It appears as irregular patches of tan, brown or brown-gray pigmentation, usually on the face. Melasma is more common in women than men because of hormonal changes, and it occurs more often during pregnancy. Other common triggers include sun exposure and medications like as oral contraceptives.
Based on your skin complexion, these areas can appear brown, tan, pink, gray, black, or even purple. As opposed to a suntan, which comes and goes, hyperpigmentation tends to be more longstanding, although areas may lighten or fade with time and treatment.
Call your health care provider for an appointment if you have: Skin discoloration that causes significant concern. Persistent, unexplained darkening or lightening of the skin. Any skin sore or lesion that changes shape, size, or color may be a sign of skin cancer.
The three main types include age spots, melasma, and post-inflammatory trauma. Post-inflammatory trauma can result from an injury, sun exposure, or a skin condition, such as acne.
“Treatments containing ingredients like vitamin C, licorice root, and kojic acid help reduce hyperpigmentation by inhibiting tyrosinase, an enzyme responsible for the formation of skin-darkening melanin," says Ni'Kita Wilson, a cosmetic chemist in New York City.
Epidermal: Epidermal melasma has a dark brown color, a well-defined border, appears obvious under black light and sometimes responds well to treatment. Dermal: Dermal melasma has a light brown or bluish color, a blurry border, appears no differently under black light and doesn't respond well to treatment.
As sun exposure worsens hyperpigmentation it is important to protect the skin with sunscreen on a daily basis. Treatment often begins with a skin care regimen composed of a daily sunscreen, moisturizers, and skin care brighteners.
A new observation reported here illustrates that Wood's light can be used to determine the depth of melanin pigmentation in the skin: contrast in epidermal pigmentation is increased while contrast in dermal pigmentation is decreased under Wood's lamp illumination compared to ambient visible light.
In mild to moderate cases, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation is not permanent and the blemishes will fade over time – even if left untreated. In severe cases, it can take months and even years for the discolouration to fade and some traces can remain permanently.
Retinol benefits the skin in many ways – by stimulating cell turnover, renewing the skin, reducing sebum production and has even been proven to lighten some forms of pigmentation over time. This has resulted in retinol being increasingly touted as a solution for many skin conditions including hyperpigmentation.
Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation is characterised by flat, tan, brown or black spots on the skin. This condition can occur on any area of the body, including in the mouth, the genital areas and on the nails.
The deficiency of vitamin B12 can cause specific skin manifestations, such as hyperpigmentation, vitiligo, angular stomatitis, and hair and nail changes [1].
Hyperpigmentation may be sun damage and sun spots if you have a history of chronic sun exposure and tanning. Melasma often presents as broad patches of discoloration, whereas sun spots and other forms of hyperpigmentation may look like small circles or focused dots.
The CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum has multiple benefits that address various skin concerns. A few key benefits you may note when using the retinol serum daily: Helps to reduce hyperpigmentation and post-blemish dark spots. Promotes the cell renewal process, helping skin look brighter.
You aren't wearing the right sunscreen
Using sunscreen regularly is very important. At the same time getting the right sunscreen is also important. Dermatologists recommend one with SPF 30 and more to prevent skin pigmentation.
Alpha arbutin helps reduce melanin production, fade existing dark spots and prevent new ones from forming, making it a highly effective ingredient for addressing pigmentation issues. You can also use other face serums like azelaic acid, and vitamin C for pigmentation.
Does Hyperpigmentation Get Darker Before It Fades? Yes, sometimes, the body speeds up pigment production before the cells break down and fade. But sometimes, the dark spots can also fade without getting darker first.
Stress can trigger various types of hyperpigmentation, including post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) and melasma. PIH occurs when the skin produces excess melanin in response to inflammation or injury. Stress can increase inflammation in the body, leading to the development of PIH.
Postinflammatory hyperpigmentation is more prevalent among individuals with darker skin tones, particularly those with Fitzpatrick skin types IV to VI. These patients have a greater baseline melanin production and more reactive melanocytes.
PIH can affect either your epidermis, which is your skin's surface level, or your dermis — a deep layer of your skin.