Skin Pigmentation Problems And Hyperpigmentation

Causes of  Skin Pigmentation And Hyperpigmentation Problem

Our skin gets its color from the pigment melanin, which is produced by special cells in the skin that are known as melanocytes. The amount of melanin that is produced by the skin is determined by one’s genes, and this is your natural skin color. If you naturally have dark skin, there is nothing you can do to make it light. If you naturally have very light skin, there is still a limit to how much the color can change, but it is possible for your skin to darken to some extent. Normally, this happens through a process known as tanning – melanin protects the skin from sun damage, and when skin is exposed to sunlight, it produces more melanin so as to provide more protection. As a result, skin becomes darker and you get what is known as a tan.
In some cases however, skin may darken through mechanisms other than tanning. Some of these are related to exposure to sunlight, but some are caused by other factors. In some cases, excessive, regular exposure to sunlight over several years causes damage to the skin, and as a result, dark patches appear. These dark patches are a response to sunlight, but they are different from a tan, which is always even. The patches of pigmentation are known as sun spots, and they are the result of uneven production of melanin when the skin is exposed to sunlight. These spots most commonly appear on the hands and face, which are the parts of the body that are usually exposed.


Post Inflammatory Hyper-pigmentation

Unnatural pigmentation also occurs as an after effect of inflammation. This is most commonly seen in people who have pimples. Some pimples leave behind dark spots that are sometimes referred to as pimple scars; however, these are not really scars, they are simply spots of postinflammatory hyperpigmentation. The same darkening of skin can be seen in other infections, such as chickenpox scars, and marks left behind by wounds. These marks do not require any treatment, and fade away with time.
One more common type of hyperpigmentation that occurs is in pregnant women. Due to the changes that occur in the body during pregnancy, women often develop patches of dark skin. In addition, a line of dark skin develops on the abdomen, and this is known as linea nigra.
A number of other diseases and conditions can also lead to unusual pigmentation of the skin. These include various hormonal abnormalities, fungal infections, and insulin resistance.