Although it does not look aesthetically, hyper pigmentation is usually harmless. It is a common problem caused by over activity of the cells called melanocytes. These cells stimulate the production of melanin, the substance that gives skin color.
What makes these melanocytes produce too much melanin? There are two major factors: the sun and the hormonal activity. Therefore, some pigmentation spots, the most common ones, occur during pregnancy, and are caused by hormonal fluctuations, but also by prolonged exposure to sunlight.
Sun Exposure, A Risk Factor
Besides the dangers to which you submit through excessive exposure to sun, UV rays play an important role in causing hyper pigmentation. When UV rays reach the skin, they stimulate the production of melanin, as a means of protection of the skin, preventing the harmful rays to penetrate the deeper layers. Thus, the more you expose yourself to sunlight, the darker your skin becomes.
However, when some melanocytes trigger an excessive secretion of melanin, pigmentation spots develop, which are usually small brown freckles, which appear mainly on the face, hands, shoulders or back. On the other hand, excessive sun exposure can accentuate the already existing spots and freckles, and triggers the appearance of new ones. Therefore, the first thing you should do to prevent them is to limit sun exposure and use sunscreen creams with a minimum of SPF 15 for both face and body.
Some medications make the skin more sensitive to sunlight, increasing the risk of pigmentation spots. These include birth control pills (and other estrogen-based hormonal products), certain antibiotics (tetracycline, doxycycline, ciprofloxacin, azithromycin), certain antihypertensive agents and some local anti-acne products (retinoids), etc.
Post Inflammatory Hyper Pigmentation
This type of pigmentation usually occurs in brown-haired people and people with a darker skin type, after the healing of wounds, such as cuts, burns, scratches or acne. The area around the scar can be colored, thus remaining for some weeks, but it can easily turn into a permanent scar.
To prevent the conversion of a small wound in a permanent scar due to hyper pigmentation, use a local high SPF cream. If pigmentation occurs and persists, a dermatologist using the techniques of skin discoloration, chemical peels or microdermabrasion can treat it.
Melasma and Chloasma
Melasma is a common type of hyper pigmentation among women. According to The American Academy of Dermatology, 90% of people affected by melasma are women. It is not known the exact cause of this pigmentation problem, but it is believed to be hereditary.
Melasma that occurs during pregnancy is called chloasma and tan or brown spots on the cheeks, nose or forehead manifest it. The hormonal fluctuations are responsible for this pigmentation problem, and they are normal in pregnant women.
Other factors that cause melasma are birth control pills, hormone treatments, some medicines and cosmetics, and sun exposure.
Usually melasma disappears after giving birth or after stopping the hormonal treatment. However, if the skin does not return to its original color, seek for the advice of a dermatologist, who can recommend you one of the possible solutions: local treatment with steroid creams, chemical peels, microdermabrasion or laser treatment.
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