Skin discoloration can have a negative effect on your overall appearance. One of the most common culprits of uneven skin tone is overexposure to the sun, which can result in age spots. Your skin may also become discolored from birthmarks or moles. Discoloration is often a darkening of the skin as in the case of melasma. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) states that melasma is a common skin condition that causes brown or grayish-brown patches. Another cause of skin discoloration is vitiligo, a complete loss of pigmentation that results in bleaching effects on the skin.
Age Spots
Age spots or liver spots are medically defined as solar lentigos. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) says these flat, brownish or black marks commonly develop on areas of the skin that most often come in contact with the sun, like your hands, face and chest area. The sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays interfere with the normal patterns of pigment-producing cells called melanocytes.
Age spots may not show up on the skin until after age 40 when the cumulative effects of ultraviolet (UV) exposure from the sun begin to appear. Age spots are generally harmless.
Birthmarks
Birthmarks, as the name suggests, are present from birth, according to the Mayo Clinic. These red or brownish markings may come in a variety of sizes and shapes. While they are usually benign, the Mayo Clinic says they can be indicative of an underlying medical condition.
While the cause of birthmarks is unclear, they may be the result of fetal blood vessel deformities, says Discovery Health. Birthmarks are usually permanent, although sometimes they fade over time.
Moles
Another common cause of skin discoloration is moles. These brown or black spots are either raised or flat. Some may even have hair. Moles develop when melanin forms a mass. They can appear anywhere on the body.
The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) states that the average person has 10 to 40 moles. According to the AAD, the appearance of moles can change or even disappear over time. Some moles can turn cancerous and should be regularly checked by a doctor.
Melasma
Melasma is a common darkening of the skin that develops during the latter stages of pregnancy and in women who take oral contraceptives or hormone replacement therapy. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the female hormones estrogen and progesterone can stimulate the production of melanin, the skin's natural pigment, in sun-exposed areas of the skin like the face and chest. Melasma often fades after hormonal-related issues subside.
Vitiligo
According to the AAD, some people with vitiligo develop a few spots that may lighten or turn completely white, while others can have widespread loss of skin color. Vitiligo can develop on any part of the body but commonly begins on hands, forearms, feet, or face. The AAD says vitiligio may be an inherited condition that occurs when the immune system harms melanocytes.
Other Medical Conditions
Excess iron in the body can lead to hemochromatosis. This condition may result in abnormal pigmentation that causes skin to appear bronze or gray, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Jaundice is a yellow color in the skin, eyes or mucous memobranes. The NIH says when too much yellow pigment, known as bilirubin, accumulates in the body, jaundice may result. Bilirubin is a byproduct of an oversupply of old red blood cells.
Skin may take on a bluish hue because of a condition called cyanosis. This type of skin discoloration is due to an inadequate supply of oxygen in the blood, according to the NIH.
Medication-Caused Skin Discoloration
Certain medications may cause skin discoloration. For example, tetracycline class antibiotics like minocycline are known to cause an unusual darkening of the skin called hyperpigmentation, according to Double Check MD.com.
