What is hyperpigmentation?
Hyperpigmentation is a common skin concern that can be caused by sun exposure, hormones, acne scars, inflammation and past injury to the skin.
Hyperpigmentation is characterized by darker areas of skin due to increased melanin production. It can be localized in small areas of the skin, affecting a few spots, or can be more widespread across the entire body. Some types of hyperpigmentation are also known as age spots, or liver spots.
Treating hyperpigmentation depends on the cause and severity of discoloration. If you are concerned about your hyperpigmentation on your face or body, consult with a dermatologist to determine which treatment is best for you!
Hyperpigmentation is a common, usually harmless condition in which patches of skin become darker in color than the normal surrounding skin. This darkening occurs when an excess of melanin, the brown pigment that produces normal skin color, forms deposits in the skin. Hyperpigmentation can affect the skin color of people of any race.
The extra melanin can be produced anywhere on the body, but it’s especially noticeable on the face. The face is where we often find the most sun exposure and where hyperpigmentation most commonly develops.
Hyperpigmentation can be caused by sun damage, inflammation, or other skin injuries, including those related to acne vulgaris. It can also occur when there’s an overproduction of melanin in response to hormonal factors. Melasma (also known as “the mask of pregnancy”) and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation are two common types of hyperpigmentation that are considered harmless and typically resolve in time. The most effective way to treat hyperpigmentation is to avoid it entirely by protecting your skin from ultraviolet rays and other irritants such as fragrances and chemical additives found in cosmetics, shampoos, and cleansers.
Hyperpigmentation is the term used to describe areas of skin that are darker than their surrounding areas. This is because melanin, the pigment which gives skin its colour, is overproduced in these areas. Melanin reduces the amount of UV radiation that penetrates deeper layers of the skin and protects you from sun damage. Hyperpigmentation can be caused by sun exposure, inflammation, or other skin injuries, including those related to acne vulgaris.
Hyperpigmentation can take many forms, such as:
Age spots (also known as liver spots)
Melasma (or “the mask of pregnancy”)
Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (usually due to acne)
Melasma, age spots, freckles, and other spots on the skin that are darker than your normal skin tone all fall under the umbrella of hyperpigmentation. It is estimated that about 90 percent of women experience some form of hyperpigmentation in their lifetime, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. That’s why it’s so important to understand what hyperpigmentation is, who it affects, and how you can treat it.
What Causes Hyperpigmentation?
Hyperpigmentation occurs when an excess amount of melanin (the pigment that gives skin its color) forms deposits in certain areas on your skin. These areas then appear darker than the surrounding skin. Skin cells create melanin by using a substance called melanosomes. If too many cells have too many melanosomes, they can produce too much melanin and cause dark spots to form on your skin.
The exact cause of hyperpigmentation isn’t known, but there are several things that may trigger this condition:
Sun exposure: Melanocyte-stimulating hormones (MSH) are created by the body when you get too much sun exposure. These hormones stimulate melanosomes to send more pigment to the surface of
What is hyperpigmentation? Hyperpigmentation is the darkening of an area of skin or nails caused by increased melanin. The word hyper means more, so hyperpigmentation means more pigment. Anyone can get it, but it is most likely to affect women, especially those with darker skin tones.
Hyperpigmentation has several causes, ranging from sun damage to acne scars to hormones. In order to determine the best treatment for you, your dermatologist will need to identify the cause of your hyperpigmentation and recommend a treatment plan.
Hyperpigmentation is a common, usually harmless condition in which patches of skin become darker in color than the normal surrounding skin. This darkening occurs when an excess of melanin, the brown pigment that produces normal skin color, forms deposits in the skin.
Hyperpigmentation can affect the skin color of people of any race. In darker-skinned people, hyperpigmentation is more likely to be caused by autoimmune diseases such as Addison’s disease or Graves’ disease. In lighter-skinned people, common causes include sun damage (sun spots) and inflammation.
There are several types of hyperpigmentation:
* Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation – This type of hyperpigmentation is caused by trauma to the skin, including inflammatory acne lesions that result in scarring. Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation can also result from medical conditions such as eczema or psoriasis as well as from burns and other injuries to the skin.
* Solar lentigines – These are commonly referred to as “age spots” or “liver spots.” They are flat, tan or brown spots caused by excessive exposure to ultraviolet light from sunlight. These spots most commonly occur on areas exposed to sunlight, such as the face and hands.
Hyperpigmentation is a common, usually harmless condition in which patches of skin become darker in color than the normal surrounding skin. This darkening occurs when an excess of melanin, the brown pigment that produces normal skin color, forms deposits in the skin. Hyperpigmentation can affect the skin color of people of any race.
There are a variety of causes for hyperpigmentation, including injury to the skin, sun exposure and hormonal changes. Treatments include topical creams, chemical peels and laser therapy.
Causes
A number of factors can cause hyperpigmentation, including injury to the skin and excess melanin production. The two main types are:
Melasma: Caused by hormonal changes and characterized by symmetrical, blotchy brown or gray-brown patches on the face, particularly on the cheeks and forehead. Melasma is most commonly seen during pregnancy (hence its other name “the mask of pregnancy”) but also may be seen in women who are using oral contraceptives or hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Although melasma may occur in men, it is more common in women.
Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation: Caused by injury to the skin from acne, inflammation from conditions such as psoriasis, or