Hyperpigmentation

What is hyperpigmentation?

Hyperpigmentation is a term used to describe skin that has become darker and more uneven than before. The size of these affected areas can vary (they can be very small or cover large parts of your body) And they’re usually painless, but they could be the result of another health condition that needs addressing.

There are different types of hyperpigmentation. Some of the most common types are:

Sunspots – changes to your skin appearance as a result of too much sun. Tonal changes can affect any areas that have been overexposed to UV rays.
Melasma (chloasma) – usually caused by hormonal changes, such as pregnancy. Spots can appear anywhere on the body but typically show up on the face and stomach.
Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation – areas that are affected by inflammation or injured skin. Acne is often responsible for these symptoms.

Who gets hyperpigmentation?

Hyperpigmentation can affect anyone.^[1] Because there are lots of causes and factors involved in changes to your skin pigmentation, a clinician can advise you about possible causes and treatment options.

The location of patches of darkened skin on your body can often indicate the cause behind them. Preexisting health conditions can sometimes lead to changes to your skin, as can medications you take regularly. Providing as much information as possible to your clinician can help narrow down the reasons your symptoms have developed.

How common is hyperpigmentation?

It’s hard to say exactly how common hyperpigmentation is. There are lots of factors involved in developing changes to your skin pigmentation, including overexposure to UV rays, hormonal changes and medications that can cause symptoms.

There are a wide variety of skin tones around the world. Some studies have shown people with certain skin tones are more susceptible to developing pigmentation disorders than others, especially those with Asian heritage,^[2] but hyperpigmentation can occur on any skin type.

What causes hyperpigmentation?

There can be several causes of hyperpigmentation. One is excess melanin, a substance naturally produced by your body to give skin its pigmentation (colour). Pigment cells called melanocytes, located at the base of the epidermis (outer layer of skin), produce melanin. Dark-skinned people make more melanin than those with lighter skin, which explains why pigmentation disorders can affect people of colour more frequently.^[1]

Hormonal changes, such as those that occur in pregnant women, can also cause hyperpigmentation. Medications, such as drugs used during chemotherapy, skin and endocrine diseases (such as Addison’s disease) can also produce darkened, even spots to appear on different parts of your body.

Overexposure to UV rays from the sun without the right protection can also contribute to increased melanin production.

What are the symptoms of hyperpigmentation?

The main symptoms of hyperpigmentation are:

• Patches of skin that appear darker, and can look brown or black
• Discolouration of these patches after injury to the skin or inflammation
• Areas of skin that become darker after exposure to UV rays (sunlight)
• Raised patches that seem to be getting bigger

Patches can develop anywhere on the body, depending on the type of hyperpigmentation that’s affecting you. It can be generalised, and affect larger areas, or be more localised, appearing only on specific areas like your face, hands or stomach.

Can hyperpigmentation lead to other problems?

Hyperpigmentation isn’t normally a risk to your health. Though you might want to treat it if you feel like it is impacting your appearance or making you self-conscious.

Areas of skin with uneven pigmentation won’t necessarily lead to other conditions developing, but it’s advisable that you stay well informed about potential risks surrounding skincare.

Sun exposure is responsible for lots of cases of hyperpigmentation, as UV rays activate melanin production. Melanin can absorb these rays and has the ability to protect you from potentially dangerous free radicals.^[2] So your body may increase melanin production to protect you from the sun’s rays, leading to hyperpigmentation.