HYPERPIGMENTATION
What is Hyperpigmentation?
Hyperpigmentation isn’t necessarily a condition but a term that describes skin that appears darker.
It can:
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occur in small patches
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cover large areas
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affect the entire body
While increased pigmentation usually isn’t harmful, it can be a symptom of another condition.
Types of hyperpigmentation
There are several types of hyperpigmentation, the common ones being melasma, sunspots, and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
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Melasma. Melasma is believed to be caused by hormonal changes and may develop during pregnancy. Areas of hyperpigmentation can appear on any area of the body, but they appear most commonly on the stomach and face.
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Sunspots. Also called liver spots or solar lentigines, sunspots are common. They’re related to excess sun exposure over time. Generally, they appear as spots on areas exposed to the sun, like the hands and face.
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Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. This is a result of injury or inflammation to the skin. A common cause of this type is acne.
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Age spots vary in size and may appear anywhere on the face, hands, shoulders and arms, which are the areas of the body that are most frequently exposed to the sun. Age spots are the result of years of sun exposure and are also linked to the use of tanning beds. When significant sun damage occurs, the skin’s melanin’s production becomes uneven and can result in liver spots in certain places.
What are the symptoms and risk factors?
Darkened areas on the skin are the main symptoms of hyperpigmentation. Patches can vary in size and develop anywhere on the body.
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The biggest risk factors for general hyperpigmentation are sun exposure and inflammation, as both situations can increase melanin production. The greater your exposure to the sun, the greater your risk of increased skin pigmentation.
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Depending on the type of disorder, other risk factors for hyperpigmented patches may include:
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oral contraceptive use or pregnancy, as seen with melasma
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darker skin type, which is more prone to pigmentation changes
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drugs that increase your sensitivity to the sunlight
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trauma to the skin, such as a wound or superficial burn injury
What causes hyperpigmentation?
A common cause of hyperpigmentation is an excess production of melanin. Melanin is a pigment that gives skin its color. It’s produced by skin cells called melanocytes. Several different conditions or factors can alter the production of melanin in your body.
Certain medications can cause hyperpigmentation. Also, some chemotherapy drugs can cause hyperpigmentation as a side effect.
Pregnancy changes hormone levels and can affect melanin production in some women.
A rare endocrine disease called Addison’s disease can produce hyperpigmentation that’s most obvious in areas of sun exposure, such as the face, neck, and hands, and areas exposure to friction, such as elbows and knees.
The hyperpigmentation is a direct result of an increased level of a hormone in your body that results in increased melanin synthesis.
Excessive sun exposure can also cause an increase in melanin.