Information About Hyperpigmentation

Overview

Hyperpigmentation is too much melanin, or the skin's coloring. Hyperpigmentation is not dangerous to your health, and many times, it fades without specific treatment. People who experience patches of skin discoloration might become self-conscious as a result, but they generally can manage their condition with cosmetic products.

Types

Melasma is a type of hyperpigmentation that affects pregnant women; the discoloration affects broad areas on the face. Lentigines, another form of hyperpigmentation, is commonly known as liver spots, small brown spots and the face and hands, according to the Merck Manual. Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation can occur on any part of the body after an infection or injury.

Causes

Hormonal changes in pregnancy, injury to the skin or medication use can all cause hyperpigmentation. The condition also can be a side effect of laser resurfacing treatments, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Diagnosis

A doctor might do a physical exam and take your medical history to diagnose hyperpigmentation. Looking at the skin under an ultraviolet light, called a Wood's lamp, can determine whether the excessive pigment is due to a fungal or bacterial infection.

Treatment

In most cases, hyperpigmentation does not require medical treatment; some forms, such as melasma, may fade in time. The National Institutes of Health explains that laser treatments, bleaching creams and makeup can be used for cosmetic purposes. Always protect hyperpigmented skin with sunscreen when you go outside.

Considerations

Dark areas of pigment on your skin that have assymetrical borders or change in color should be examined by your doctor, according to the NIH. Irregularities of this kind could indicate skin cancer.