Hyperpigmentation: Know Its Causes and TreatmentsSeptember 10, 2018 / byHealthier Societies / Categories : Health
Due to constant sun exposure, practically everyone would get dark spots on the skin. However, some individuals would develop bigger areas of discolouration that might cover a significant area of the cheeks or forehead. This is commonly known as hyperpigmentation. This occurs when your skin pigment, called melanin, forms deposits.
So what causes it? An aesthetic doctor in Singapore explains that various factors could lead to this condition, including the following:
UV rays from sunlight would cause your skin to make melanocytes that would then lead to dark spots, also known as liver spots or age spots. Certain prescription drugs could also make your skin more susceptible to UV damage.
Fact: Some individuals have more freckles than other individuals because they were born with it. The same also applies for bigger patches of dark skin due to melasma, a skin condition causes greyish-brown to brown patches on the forehead, nose, cheeks, upper lip, and chin, and usually affects females.
Individuals with darker skin are more susceptible to hyperpigmentation following a bout of psoriasis or acne. Some individuals with very sensitive skin are also more inclined to develop hyperpigmentation from harsh skin care products.
Hormonal changes in women could likewise stimulate the overproduction of melanin. For example, hyperpigmentation in pregnant women is usually called the pregnancy mask since it causes dark patches on various areas of the body and the face. This would go away once you give birth and your hormones are under control again.
Hormone replacement therapy or HRT and birth control pills could likewise cause hyperpigmentation in some women. When you stop taking birth control pills and HRT, your hyperpigmentation would also eventually go away.
Fortunately, hyperpigmentation is not really a health concern and is more of a cosmetic issue, and various treatment options could rejuvenate hyperpigmented skin. The first line of treatment for hyperpigmentation includes bleaching creams, with the most effective containing the active ingredient hydroquinone and then skin peels.
For more severe cases, laser therapy is the most recommended and effective treatment option. If you have hyperpigmentation, consult an experienced dermatologist to discuss the best treatment for your specific case.