What is Hyperpigmentation?

Hyperpigmentation is a skin condition where skin darkens due to excessive melanin being produced by the skin. The darkening of skin can occur in small patches or cover large areas of skin, and in rare instances the skin of the entire body may darken because of this condition. There are three types of hyperpigmentation. Melasma is darkened skin on the stomach or face, while sunspots are a very common form of hyperpigmentation caused by prolonged sun exposure and also called solar lentigines.

Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation is skin darkening that results from inflammation or injury. Some people will be more prone to hyperpigmentation because of their race or a genetic predisposition to accelerated melanin production.

What Causes Hyperpigmentation?

Melasma is the result of hormonal changes in the body, and pregnant women are one group known to have this type of hyperpigmentation due to hormonal changes. This can also apply for women who have hormone levels altered by their use of oral contraceptives. People with naturally darker skin are also more prone to have hyperpigmentation, and it is also possible that drugs may increases a person’s sensitivity to sunlight and the likelihood they get solar lentigines.

Other possibilities for what causes hyperpigmentation are skin trauma or burns, or endocrine diseases like Addison’s disease. Ochronosis can cause darkening of the skin too, and cancer patients receiving chemotherapy drugs may also experience hyperpigmentation because of them.

Hyperpigmentation Symptoms

The most standard of hyperpigmentation symptoms is darkened skin seen on different areas of the body. Skin discoloration and a rougher texture to skin are also possibilities when people have this condition, and spotting of affected skin is more likely for people who have solar lentigines because of excessive sun exposure.

Hyperpigmentation Treatment

Applying topical medications containing hydroquinone like Melacare is the most common approach to hyperpigmentation treatment when the person has skin darkening because of melasma. Using topical retinoid medications like Retin-A cream may also be what a doctor recommends to reduce hyperpigmentation.

Preventing hyperpigmentation should be the primary focus to avoid having darkened skin because of this condition. Using a high-SPF sunscreen is very effective for preventing sunspot hyperpigmentation, and avoiding or limiting use of certain medications that change hormone levels if the aim is to prevent melasma.