What Causes Hyperpigmentation?

Is hyperpigmentation making you feel self-conscious or unhappy with your appearance? While dark spots or an uneven skin tone are primarily cosmetic concerns, they can be detrimental to your confidence and overall quality of life.

At Shady Grove Dermatology, our team of experienced dermatologists works with you to uncover the root causes of your hyperpigmentation. Whether you’re dealing with sun spots, melasma, or post-inflammatory discoloration, we offer effective solutions to help you achieve your skin goals.

If you’re staring at patchy skin in the mirror every morning, you may be wondering: What causes hyperpigmentation? Let’s take a look at the factors that could be behind the persistent discoloration you’re facing.

Understanding the causes of hyperpigmentation

Hyperpigmentation occurs when excess melanin, the pigment that gives your skin its color, accumulates in certain areas and creates dark spots. 

These spots can vary in size, shape, and color, and they may appear anywhere on your body. But they often appear in areas that get a lot of sun exposure, such as your face, neck, chest, and shoulders.

Several factors can cause your body to overproduce melanin and develop patches of discoloration, including:

Sun damage

Excessive sun exposure is one of the main culprits behind hyperpigmentation. The sun’s powerful ultraviolet (UV) rays stimulate melanin production, often resulting in a tan, or deepening of your skin tone. But it can also lead to dark spots known as sun spots, age spots, or liver spots. 

While these spots are generally harmless, they could be an early warning sign of skin cancer. See our team at Shady Grove Dermatology if you notice:

• Rough, scaly patches of discolored skin
• Itchy, hot, or painful areas
• Moles that are larger than a pencil eraser or that have an irregular shape or color

Hormones

Hormonal fluctuations often play a role in hyperpigmentation. Pregnancy, menopause, and certain medications can all cause hormonal changes that trigger the overproduction of melanin.

Between 15% and 50% of pregnant women develop a condition known as melasma, which causes brown or gray skin discoloration on the face, neck, arms, and/or back. Melasma is harmless, and typically fades with time.

Inflammation

Skin inflammation can occur due to a condition like acne or eczema, or an injury, such as a cut or burn. Some medications, including certain antibiotics and chemotherapy drugs, can also trigger skin reactions.

The inflammatory process can stimulate melanin production, resulting in dark spots and an uneven skin tone. This is known as post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, and it’s especially common in people who struggle with acne.

Preventing and treating hyperpigmentation

Depending on the underlying causes of your hyperpigmentation, we may recommend simple lifestyle changes to prevent it from worsening and to encourage it to fade naturally. These changes may include:

• Protecting your skin from the sun by wearing a broad-spectrum sunscreen (even on cloudy days) and staying indoors or in shade during peak sun hours
• Avoiding harsh skin care products that can irritate your skin and opting for gentle, fragrance-free products
• Keeping your skin hydrated with a skin-safe moisturizer

We may also suggest topical treatments to lighten dark patches or spots, such as azelaic acid, hydroquinone, retinoids, or vitamin C. Cosmetic procedures, such as chemical peels or laser resurfacing, work to exfoliate the top layers of skin, stimulating cell turnover and fading hyperpigmentation spots.

If you’re dealing with persistent hyperpigmentation, our team at Shady Grove Dermatology is here to help you. Call or click to schedule an appointment at our Rockville, Maryland, office today.