What causes pigmentation?

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A common cause of hyperpigmentation is an excess production of melanin. Melanin is a pigment that gives skin its color. It’s produced by skin cells called melanocytes. Several different conditions or factors can alter the production of melanin in your body.

Certain medications can cause hyperpigmentation. Also, some chemotherapy drugs can cause pigmentation as a side effect.

Pregnancy changes hormone levels and can affect melanin production in some women.

A rare endocrine disease called Addison’s disease can produce hyperpigmentation that’s most obvious in areas of sun exposure, such as the face, neck, and hands, and areas exposure to friction, such as elbows and knees.

The pigmentation is a direct result of an increased level of a hormone in your body that results in increased melanin synthesis.

Excessive sun exposure can also cause an increase in melanin.

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There are several types of pigmentation, the common ones being melasma, sunspots, and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.

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• Melasma. Melasma is believed to be caused by hormonal changes and may develop during pregnancy. Areas of pigmentation can appear on any area of the body, but they appear most commonly on the stomach and face.

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• Sunspots. Also called liver spots or solar lentigines, sunspots are common. They’re related to excess sun exposure over time. Generally, they appear as spots on areas exposed to the sun, like the hands and face.

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• Post-inflammatory pigmentation. This is a result of injury or inflammation to the skin. A common cause of this type is acne.

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How to treat pigmentation with laser?

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The laser is used to target the pigmented lesion in the skin, which absorbs the light. The laser heats up and shatters the pigment, which is then drawn to the surface without harming the surrounding tissue.

The pigmented lesions will either fade or dry and even flake off the treated area when it is drawn to the surface. This will leave the skin with an even tone and complexion.

There might be a mild discoloration of pigment before it heals after just a few days. The treated area can also sometimes become more sensitive to sun exposure however with proper sun-safety precautions, the effects are minimal.

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