What is hyperpigmentation?

Do you have..

Discolored dark patches of skin?
Age Spots, or liver spots?
Hyperpigmentaion?

Hyperpigmentation, or skin discoloration, is a distressing but common (and usually harmless) condition where patches of skin become darker than the normal skin next to it. The most common kind happens when an enzyme called 'tyrosinase' causes too much melanin (brown pigment) and it forms deposits in your skin.

Hyperpigmentation can affect people of any race or gender and causes distinctive "age spots" on your face or hands. Doctors call these 'solar lentigines'. They can in fact be found on any other area exposed to daylight as well - such as arms, legs, decolletage, chest, neck etc..

What causes the tyrosinase to misbehave?

The skin discoloration might happen during or after various inflammatory skin disorders, such as eczema, allergic contact dermatitis, and irritant contact dermatitis. After the condition has gone, the dark patches will remain until they are treated.

Acne can also cause skin discoloration, and so can surgery or indeed any skin injury at all! Even constant pressure on one area can cause the skin to darken. If you have a papulosquamous (scaly or bumpy) disorder that can make you more likely to get hyperpigmentation.

Melasma is another common form of noninflammatory hyperpigmentation. Melasma or chloasma spots look like age spots but are larger, and appear usually due to hormonal changes.

Pregnancy can start overproduction of melanin on the face and stomach and other places.

Women who take birth control pills may also get hyperpigmentation because of similar kinds of hormonal changes to pregnancy.

Freckles are a form of hyperigmentation and can appear anywhere on the body, but are most common on the face and arms. They are not considered a disorder, and usually look quite charming - but even so some people do not wish to have freckles.

If you have red spots or purplish spots rather than brown, this might be caused by tiny groups of veins or capiliaries. You will need to read this page on laser treatment. Lasers can be used for ordinary hyperpigmentation too, but they are not the only course of action.

Click here to find out how to cure skin discoloration.