What is Hyperpigmentation - Is it Fatal?

Updated on 27 May 2009, Published on 01 Jan 2009

The term hyperpigmentation is generally referred to the darkening area of skin, as one of the main skin pigmentation disorders. It is mainly caused due to the increase in the melanin production. The origin of hyperpigmentation can be broadly classified into two categories namely caused by products or environmental cause and intrinsic causes such as aging, pregnancy, etc.

This type of skin pigmentation is a common harmless condition in which patches of skin darkens than the normal color.  It can affect people of any race and the most common forms of this type of pigmentation are the age or liver spots. Doctors generally refer to them as solar lentigines as it is caused due to excessive exposure to sunlight.

Melasma or chloasma is referred to as the darkest spot and the lighter spots are referred to as discolorations. These two spots are treated differently. As mentioned earlier, hyper-pigmentation can be caused by both external and internal factors. There are a number of factors which causes it. Certain illness such as Addison’s disease, pregnancy, menopause etc. can also cause the pigmentation.

Intake of too much iron can also darken the skin. Whereas excessive exposure to sunlight and cosmetics or fragrance that contains mercury, alcohol, etc are the external factors that can lead to the discoloration of your skin.

Melasma most commonly occurs in women because of hormonal changes. Freckles, lentigenes, post inflammatory hyperpigmentation, peri-orbital melanosis, macular lichen amyloidosis, birthmark etc are other forms of hyper-pigmentation. Exposure to excessive sun may aggravate the darkness in freckles and lentigenes.

The term hyper-pigmentation is generally referred to the skin condition where the skin darkens then normal and is not related to the exposure to the sun. Melanin is the pigment that determines the color of the skin. As far as the treatment of hyperpigmentation is concerned, there are a number of products available that helps to lighten the complexion.

Mostly about 40% of pigmentation limits to the epidermis and is easier to treat it. But the remaining amount that has penetrated deeper into the dermis is quite difficult to treat.

Skin pigmentation due to exposure to excessive sunlight can be saved by using a good SPF sunscreen lotion. There are also a number of bleaches available that will help you to lighten the skin color. There are also other ways of treatment such as laser treatment to get rid of the unwanted pigmentation. However, you may be required to test it before you actually go through the treatment as it sometimes worsens the condition.

Read on to know more about abnormal skin pigmentation which would help you a lot in getting rid of this eclipse on your beautiful face.

Suggested Reading:
vitamin c to remove sun spots or pigmentation from the skin
What are skin pigmentation disorders

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