Everyone’s skin is unique to a degree and it can sometimes take a skin specialist to see the unique causes of a skin condition, even if the symptoms may be similar to someone else’s.
A good example of this in action is hyperpigmentation, a condition where certain patches of skin are darker than the surrounding skin.
The root cause of hyperpigmentation is an excess of melanin, which means that whilst it can affect people of all skin types and skin colours, the exact symptoms may differ between different people.
The pigment melanin is formed during the metabolism of tyrosine and hyperpigmentation can most commonly be seen with moles. However, the exact cause of the development of hyperpigmentation can vary dramatically depending on the extent of the condition and any underlying factors.
Generalised Vs Localised
There are a lot of causes and severities of hyperpigmentation, but the most common grouping of different skin conditions is between generalised and localised hyperpigmentation.
The most common forms of hyperpigmentation are localised to a very specific area, and most people will have some kind of localised hyperpigmentation throughout their lives.
A birthmark, for example, is in some cases caused by hyperpigmentation, particularly so-called “cafe-au-lait” spots that are light brown, harmless and sometimes impossible to notice.
As well as this, freckles are a very common form of hyperpigmentation caused by genetic factors albeit exacerbated by sun exposure. They typically take the form of darker dots across the body, particularly on the face and hands.
They can also be caused by moles, which contrary to popular belief are not always raised, smooth bumps but can also be rough patches of darker skin. These can also be a sign of melanoma but that is typically only the case if they change shape or get bigger.
There are also liver spots and sunspots, which are darker spots caused by sun exposure, as well as melasma, the grey or brown patches of pigmentation that can affect women during pregnancy.
Finally, hyperpigmentation can be caused by a complication of other inflammation of the skin, such as those caused by acne or eczema.
By contrast, generalised hyperpigmentation is where significant parts of the body develop more melanin than expected, which at its greatest extent is a sign of Addison’s disease, a rare adrenal gland condition that can cause a general darkening of the skin.
As well as this, the condition haemochromatosis can sometimes cause darkening or yellowing of the skin, caused by an overload of iron.
How Is It Treated?
The first step a skin specialist will take is to explore the root cause of the hyperpigmentation, which can require examination of the skin in most cases, and occasionally a biopsy in some other cases where a serious skin condition is the root cause.
In some cases, topical solutions can be used to lighten the skin, but in most cases, a treatment such as laser resurfacing or chemical peels will be used to safely remove the topmost layer of the skin and encourage cell renewal with skin possessing a more consistent pigment.