Pigmentation

What is pigmentation and uneven skin tone?

Pigmentation refers to the colour in our skin, determined by melanocytes (pigment-producing cells) that make melanin. When melanin production becomes overactive or uneven, it can cause hyperpigmentation (areas darker than the surrounding skin) or hypopigmentation (areas that are lighter).

What causes it?

Hyperpigmentation has many causes — establishing the cause is the key to treating it effectively. Common contributors include ageing, trauma, UV exposure, some medications and medical conditions, hormones, and genetic predisposition.

Types

Common forms include freckles (small spots of concentrated melanin from UV exposure), age spots (solar lentigines from repeated sun exposure), melasma (hormonally influenced patches) and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (pigment that follows acne, injury or inflammation, and can be more stubborn to treat).