The term “skin pigmentation” per se is not something that describes a
disorder in the skin. “Skin pigmentation” actually translates into “skin
coloring” which is normal for human beings. However, a lot of people today
make use of the term “Skin Pigmentation” to describe certain abnormalities
in skin coloring.
There are actually different types of abnormal skin pigmentation. However,
they can be classified into two categories: Hyperpigmentation and
Hypopigmentation.
Hyperpigmentation is characterized by an excess of melanin in the skin.
Abnormal pigmentation is actually a pretty normal condition, occuring in
even healthy people. There are different types of hyperpigmentation,
including birthmarks.
Birthmarks do not actually pose any health risks, although some people have
their lives hampered by birthmarks, depending on the location. Birthmarks
appear a few weeks after birth. They can be removed via laser treatments or
cosmetic surgery.
Age spots are also a common form of abnormal skin pigmentation. Age spots,
also known as sun spots, occur with age and increased sun exposure. Sun
spots appear because the ultraviolet radiation from the sun triggers the
skin to produce more melanin. An important fact to know about age spots is
that once you have had enough sun exposure to produce sun spots, you might
be vulnerable to skin cancer, although on their own, liver spots present no
health risk.
Treatment for this type of abnormal skin pigmentation is possible and
presents you with a variety of options.
Melasma is another type of abnormal skin pigmentation. This condition most
often occurs with pregnancy, but men do also develop it. It can also occur
with hormone therapy and such. Melasma actually goes away after pregnancy
however there are several treatment options available for this type of
abnormal skin pigmentation. A piece of advice to remember if you have to
melasma is to stay out of the sun and use sunscreen, as exposure to
ultraviolet radiation can worsen your condition.
Abnormal skin pigmentation could also occur after skin inflammation caused
by a disease. This type of skin pigmentation may be caused by the disease
itself or the drugs used to treat it. The pigmentation may be darkened by
continued sun exposure. However, most types of post-inflammatory skin
pigmentation will gradually disappear. If you do want to speed up the
disappearance, there are a variety of creams and treatments that a
dermatologist can recommend. Laser treatments and other forms of cosmetic
surgery may help, but aren’t recommended, because they can also aggravate
the pigmentation.
Hypopigmentation is a condition wherein the skin isn’t able to produce the
right amount of melanin. This condition is best observed in Albinism, where
a person’s skin has virtually no color, making it appear pink because of the
underlying blood vessels.
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