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Hyperpigmentation is a medical term for light brown, irregular patches of skin. It’s an excess of melanin, which is the pigment that gives your skin its color. Hyperpigmentation may occur on the face or body. However, it commonly appears in blotchy, uneven patches areas exposed to sunlight—like your face or shoulders.

What causes sudden hyperpigmentation

The risk factors for general hyperpigmentation vary from sun exposure and inflammation. Both factors may increase melanin production. The greater exposure to the sun, the greater your risk of increased skin pigmentation.

Is hyperpigmentation the same as vitiligo?

Hyperpigmentation occurs as red and inflamed skin, or there can be a brownish discoloration. However, vitiligo does not cause discomfort to your skin, but the patches may occasionally be itchy. These conditions may vary from person to person.

Though hyperpigmentation is seen following photochemotherapy for lesions of vitiligo, reports relating to tacrolimus-induced hyperpigmentation have only recently started emerging in the literature.

How to get rid of hyperpigmentation

  • Avoid exposure to the sun. Use sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher to protect the skin and stop hyperpigmentation from becoming darker.
  • Avoid picking at the skin. To prevent hyperpigmentation from forming after an injury, avoid picking at spots, scabs, and acne.

How long hyperpigmentation lasts

Without any treatment at all, it can take 3 to 24 months to see improvement. Many people who buy cosmetic products will find out that the products given at the time of purchase do not always keep their promises. As a result, some people may find that they need to look for a better quality product or one which offers longer-lasting results.

What diseases cause hyperpigmentation?

Common causes of widespread hyperpigmentation include melasma, drugs, cancers, and other systemic disorders.  When these conditions are left untreated, they can quickly become problematic.  Focal hyperpigmentation can become a problem for someone who is trying to look less sick or appearance-centric. It can also affect someone looking to improve their complexion for health reasons or self-care purposes.

 

If you’ve had a skin infection, blisters, burns, or other trauma to your skin, you may have a loss of pigmentation in the affected area. The good news with this type of pigment loss is that it’s frequently not permanent, but it may take a long time to re-pigment. Use cosmetics to cover the affected area while the body regenerates the pigmentation.

 

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