Individuals with darker skin types are more prone to prolonged hyperpigmentation, and treatments aimed at postinflammatory hyperpigmentation may not always be effective, which can lead to frustration and psychological distress.
It is more common in individuals with light-brown to darker skin tones and may run in families. Doctors are unsure about what causes melasma, but a change in hormones can trigger it, for example, during pregnancy or when using birth control pills.
In general pigment disorders can appear on all types of skins. While skin of all colours can suffer from pigment disorders, they are most common, more noticeable and more of a concern for individuals of Asian, Hispanic or African origin.
Hyperpigmentation is a common dermatologic complaint and is more common in those with skin types IV or greater.
The theory is that people with skin type I have pigment cells that are just not very active, even when exposed to things like sunlight. Those with skin type VI, on the other hand, have cells that are already producing the maximum amount of pigment, so they are relatively 'stable' in response to extra triggers.
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.
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.
Our data suggest that skin type may be associated with the skin aging to some extent, and the results reveal a relatively delayed tendency of facial aging in the oily skin subgroup than in the dry skin subgroup.
Skin barrier function is reportedly stronger in darker skin tones (the stratum corneum is the skin barrier). Asian skin is reported to have similarities with Caucasian skin in terms of water loss and has the weakest barrier function.
Light skin is most commonly found amongst the native populations of Europe, East Asia, West Asia, Central Asia, Siberia, and North Africa as measured through skin reflectance.
Currently, no safe or proven method exists to increase melanin – the pigment, or color, in a person's skin, hair, and eyes. A person's genetics determine their natural melanin levels and skin color. In general, people who have darker skin tones have more melanin than those with lighter skin tones.
According to a study called “Shades of beauty,” light brown skin tones are often the most physically attractive skin color (Frisby et al., 2006). They used four models for that study. They did not change the skin tone, but they imaged each model to three different skin tones: light, medium, and dark.
Type IV – Brown skin color, brown hair, and brown eyes, tans more than average, rarely burns, and rarely freckles. Common ethnic background: the Mediterranean, Southern European, Hispanic.
By definition, Normal Skin is a skin type often perceived as the gold standard due to its balanced sebum production. It is neither too oily nor too dry. This type of skin is characterised by a soft, smooth texture accompanied by a radiant complexion. It has minimal pores and rarely gets any blemishes.
“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.
Some may also have skin discoloration due to using niacinamide combined with other active ingredients that are too harsh for your skin type. Niacinamide can also cause problems when it's mixed with the following substances: Acids, including lactic acid, glycolic acid, and azelaic acid.
Hormonal influences are the main cause of a particular kind of hyperpigmentation known as melasma or chloasma. It's particularly common among women and is thought to occur when the female sex hormones estrogen and progesterone stimulate the overproduction of melanin when skin is exposed to the sun.
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.
Three of the best vitamins for lightening dark spots are vitamin C, vitamin B12, and vitamin E. Vitamin C helps your skin produce more collagen while inhibiting the formation of melanin. Vitamin B12 also promotes collagen formation while supporting the growth of new skin cells.