Hyperpigmentation is usually caused by sun damage, inflammation, or other skin injuries, including those related to acne vulgaris and hormonal changes such as those experienced during pregnancy.
People with darker Asian, Mediterranean, or African skin tones are also more prone to hyperpigmentation, especially if they have excess sun exposure.
Many forms of hyperpigmentation are caused by an excess production of melanin. Melanin is produced by melanocytes at the lower layer of the epidermis. Melanin is responsible for producing color in the body in places such as the eyes, skin, and hair. As the body ages, melanocyte activity becomes impaired. UV light stimulates melanocyte activity (causing the skin to tan or darken to protect itself). Over time this damage adversely affects the melanin producing cells leaving the skin with uneven and or/dark spots.
Another form of hyperpigmentation is post inflammatory hyperpigmentation. These are dark and discolored spots that can appear on the skin following acne, skin injury, hair removal, aggressive skin care and picking. They will often fade but the length of time it takes can be very frustrating and in some cases fading can be severely compromised.
This is a skin concern that often takes time and consistent professional as well as home care to resolve effectively.
We recommend our Clinical Skin Care Consultation as a first step in assisting in resolving this often frustrating skin concern.