Pigmentation Appearance Causes

Melasma





Brown/black patches that appear gradually on the face



Such pigmentation appears as a result of an overproduction of melanin by your skin’s pigment cells.



Genetics, exposure to the sun, as well as pregnancy or hormonal changes can trigger the growth of melasma. In the case of pregnancy, however, the melasma usually subsides by the end of the pregnancy.





Freckles





Small flat brown marks that appear on the face and other areas commonly exposed to the sun.



Freckles are generally more common in people with fairer skin.



Freckles are usually caused as a result of sun exposure.





Age Spots





Small spots of flat or slightly-raised pigment with a clearly defined border



Age spots can occur anywhere on the body, and vary in colour from tan-brown to black.

Age spots are generally caused by sun exposure, as well as the process of aging itself.





Hypopigmentation

(Vitiligo)





Hypopigmentation refers to the loss of skin colour as a result of melanin depletion.



This can culminate in vitiligo, a skin condition in which there is a loss of colour, resulting in irregular white patches on the skin.



Vitiligo generally occurs on commonly exposed areas (such as the face, neck, nipples, navel, or genitalia), body folds (such as the armpits or groin), as well as sites of injury (such as areas with cuts, scrapes, or burns).



Hypopigmentation can be caused by diseases, burns, or trauma to the skin.



While the exact cause of vitiligo is not known, a possible cause could be due to the body’s immune system destroying the cells that form pigment in the skin.

Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation

Discolouration of the skin as a result of the healing of inflamed skin



Such discolouration often ranges from light brown to black in colour, and may become darker if exposed to sunlight.

Some common causes include:



Infections (including acne)

Allergic reactions

Trauma

Phototoxic reactions

Certain medications (e.g. anti-malarial drugs, tetracyclines, 5-fluororacil)

