To put it simply, skin pigmentation refers to the body’s skin coloration. Melanin, a substance made by the body’s skin cells (melanocytes), determines what kind of skin color an individual will exhibit. Skin color depends on what a person’s racial origin is as well as the amount of sun they are usually exposed to.
Terms and skin conditions that are commonly discussed in relation to skin pigmentation are terms such as age spots, liver spots, acne scarring, post-inflammatory pigmentation, wound scarring, moles, flat moles, brown spots, keratosis, melasma, freckles, seborrheic keratosis, actinic keratosis, sun spots, solar lentigo, chloasma, mask of pregnancy, birthmarks, port-wine stains, and so on and so forth. All of these terms are related in some way to skin pigmentation. The skin disorders mentioned often manifest as skin discolorations.
Disorders associated with skin pigmentation commonly result from irregularities in melanin production within the body. When skin cells are damaged or unhealthy, melanin production can be seriously affected, leading to abnormalities in the pigmentation of the epidermis.
Skin disorders may surface as small patches of discoloration or they may even affect the entire individual’s body. There are two main classifications of skin pigmentation problems, namely hypopigmentation and hyperpigmentation. Hypopigmentation is the abnormal reduction of skin pigmentation while hyperpigmentation is the irregular increase in skin color.
How does hyperpigmentation occur? It occurs when there is an excessive production of the skin’s melanin. The result is an individual having darker skin pigmentation that is really not their usual skin color. The alternative name for hyperpigmentation is dyschromia. Hyperpigmentation usually becomes visible on the face as well as the hands and arms.
Categorized under dyschromia are age spots, sun spots, liver spots, freckles, and melasma. Hyperpigmentation has been noted to be caused by reasons including hormonal changes, heredity, failed skin treatments, sun exposure, acne, Addison's disease, and pregnancy. With hypopigmentation, the decreased production of melanin causes skin to look abnormally lighter than usual. Reasons for hypopigmentation can consist of Pityriasis alba, blisters, vitiligo, Tinea versicolor, albinism, burns, and infections.
With either kind of skin pigmentation disorder, the discoloration often makes the afflicted person unhappy with their skin. That is the reason of a lot of people who search for the right medical treatments to solve their skin problems. Skin pigmentation disorders can be treated through several ways. Lots of individuals make use of creams. Such creams help reduce the effects of the skin discoloration. Products that are meant for skin lightening are also used and include components such as hydroquinone, Vitamin C, retinoids, and kojic acid.
Skin pigmentation is a big concern when it comes to one’s appearance. It is therefore no wonder that the cosmetic industry and medical world invest so much for the sake of research and development on treatments for skin disorders with discoloration.
