MELANIN: YOUR SKIN’S COLOURFUL DEFENCE SYSTEM
In order to understand what causes hyperpigmentation, we first need to look at the key component of skin pigmentation: melanin.Melanin is a naturally occurring substance found in our skin, hair and eyes that gives them their colour. It is produced by cells known as melanocytes in a process known as melanin synthesis or melanogenesis. Since more melanin means more pigment, dark skin and hair generally contains a higher concentration of melanin than light skin.
In and of itself, melanin in our skin is actually a good thing. Its main purpose is to protect us by absorbing UV radiation, preventing free radicals from forming and causing damage to our skin. When skin is under attack from environmental aggressors (such as UV exposure or pollution) or subject to skin inflammation caused by acne, atopic lesions, or after a wound, it automatically triggers inflammatory mediators that tell our melanocyte cells to produce more melanin for extra protection. This is why you are less likely to get a sunburn if you have a tan—the extra melanin that gives your tan its colour also provides your skin with an extra layer of protection from harmful UVB rays. (That said, no matter your skin tone or how deep your tan is, you should always shield your skin from sun damage with a broad-spectrum sunscreen.)
TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING
The problem occurs when environmental factors such as UV or pollution, hormonal conditions or physical trauma and skin damage overstimulate our skin’s built-in defence mechanisms, causing it to become inflamed and produce too much melanin. The resulting excess pigment can collect and accumulate unevenly in our epidermal cells, leaving us with hyperpigmentation - persistent dark spots or patches that remain on our skin long after the original source of inflammation has gone.CAUSES OF HYPERPIGMENTATION
So, what causes hyperpigmentation? There is no one simple answer, since different types of hyperpigmentation can be caused by a variety of internal or external factors.Hyperpigmentation can be genetic or hormonal; develop over time with age or sun exposure; be triggered by certain medications; or result from inflammation following physical trauma to the skin, such as acne, bug bites, cuts and scrapes and cosmetic procedures.
Among the wide variety of hyperpigmentation causes, there are a few usual suspects that seem to pop up regularly.
ALL IN THE FAMILY
Hyperpigmentation can be genetic. Some inherited medical conditions can cause hyperpigmentation in patches of skin, while actinic lentigo or solar lentigo - the brown or black spots we call age spots or liver spots - often runs in the family. Skin types with higher melanin levels also have a genetic predisposition to developing hyperpigmentation.
TRIGGERED BY MEDICATION
Certain medications, including antibiotics and acne treatments, such as like retinoid creams and tablets, can increase photosensitivity in skin, making it more susceptible to developing hyperpigmentation when exposed to UV light.
HORMONAL UPS AND DOWNS
Conditions like melasma, where hyperpigmentation forms in sun-exposed areas—usually on the face—can appear when the body’s hormonal balance radically shifts. This explains why melasma has also been dubbed pregnancy mask and why it can sometimes be triggered by birth control pills. Acne, which is also hormone-related, can leave marks on skin that develop into hyperpigmentation when exposed to UV light.
POST-INFLAMMATORY HYPERPIGMENTATION (PIH)
Physical trauma to the skin, whether it be from acne, surface skin infections like tinea versicolor, cosmetic procedures like chemical peels or laser treatments, bug bites, burns, cuts, scrapes and even shaving(!) all cause skin inflammation that can potentially lead to PIH (Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation) when the inflamed, irritated or injured skin is exposed to UV light.
Skin types with a high melanin content tend to be more susceptible to PIH, which can leave persistent dark marks on skin that sometimes last for years.
In order to treat your hyperpigmentation properly, it’s important to understand its root cause first, so you can choose the right treatment for your dark spots and patches.
UV LIGHT: THE COMMON DENOMINATOR
When looking at the various causes of hyperpigmentation, the biggest common denominator among them is sunlight or UV exposure.UV light triggers an inflammatory response in skin that tells our melanocyte cells to ramp up melanin production. UVB rays cause an inflammatory response that we recognize as sunburn, while UVA rays generate free radicals or oxidative stress, triggering chronic inflammation that can also lead to hyperpigmentation.
Prolonged and repeated exposure to sunlight causes age spots or liver spots to form over time. UV light is also the trigger that causes hyperpigmentation to form in skin made extra photosensitive by medication, and what causes injured or irritated skin to develop PIH.
So, if you’re looking to keep dark spots from developing in the first place, make sure to slather on a healthy dose of broad-spectrum sunscreen every day. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!
Click HERE to learn how you can protect your skin from the sun’s damaging rays.
THE BEST CORRECTION OR
HYPERPIGMENTATION?
While long-lasting dark spots and patches can be frustrating, more visible cases of melasma and other serious pigmentary disorders can be distressing for some, negatively impacting self-esteem, emotional well-being and quality of life.
But don’t lose hope! While there is no magic solution to make dark spots disappear overnight, there are dermo-cosmetic solutions for hyperpigmentation that use powerful active ingredients to soothe irritation, brighten and even out skin tone, lighten existing spots and patches caused by inflammation and prevent excess melanin production to keep new spots from forming.
With regular use, the right expert care products can effectively correct hyperpigmentation, fading dark spots and leaving you with a brighter, more even, more radiant complexion in a matter of weeks.
Click HERE to find out more about how to get rid of hyperpigmentation.
Click HERE to learn how super ingredient Niacinamide combats dark spots and patches.