Part 4 : Pigmentation
HYPERPIGMENTATION
Melanin is the natural pigment that gives the skin its color. Hyperpigmentation occurs when the body produces excess melanin in response to UV exposure, hormonal fluctuations, or trauma. Excessive sun exposure is a primary contributor to hyperpigmentation.
TYPES OF HYPERPIGMENTATION
NOTE: Correction is more successful when hyperpigmentation is located in the upper layers of the epidermis.
- Melasma (a type of hormonal hyperpigmentation disorder)
- Solar lentigines (flat brown spots that appear on sun-exposed skin)
- Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation (PIH) (dark spots or patches that appear after injury or inflammation)
- Ephelides (freckles)
- Cafe au lait macules (flat, pigmented birthmarks)
SYMPTOMS
- Uneven skin tone
- Brown spots (color ranges from tan to black, brown, purple, pink, or red)
CAUSES
- Birth control medications
- Genetics
- Heat
- Sunlight and lack of adequate sun protection
- Hormonal changes (i.e., pregnancy, perimenopause, and menopause)
- Post-inflammatory trauma
- Medications
- Vitamins and nutritional supplements
- Overuse of cosmetics and fragrance
HYPOPIGMENTATION:
In contrast, hypopigmentation is defined as a lack of pigment or an inability to produce pigment due to reduced melanin production. As a result, affected areas appear lighter than the surrounding skin.
SYMPTOMS
- Light or white patches ranging from subtle to stark
CAUSES
- Vitiligo: Irregular, depigmented patches caused by autoimmune destruction of melanocytes.
- Albinism: A genetic condition where melanin production is significantly reduced or absent from the entire body, including skin, hair, and eyes.
- Post-Inflammatory Hypopigmentation: Light patches that develop after skin trauma, inflammation, or specific skin treatments (e.g., chemical peels).
- Tinea Versicolor: Fungal infection causing lighter patches that appear scaly.
- Pityriasis Alba: Pale, scaly patches that may fade over time (common in children).
