[Anastasia Hojai]

Anyway, that's a good segue, I think, to the, you know.

[Amitai Eshel]

Yes. Thank you so much for listening to Biohacking Beauty. We hope today's episode gave you a new new insights into new reason to breathe and new reason to breathe Lasers insights into tracking or tackling pigmentation with smarter science backed strategies.

[Anastasia Hojai]

If you enjoyed the show, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts or your other favorite platform where you consume this podcast. It really helps us reach more listeners like you.

[Amitai Eshel]

Amen. All right. And we'll see you next time.

[Anastasia Hojai]

Thank you, guys. Appreciate you. Love you. Bye.