What is Skin Hyperpigmentation? Its Causes and Various Treatments

Skin is one of the largest and important human body organs. As it acts as a protective barrier between your internal organs and external harsh environment, it goes through a lot of sufferings. Some of them are germs and toxic substances, extreme cold, and sun scorching sun rays. All of these cause skin problems.

One of the common problems is skin hyperpigmentation. Today, in this blog, we will learn about skin hyperpigmentation, what are its causes and how can you get rid of it.

What is skin hyperpigmentation?

Skin hyperpigmentation is a common problem that affects people of every skin type. It occurs when certain areas of your skinget darker than the rest. It generally occurs when your skin produces more melanin. It is a pigment that provides skin a colour. This pigment is deposited deep into your skin, giving it a darker look than the surrounding skin.

Further, dark spots can appear in smaller patches, covering a large part of your body. There are different types of hyperpigmentation. They are:

1. Pigment spots like age spots: It occurs due to sun exposure, and that’s why, it generally appears on the face, neck, hands, and arms. They generally look like small patches, and to cure them, people use whitening tablets.
2. Melasma: The next one is a condition where you can see big patches developing mainly on your face. This disease is generally seen more in women due to the changes in their hormone levels during pregnancy.
3. Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation: This generally occurs after the healing of any cosmetic surgeries like laser treatment, chemical peels, and dermabrasion.

What are the causes of hyperpigmentation?

• Sun exposure

It is a no-brainer that UV rays are harmful to our skin. Well, a lot of sun exposure causes hyperpigmentation. UV rays trigger the production of melanin in our body, which is a protector of our skin. That’s where tanning takes place. This can be controlled on time by applying whitening tablets on those spots. If not treated, then it can lead to some serious skin damage.

• Hormonal changes

Tweaks in hormones can be the main cause of melasma or chloasma types of hyperpigmentation. As mentioned earlier, it’s generally seen among women. According to various studies, it occurs when estrogen and progesterone sex hormones of females stimulate the overproduction of melanin during sun exposure. Further, it can also be one of the side effects of hormone treatments. 

• Aging

As we age, the melanin cells’ production slows down and the remaining ones begin to get larger. Further, its distribution becomes more focused. However, this process leads to hyperpigmentation, and it starts happening after 40.

• Medication or side effects

In some conditions, hyperpigmentation can be a symptom of specific diseases like metabolic disorders, gastrointestinal diseases, or any vitamin deficiencies. Further, it can be triggered by side-effects of any medication like chemotherapy drugs, anti-seizure drugs, and many more. In such cases, it is best to seek a doctor’s help instead of trying to cure on your own by using skin-lightening products.

What are its treatments?

Some people wish to get rid of hyperpigmentation even though it’s harmless. However, there are some methods that you can try.

1. Topical creams

You can look out for skin-lightening products that have been manufactured to address this concern. Such products include various ingredients that treat your disease well. They are:

• Vitamin C
• Kojic acid
• Tretinoin
• Hydroquinone
• Corticosteroids
• Azelaic acid

If you’re unable to treat hyperpigmentation through tropical creams, then opt for the next option. And also read here to know reasons you should choose vegan skincare.

2. Cosmetic surgeries

This is the next option that reduces the effects of hyperpigmentation and lightens the dark patches. Some of them include:

• Laser therapy
• Chemical peels
• Intense pulsed light
• Microdermabrasion

Well, if you wish to undergo any of the above treatments, then you should seek advice from a dermatologist regarding its pros and cons and potential side effects.

Other simple ways to prevent hyperpigmentation:

• Avoid direct sun exposure: Try to stay indoors during the high peak hours of sun exposure. Or else, carry an umbrella or a hat to minimize sun exposure.
• Apply SPF cream: In any which case if you’re forced to get out in sun, then we would recommend applying SPF cream to protect your skin from harmful UV rays. Use SPF 15 daily for adequate sun protection.
• Avoid touching your skin: When you have a mosquito bite, you feel scratching the skin. This can cause inflammation and lead to darker skin in that area. So, avoid scratching your skin. Additionally, when you begin to put up makeup on your face, always keep a habit of washing your hands first.

Conclusion:

If your skin is getting darker than your normal skin color, then you may be suffering from skin hyperpigmentation. Hopefully, the above information must have assisted learning about it in detail. Some dermatologists advise using whitening capsules to get rid of it. However, we would recommend you seek a skin specialist’s advice rather than messing up with the important organ of your body, the skin.