If you have been diagnosed with Hyperpigmentation, you may be confused as to what it actually is and what causes it. There is not really much public knowledge about the condition so where can you find out more?

Surprisingly, Hyperpigmentation is actually quite common. It is generally harmless, though many sufferers find it more unsightly than anything else. It occurs when there is an excess of melanin, which is a brown pigment which usually produces normal skin color. This excess melanin makes patches of the skin darker than usual; hence it stands out quite a lot. The condition can affect all races, no matter what color their skin is.

Liver spots are also a common form of Hyperpigmentation and they are usually down to sun damage. Usually they are found on the hands or the face, or anywhere which has been excessively exposed to the sun.

Melasma spots can also occur and they are similar in appearance to age spots, but they tend to be larger and they often occur due to hormonal changes. A classic example of this is pregnancy, which can trigger the overproduction of melanin which often causes darkened skin on the face and around the abdomen.

Birth control pills have also been known to trigger off the overproduction of melanin as the body tends to undergo similar hormonal changes which occur during pregnancy. If this does bother you, you should ask to change birth control pills as soon as possible.

If you get a sun tan, it often makes the Hyperpigmentation look darker than what it did already. If you are seeking treatment for the Hyperpigmentation then using sun tan lotion is especially important, as one day in the sun unprotected, can undo months of treatment.

Acne can also be a trigger of Hyperpigmentation and other skin injuries can also contribute. There are also links between Hyperpigmentation and other diseases such as:

There are some treatments available to help with this condition. Prescription skin creams which contain ‘hydroquinone’ are the ones which are used to lighten the skin. Bleaches contained within the creams are used to lighten and fade darkened skin patches by slowing the production of melanin right down. Some prescription bleaches contain a higher amount of ‘hydroquinone’ than over the counter ones do.

If your case of Hyperpigmentation is particularly severe, you may be prescribed creams which contain ‘Tretinoin’ and ‘Cortisone’. However, these are generally more irritable for the skin and they take quite a long time to show results with most results occurring in around three to six months!

Hydroxy Acid peels are also used to treat this condition, though they have to be done professionally. This is a slightly invasive procedure and it can be quite painful. Overall the main aim of the peel is to increase cellular turnover and to thicken the dermis in the skin.

Usually it will take more than one treatment to improve the condition and another downside to this treatment is that it can be particularly expensive depending upon how often you need it doing. Each case of Hyperpigmentation is different and so different people need different amounts of treatment.

These days there are also a couple of highly effective laser treatments available including the ‘q-switched’ ruby and other pigmented lesion lasers. These often remove the lesions without any scarring left over.

Overall, although there is not much public knowledge about Hyperpigmentation, there are various treatments out there available to combat it. You should always consult your doctor if you are unsure as to what the condition involves and how you should best treat it. Most effective treatments are given through prescription anyway so you may need to talk to your doctor in order to get the right treatment for you.