Diffuse Pigmentation: Is Yours Within the Normal Range?

 

If you’ve ever wondered if your pigmentation should be within normal range, the answer is yes, of course! The reason many individuals seek treatment for their skin is because they are bothered by the darkness or discoloration of their skin, which can take on many forms, including lentigines (commonly known as age spots), melasma, freckles, and hyperpigmentation. Although these forms may differ in appearance from person to person, they are all considered diffused pigmentation.

What causes diffuse skin pigmentation

There are a few reasons why you might have diffuse skin pigmentation. It could be caused by hyperthyroidism, or hemochromatosis. It also may occur because of a medication side effect. Addison’s disease, which is an endocrine disorder, is sometimes responsible for diffuse skin pigmentation and erythema. Finally, some people who take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for many years can develop bullous drug eruptions that produce diffuse hyperpigmented patches on the arms and legs.

Causes for diffuse skin discoloration in children

Hyperthyroidism is a condition in which an individual has excessive production of thyroid hormones by their thyroid gland. One of the first noticeable signs of hyperthyroidism may be excessive sweating, or sweating at night with insomnia. Diffuse pigmentation can also be caused by hemochromatosis, a genetic disorder characterized by excessive absorption and storage of iron within cells and organs. In most cases, it’s more common for children to develop this condition due to familial tendencies for it to run in families. Another cause for diffuse skin discoloration can be medication side effects, including Addison’s disease, also known as primary adrenal insufficiency.

Causes for diffuse skin discoloration in adults

*Causes for diffuse skin discoloration in adults, or hemochromatosis. It also may occur because of a medication side effect., Addison’s disease. The list of causes includes hematologic diseases such as leukocytoclastic vasculitis, systemic mastocytosis, and some cancers; systemic disorders such as sarcoidosis, endocrine system disorders such as Addison’s disease, liver diseases such as nonalcoholic steatohepatitis; and various internal malignancies or other cancer-related treatments. Various drugs may also cause diffuse hyperpigmentation including chlorpromazine hydrochloride and minocycline hydrochloride..

If you have photosensitivity, your skin may be hyperpigmented (darker than average)

If you are sensitive to the sun, your skin may be hyperpigmented (darked than average). This usually occurs because of a medication side effect. Sometimes it also happens when someone is diagnosed with hemochromatosis. Hemochromatosis is an excessive accumulation of iron pigment in skin tissue and organs. There are few medical treatments for this condition.

What causes diffuse hyperpigmentation?

There are many potential causes of diffuse hyperpigmentation, and it is often difficult to pinpoint a specific cause. Factors that can contribute to hyperpigmentation include an increased production of melanin (melanogenesis), UV exposure, hormonal fluctuations, medications, or underlying skin conditions. Genetic diseases such as hereditary hemochromatosis may also be a cause. Dermatologists or your family doctor can help determine whether or not there is a medical condition causing your hyperpigmentation. Melasma and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation are two common skin disorders that can lead to hypopigmented spots on the skin which appear as brown patches.

What are the 3 types of hyperpigmentation?

Dermatologists have 3 broad categories of hyperpigmentation to explain why your skin may be darker than usual. The first category is localized, meaning it’s confined to a specific area of the body and doesn’t affect other parts of your body like diffuse or generalized hyperpigmentation does. Epidermal means the darkening occurred on the surface of your skin, whereas dermal means there was a change in deeper tissues like blood vessels and even organs. The third type is postinflammatory which typically appears after an injury to your skin has healed or a rash goes away.

What causes pigmented?

Everyone has some pigmentation, and it’s actually a natural defense to help protect our skin from sun damage. Some people have more or less melanin (the pigment responsible for skin color) in their skin than others. That’s where our differences come from. There are many reasons that can cause us to develop more pigmentation than we should have. For example, it may be due to increased sun exposure or an overexposure to medication such as tetracycline or methotrexate. It also may occur because of a medication side effect, meaning it could just be the medicine itself that is creating an issue with your skin tone. In these cases, there are prescription creams and light therapy available that can make things better again quickly.

How do you treat skin pigmentation?

While this type of pigmentation is usually nothing to worry about, there are treatments for it if you’re concerned. Cosmetic treatments and peels will improve your skin’s condition over time. Furthermore, bleaching creams may be necessary in certain cases. If a darker area is small and not bothersome, there’s usually no need to treat it as long as it doesn’t increase in size or become irritating. The lightening effect of some oral medications can also help reduce skin pigmentation (especially if they are being used for another health condition). Consult with your doctor before making any changes to your treatment plan or initiating new treatments that could interfere with existing medications or therapies.

What are pigmentation disorders?

Pigmentation disorders refer to conditions that affect the amount or type of pigment in an individual’s skin. These disorders may be genetic or caused by an injury or illness. The most common types of pigmentation disorders are vitiligo, which causes white patches to appear on skin, and albinism, which is a condition where there is little to no melanin production in the body. Other less common types of these conditions include café au lait macules, focal dermal hypopigmentation, postinflammatory hyperpigmantation, hemochromatosis, acanthosis nigricans and nevus depigmentosus erythematosus.

Does vitamin C help with hyperpigmentation?

To answer this question, we first have to take a closer look at hyperpigmentation. Hyperpogmentation is a skin condition that causes excess pigmentation, or discoloration of the skin. It usually appears as brown patches and spots on the face, neck and body. The most common cause of hyperpogmantion is exposure to excess levels of UV light, such as sunburn or age spots. For some people though, it can be an inherited condition called Vitiligo, a health-related reason like hemochromatosis (iron overload), or even a medication side effect.