An uneven skin tone or discoloration can be difficult to deal with whether you are an adult or child. Children may feel extreme embarrassment about being different and being asked repeatedly about birthmarks or skin discoloration. According to the National Institutes of Health's informational website, MedlinePlus, most pigment changes are not a threat to your physical health. However, sudden changes should be examined by a physician to rule out any underlying cause.
Types
The most common forms of permanent skin discoloration are various types of birthmarks, reports the Cleveland Clinic. They can range in color from light tan to bright red. Bruising can produce skin discoloration spanning the rainbow, from yellow to greenish to bright purple. A complete absence of color can also discolor the skin, making it appear bright white. Drug and chemical reactions make skin appear a rusty brown, pink or bright red. Bluish colors can appear where skin is thin and blood vessels show through, such as under the eyes or in the crook of the elbow.
Causes
Skin discoloration is often genetic. Some genetic skin discolorations are birthmarks, vitiligo and mongolian blue spots, reports MedlinePlus. An uneven skin tone can be caused by too much sun exposure or aging. Acne can also cause discoloration or an uneven skin tone and may also result in scarring, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Hormonal changes can contribute to skin discoloration or an uneven skin tone, as is the case with acanthosis nigricans. Acanthosis nigricans causes a darkening of the skin and is tied to insulin production, reports MayoClinic.com.
Identification
Birthmarks are easy to identify because they are apparent at birth or shortly thereafter. Most people can also identify a bruise or sunburn with relative ease. Some causes of skin discoloration will require a doctor's visit to properly identify the cause and extent of the condition. Your doctor may use what is called a Wood's lamp, which is an ultraviolet light, to examine the discoloration and identify the source. Under the lamp, normal skin will appear lackluster and dull, patches without pigmentation will glow a bright white and some bacterial or fungal infections will fluoresce, reports MedlinePlus.
Treatments
Treatment will vary depending upon the type of skin discoloration you are experiencing. If the color changes are the result of another condition, treating the underlying cause will often clear up the discoloration. Some discolorations, such as port wine stain birthmarks or vitiligo, are permanent and will not respond to oral or topical medications. However, the Cleveland Clinic reports that advances are being made in laser surgery for these types of skin conditions.
Warnings
If skin discoloration or an uneven skin tone develops during later childhood or adulthood, it is important to visit your doctor for a diagnosis right away. Some skin color changes can be a result of a serious condition, such as skin cancer. Other types of skin discoloration, such as rosacea, can be made worse by using the wrong type of over-the-counter treatment, according to the American Academy of Dermatology.
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