Pigmentation

What Is Pigmentation?

The term used to describe an abnormality in the colour of our skin.

The human body produces a natural pigment called melanin found throughout the body and is the main element in the colour of skin, hair and eyes. From birth, the colour of our skin is decided upon by the amount of melanin it contains.

As a natural response to the sun, our bodies produce more melanin to dissipate any harmful UV radiation that our skin absorbs. This natural response reduces the risk of developing melanoma and other skin cancers; however, our skin cannot protect us against everything it is exposed to. Often when the skin is unable to protect us from certain elements, it results in damage to the melanin supply in that area, causing an over or underproduction of melanin called pigmentation.

What Causes Pigmentation?

There are a few common factors that may cause pigmentation; these include:

Overexposure to the sun damages melanin and causes excess amounts to be produced.
Contraceptive medication and pregnancy fluctuate the hormone levels in our body; this can cause the melanin levels to rise unnecessarily.
Hereditary conditions like freckles and albinism are passed on in our genes; as a result, we have no control over the melanin levels in the skin.
Diseases/conditions like Cushing’s disease.
Vitiligo.
Injury to the skin or acne scarring can easily be prone to sun exposure.
Aggressive skin treatments/products can make our skin sensitive to the sun.

There Are Two Types of Pigmentation That Occur With Melanin:

Hyperpigmentation is when there is an excess of melanin in the skin, which causes dark patches or age spots to occur, typically in Caucasian/lighter skins.

Hypopigmentation is when there is a lack of melanin in the skin, which causes lighter patches to occur, typically in the Mediterranean, Asian or African people.

Pigmentation

What Is Pigmentation?

What Causes Pigmentation?

There Are Two Types of Pigmentation That Occur With Melanin:

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