Before getting into home remedies for acne, what is skin pigmentation?
Pigmentation is a change in skin color. Dark spots on the skin are a common problem faced by both men and women. It is caused by excess melanin, the pigment that gives your skin its natural color. When this pigment accumulates in the skin, it causes pigmentation (or hyperpigmentation).
Note: All pigmentation is harmless. Some may be symptoms of an underlying disease. If you notice a change in skin color, see your doctor.
There are several types of skin pigmentation – some may respond to treatment and some may not. The most common types of skin pigmentation will be discussed in the next section.
Types of skin pigmentation
Age spots or solar lentigines (liver spots): These are the most common type of skin pigmentation and are caused by sun exposure. They are found in places that are constantly exposed to the sun.
Melasma or Chloasma: This is an age spot-like patch that covers a large area of the skin. These spots are usually caused by hormonal changes. For example, during pregnancy, hormones cause the skin to produce too much melanin, which causes darkening of the skin.
Freckles (Ephelides): These are caused by sun exposure. These appear as small dots and spots on your face and shoulders.
Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation (PIH): This is a condition where your skin becomes blotchy as a result of trauma, burns, acne or aggressive chemotherapy. This is also called hypopigmentation.
You may also experience skin pigmentation disorders such as:
Vitiligo: This is an autoimmune disease, the cause of which is still unknown. Melanocytes (cells that produce melanin) stop working and light spots appear on the skin. This condition can affect any part or all of your body.
Albinism: This is a genetic disorder. People with albinism do not produce enough melanin, so their bodies have little or no pigment.
Let’s learn about n pigmentation and skin pigmentation problems. Skin pigmentation disorders affect your skin’s melanin levels (natural pigment) and skin tone. Any change in skin pigmentation can make your skin tone lighter or darker. Melasma, freckles, vitiligo, and hyperpigmentation are just a few examples of pigmentation problems.
Hyperpigmentation is usually caused by sun exposure. However, it can be caused by an underlying medical condition or a side effect of a medication. If you have hyperpigmentation due to improper skin care or sun damage, you can use home remedies to get rid of skin pigmentation problems. It may not be as effective as drug therapy, but you can see results gradually. Scroll down.