What is Hyperpigmentation?

Hyperpigmentation is a skin condition where skin darkens because of excessive melanin production in the skin. The darkening of skin can occur in small patches or cover large areas of skin, and in rare instances skin darkening may occur over the entire body because of this condition. There are three types of hyperpigmentation. Melasma is darkened skin on the stomach or face, while sunspots are a very common form of hyperpigmentation caused by prolonged sun exposure. Sunspots are also called solar lentigines. 

Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation is skin darkening caused by inflammation or injury. Some people will be more likely to have hyperpigmentation because of their race or a genetic predisposition for accelerated melanin production. 

What Causes Hyperpigmentation?

Melasma is attributable to hormonal changes in the body, and pregnant women are one group known to have this type of hyperpigmentation due to hormonal changes. This can also apply for women who use oral contraceptives and have their hormone levels altered because of it. People with naturally darker skin experience hyperpigmentation more often too, and photosensitivity (sensitivity to sunlight) from Rx drug use may also increase the likelihood of solar lentigines. 

Other possibilities for what causes hyperpigmentation are skin trauma or burns, or endocrine diseases like Addison’s disease. Ochronosis can cause darkening of the skin too, and cancer patients receiving chemotherapy drugs have a higher chance of developing hyperpigmentation too. 

Hyperpigmentation Symptoms

The most common hyperpigmentation symptom is darkened skin seen on different areas of the body. Skin discoloration and a rougher texture to skin are also possibilities when people have hyperpigmentation, and spotting of affected skin is seen more frequently with people who have solar lentigines because of excessive sun exposure. 

Hyperpigmentation Treatment

Applying hydroquinone-based topical medications like Melacare is the most common approach to hyperpigmentation treatment when the person has darkened skin because of melasma. Using topical retinoid medications like Retin-A cream may also be what a doctor suggests for use to reduce hyperpigmentation. 

Preventing hyperpigmentation should be the primary focus to avoid having darkened skin because of this condition. Preventing sunspot hyperpigmentation is best done with a high-SPF sunscreen, and for melasma it is to avoid or limit use of certain medications that change hormone levels.