What is primary hyperpigmentation?

Author: Willy Treutel  |  Last update: Monday, December 29, 2025

Primary hyperpigmentation, which is not caused by an underlying medical condition, is rare and breed-specific, thought to occur only in Dachshunds. Signs typically develop before pups are a year old. Secondary hyperpigmentation is caused by inflammation or friction against the skin.

What are the 3 types of hyperpigmentation?

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.

What is primary hyperpigmentation in dogs?

Hyperpigmentation is a darkening and thickening of the skin seen in dogs. It is not a specific disease but a reaction of a dog's body to certain conditions. Hyperpigmentation appears as light-brown-to-black, velvety, rough areas of thickened, often hairless skin. The usual sites are in the legs and groin area.

What is the root cause of hyperpigmentation?

The most frequent cause of hyperpigmentation is exposure to the sun, which heavily stimulates melanin production. A recent study (Figure 2) demonstrated how early sun exposure might worsen dark spots, by making them resemble melasma, post-inflammatory spots, and age spots [24].

How do you treat hyperpigmentation in dogs at home?

Applying pure aloe vera gel to the affected areas can help reduce skin inflammation and promote healing. Coconut oil: Coconut oil has natural antibacterial and antifungal properties, making it an effective treatment for skin infections that may be causing hyperpigmentation.

From Darkness to Radiance: Transforming Your Skin with Hyperpigmentation Knowledge

What are the three stages of Cushing's disease in dogs?

Stages of Cushing's Disease in Dogs
  • Stage 1: You may notice that your dog is drinking more water and urinating more frequently.
  • Stage 2: Your dog may be losing some of their fur and noticeably gaining weight.
  • Stage 3: The muscles on your dog may be wasting away and they may have a potbellied appearance.

What does hyperpigmentation look like?

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.

What deficiency causes hyperpigmentation?

The hyperpigmentation related to vitamin B12 deficiency is more common in darker-skinned patients. Few other cases of skin hyperpigmentation due to vitamin B12 deficiency have been reported in the literature. The mechanism of hyperpigmentation is due to increased melanin synthesis rather than a defect in melanin.

What is the best way to get rid of hyperpigmentation?

Topical therapies (creams and lotions applied to the skin) are the most common treatment option for hyperpigmentation. Combination therapy, in which multiple topical treatments are used together, is usually most effective in treating hyperpigmentation. The most common cause of hyperpigmentation is sun exposure.

Can food allergies cause hyperpigmentation in dogs?

This is another symptom of skin disease that may be caused due to food and pollen allergy. Pigmented skin: Dogs who have hyperpigmentation have a thickening and darkening of their skin. It is not a particular disease, but rather a response of a dog's body to certain circumstances like food allergy.

How does a dog act with Cushing's disease?

Dogs may show signs such as increased urination and thirst, increased appetite, weight gain or difficulty losing weight, lethargy, and muscle weakness, and thinning of the skin and hair loss. Not all dogs with Cushing's disease will display each of these signs, and some dogs may only have mild signs.

What breeds are prone to hyperpigmentation?

Veterinarians and pet parents most often see secondary hyperpigmentation in breeds that are prone to skin infections, contact dermatitis and allergies (Basset Hounds, German Shepherds, Irish Setters, Yorkshire Terriers, Great Danes, Dobermans, Labradors, Dalmations and Border Collies), obesity and hormonal ...

How serious is hyperpigmentation?

Hyperpigmentation is a common, usually harmless condition in which patches of skin become darker in color than the normal surrounding skin. This darkening occurs when an excess of melanin, the brown pigment that produces normal skin color, forms deposits in the skin.

What is the reverse of hyperpigmentation?

Hypopigmentation is the opposite of hyperpigmentation, and is less common, but can be even more upsetting than too much pigment in the skin. Lighter patches on the skin can be very noticeable and cause a lot of insecurity.

Can B12 reverse hyperpigmentation?

Hyperpigmentation is an early and reversible sign of vitamin B 12 deficiency, which must be promptly recognised and corrected. The cause of B12 deficiency must be identified and additionally treated.

What does a B12 rash look like?

The allergy can be triggered by taking vitamin B12 supplements because B12 contains cobalt atoms. Cobalt allergies most often develop in people exposed to it in eye makeup, tattoos, or industrial products, causing an itchy, red, scaly rash.

Which fruit is rich in vitamin B12?

There are ten major sources of vitamin B12 fruits. These are apples, bananas, oranges, mangoes, strawberries, guava, avocado, pomegranate, kiwi, and blueberries. Apples- Apples rank first in the vitamin B12 fruits list.

Why am I suddenly getting hyperpigmentation?

A number of factors can trigger an increase in melanin production, but the main ones are sun exposure, hormonal influences, age and skin injuries or inflammation. Sun exposure is the number one cause of hyperpigmentation as it's sunlight that triggers the production of melanin in the first place.

What does a cancerous keratosis look like?

Rough, dry or scaly patch of skin, usually less than 1 inch (2.5 centimeters) in diameter. Flat to slightly raised patch or bump on the top layer of skin. In some cases, a hard, wartlike surface. Color variations, including pink, red or brown.

What autoimmune disease causes skin discoloration?

Vitiligo is a chronic (long-lasting) autoimmune disorder that causes patches of skin to lose pigment or color. This happens when melanocytes – skin cells that make pigment – are attacked and destroyed, causing the skin to turn a milky-white color.

What does end stage Cushing's in dogs look like?

Extreme weakness or lethargy: Your dog may seem increasingly tired and find it challenging to move around as usual. Loss of appetite: If your dog starts to lose interest in food and experiences significant weight loss, it could be a sign that they are nearing the end stages of Cushing's disease.

How to test for Cushing's disease?

If you haven't been using a glucocorticoid medicine, these tests may help pinpoint the cause of Cushing syndrome:
  1. Urine and blood tests. These tests measure hormone levels and show if the body is making too much cortisol. ...
  2. Saliva test. ...
  3. Imaging tests. ...
  4. Inferior petrosal sinus sampling.

What can be mistaken for Cushing's in dogs?

Some of these symptoms, such as excessive drinking and urination, mimic other diseases like diabetes, kidney disease or urinary tract infections. Because of this, your pet's veterinarian will attempt to rule out other conditions as part of the diagnostic process for hyperadrenocorticism.

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