Causes of hyperpigmentation include: Skin inflammation (post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation) Use of certain drugs (such as minocycline, certain cancer chemotherapies, and birth control pills) Hormone system diseases such as Addison disease.
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.
Skin darkening often stems from hormonal shifts. Pregnancy, birth control, and thyroid problems can disrupt the delicate balance. These changes may spur excess melanin production, the pigment responsible for skin colour.
Melanin is a substance in your body that produces hair, eye and skin pigmentation. The more melanin you produce, the darker your eyes, hair and skin will be. The amount of melanin in your body depends on a few different factors, including genetics and how much sun exposure your ancestral population had.
Many beauty products contain melanin. This is the same substance that makes your skin dark when you are in the sun. It is actually a chemical that helps the skin to fight off UV rays. So, more melanin in your skin means more protection. If a product has melanin in it, then it will darken your skin.
Hyperpigmentation refers to skin that has turned darker than normal where the change that has occurred is unrelated to sun exposure. Cells called melanocytes located in the skin, produce melanin. Melanin gives the skin its color.
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.
The incidence of this change varies, and depends on the type of medication involved. Some of the most common drugs involved are NSAIDs, antimalarials, psychotropic drugs, Amiodarone, cytotoxic drugs, tetracyclines, and heavy metals such as silver and gold (which must be ingested, not just worn).
Melanin is produced within the skin in cells called melanocytes and it is the main determinant of the skin color of darker-skin humans. The skin color of people with light skin is determined mainly by the bluish-white connective tissue under the dermis and by the hemoglobin circulating in the veins of the dermis.
Estrogen and progesterone are two of the major factors responsible for catamenial hyperpigmentation of the skin.
This can cause an overproduction of melanin, which can lead to the formation of dark patches or hyperpigmentation on the skin. Also, under stress, your bodies produce more inflammation, which can lead to increased pigmentation and worsen melasma symptoms.
The reversibility of skin discoloration depends on the cause. Dermatologists can recommend treatments such as topical creams, laser therapy, or chemical peels based on the specific condition.
Darker skin can develop at any age and is often associated with hormonal changes, certain fungal infections, acne outbreaks, sun exposure, and aging.
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.
Iron, a vital nutrient for our bodies, plays a role in melanin production, the pigment responsible for our skin colour. Some studies have suggested that iron deficiency may lead to increased melanin production, potentially playing a role in the development of melasma.
If your body makes too much melanin, your skin gets darker. Pregnancy, Addison's disease, and sun exposure all can make your skin darker.
One cause of food-induced skin pigmentation is the chemical psoralen, which increases the risk of age spots and makes the skin more sensitive to UV rays. Psoralen is found in foods like the common fig, parsley, parsnips, limes, and celery.
Blue-gray cutaneous discoloration, also called blue man syndrome, is an uncommon side-effect of amiodarone therapy [2]. It results from the accumulation of silver chemical compounds in the patient's skin and has no proven relationship with the other side effects of amiodarone therapy [3, 4].
Localized scleroderma typically causes patches of thick, hard skin in one of two patterns. Morphea causes patches of skin to thicken into firm, oval-shaped areas. These areas may have a yellow, waxy appearance surrounded by a reddish or bruise-like edge.
The deficiency of vitamin B12 can cause specific skin manifestations, such as hyperpigmentation, vitiligo, angular stomatitis, and hair and nail changes [1].
Darker areas of skin (or an area that tans more easily) occurs when you have more melanin or overactive melanocytes.
The darkening of certain areas of the skin can occur at any age and are often caused by sun exposure, inflammation, hormonal changes, or ageing. When exposed to the sun's damaging UV rays, the skin produces excess melanin, resulting in darker patches or sunspots.