Pigmentation

Vitiligo causes your skin to lose color or pigmentation. Smooth white or light areas called macules or patches appear on your skin. It generally starts on your hands, forearms, feet and face. Globally, about 1% of the population has vitiligo. Treatment isn’t necessary, but it’s available if you don’t like the changes to your skin tone. Overview Vitiligo causes your skin to lose its color or pigment. What is vitiligo? Vitiligo (pronounced “vit-il-EYE-go”) is a skin condition that causes your The condition occurs when your body’s Who does vitiligo affect? Vitiligo affects all races and sexes equally. It’s more visible in people with darker skin tones. Although vitiligo can develop in anyone at any age, macules or patches usually become apparent before age 30. You might be at a higher risk of developing vitiligo if you have certain autoimmune conditions like: • • • • • • • How common is vitiligo? Vitiligo occurs in over 1% of the population throughout the world. How does vitiligo start and progress? Vitiligo usually starts with a few small white macules or patches that may gradually spread over your body. Vitiligo typically begins on your hands, forearms, feet and face, but can develop on any part of your body, including your mucous membranes (the moist lining of your mouth, nose, genital and rectal areas), your eyes and inner ears. Sometimes, larger patches continue to widen and spread, but they usually stay in the same place for years. The location of smaller macules shifts...

Possible Causes What causes hypopigmentation? Injuries to your skin are the most common cause of hypopigmentation, including: • Burns. • Infections. • Blisters. • Chemical exposure. As these injuries heal, Rare genetic conditions may cause hypopigmentation over wide areas of your skin. Some of these genetic conditions include: • Albinism. Albinism is a genetic disorder in which you’re born with low amounts of melanin. Most people with albinism have very pale skin all over their body, pale eyes and light or white hair. • Pityriasis alba. Pityriasis alba is a condition that causes scaly patches on your skin. When the scales go away, hypopigmentation appears in your affected areas. • Vitiligo. Vitiligo is a skin disorder that causes areas of your skin to turn white. It occurs when your body’s Other hypopigmentation causes include: • Tinea versicolor. Tinea versicolor is a fungal infection caused by an overgrowth of yeast on your skin. • Lichen sclerosus. Lichen sclerosus is a disorder that affects the skin on your genitals or anus. • Psoriasis. Psoriasis is a long-lasting (chronic) disorder that causes thick, scaly patches (plaques) on your skin. Hypopigmentation may appear once your plaques go away. • Eczema. Eczema is a condition that causes your skin to become dry, discolored, itchy and bumpy. After treatment, your affected areas may have hypopigmentation. Some skin treatments may also cause hypopigmentation, including: • Laser skin resurfacing. During this procedure, your...

• Hyperpigmentation refers to spots and patches of skin that are darker than the surrounding area • It develops when skin overproduces melanin, the pigment responsible for skin’s color • Hyperpigmentation can result from skin injury, overexposure to the sun and as part of the aging process • Over the counter and prescription-strength topicals are available, as well as professional treatments Hyperpigmentation is a very common condition that is characterized by dark spots or patches of skin that result from increased melanin production, the pigment that provides color to skin. These spots go by a number of different names including age spots, sunspots, liver spots, solar lentigines or postinflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH), depending on the cause. Treatment can be challenging and focuses on different Contents • • • • • • • What Is Hyperpigmentation? Hyperpigmentation refers to an excess of pigmentation that can develop in the outermost layer of skin (the epidermis) and the layer below (the dermis). It is a harmless, relatively common condition that can affect anyone at any age, however, it is one of the Hyperpigmentation can manifest in several forms with the most common being melasma, sunspots and postinflammatory hyperpigmentation. Melasma Fluctuating hormones can cause this skin condition to develop during pregnancy or menstruation but there is also a strong genetic component. In one study Its development can also be attributed to ultraviolet A (UVA) sun exposure which...

Overview Vitiligo (vit-ih-LIE-go) is a disease that causes loss of skin color in patches. The discolored areas usually get bigger with time. The condition can affect the skin on any part of the body. It can also affect hair and the inside of the mouth. Normally, the color of hair and skin is determined by melanin. Vitiligo occurs when cells that produce melanin die or stop functioning. Vitiligo affects people of all skin types, but it may be more noticeable in people with brown or Black skin. The condition is not life-threatening or contagious. It can be stressful or make you feel bad about yourself. Symptoms Vitiligo signs include: • Patchy loss of skin color, which usually first appears on the hands, face, and areas around body openings and the genitals • Premature whitening or graying of the hair on your scalp, eyelashes, eyebrows or beard • Loss of color in the tissues that line the inside of the mouth and nose (mucous membranes) Vitiligo can start at any age, but usually appears before age 30. Depending on the type of vitiligo you have, it may affect: • Nearly all skin surfaces. With this type, called universal vitiligo, the discoloration affects nearly all skin surfaces. • Many parts of the body. With this most common type, called generalized vitiligo, the discolored patches often progress similarly on corresponding body parts (symmetrically). • Only one side or part of the body. This type, called segmental vitiligo, tends to occur at a younger age, progress for a ye...

What’s hyperpigmentation? Hyperpigmentation isn’t necessarily a condition but a term that describes skin that appears darker. It can: • occur in small patches • cover large areas • affect the entire body While increased pigmentation usually isn’t harmful, it can be a symptom of another medical condition. Learn about types of hyperpigmentation, causes, and how to treat it. Darkened areas on the skin are the main symptoms of hyperpigmentation. Patches can vary in size and develop anywhere on the body. The biggest risk factors for general hyperpigmentation are sun exposure and inflammation, as both situations can increase melanin production. The greater your exposure to the sun, the greater your risk of increased skin pigmentation. Depending on the type of disorder, other risk factors for hyperpigmented patches may include: • oral contraceptive use or pregnancy, as seen with melasma • darker skin type, which is more prone to pigmentation changes • drugs that increase your sensitivity to the sunlight • trauma to the skin, such as a wound or A common cause of hyperpigmentation is an excess production of melanin. Melanin is a pigment that gives skin its color. It’s produced by skin cells called melanocytes. Several different conditions or factors can alter the production of melanin in your body. Certain medications can cause hyperpigmentation. Also, some chemotherapy drugs can cause hyperpigmentation as a side effect. Pregnancy changes hormone levels and can affect melanin produ...

• People who have albinism have to protect their eyes and skin from the sun by using sunscreen, covering up while out in the sun, and wearing sunglasses. • For those with symptoms affecting vision, glasses are often prescribed, and in more serious cases, eye muscle surgery can be done to correct rapid eye movements. The majority of scars are known as flat scars, and during the initial stages of healing, they will be pink or red and slightly raised on the skin. In some cases, the scar will revert back to the normal skin tone, but in other instances, scars can appear lighter or darker than the natural color of the skin. Stretch marks are also a type of scar with abnormal pigmentation. They are typically caused by the rapid growth or shrinking of the skin, such as during pregnancy or weight loss and gain. When stretch marks first begin to form, they are red, purple, or dark brown, and they eventually fade to a white or silver color. • Keep the injury clean while it’s healing • Use petroleum jelly on the wound while it’s healing • Cover the wounded area with a bandage and ensure it is changed daily • Follow any instructions for removal of stitches to help minimize the appearance of a future scar • Use sunscreen on the wound to help reduce discoloration The most likely places for vitiligo to appear are in areas where sun exposure is frequent, including the hands, feet, face, and arms. It can also affect the mouth, eyes, groin, and genitals. Parts of the head can also be affecte...