The answers to hyperpigmentation are generally easier than most patients think. The pigment is what colors the skin; hyperpigmentation comes from more melanin than the body needs. It causes patches of skin or the nails to be darker in color. This condition can happen to all people no matter what their skin type, but is more prominent in people with darker skin. It is not a dangerous condition and instead requires monitoring for any abnormal changes along with special considerations like Rock Hill acne scar treatment.
What Types Exist And What Causes The Condition?
There are several types of hyperpigmentation like inflammatory hyperpigmentation, age spots, and melasma. Certain types of hyperpigmentation come from an injury such as a burn or an illness; sun damage is a major cause for the diagnosis. Skin inflammation and illnesses also contribute to this condition. Acne and lupus are two of the unlikely causes that still make an impact on the patient’s skin type. Other diseases that are connected to this skin condition are Addison’s disease and Cushing’s disease; these diseases deal with hormones. Sometimes laser use on the skin can bring on hyperpigmentation. Certain medications can also cause this to happen to a person’s skin. It often falls on the prescribing doctor to decide if the overall benefits outweigh any possible issues that could arise from selected doses.
Diagnosis
A doctor will assess your medical history first to see if this condition has appeared among any relatives. There will be an examination of the skin as well as a complete physical to find any underlying causes. After the exam, the doctor will look at the skin with a blacklight to better assess the current state of the outer layer of the skin itself. There may be a biopsy of the hyperpigmentation sent to a lab for testing. The pigment of a person’s skin influences what treatment options are chosen and the initial diagnosis plays an important role in this decision.
Treatments
One thing a doctor will tell someone to start with is to avoid the sun; if a person has to be outside they need a sunscreen of 30SPF or higher. Creams and lotions will lighten certain dark patches and these options can be bought over the counter or by prescription from a doctor. Anything from this category of products has ingredients like retinoids and acids to assist in the lightening. It needs to be used at least once a day. Patients with age spots are good candidates to use the creams and lotions.
Other treatments are done by a doctor in their office. A chemical peel uses stronger acids than over the counter ones and goes deeper than other treatments. These options have to be used with care because they make the skin more sensitive to the sun and could make things worse if not managed in conjunction with other conditions. Laser therapy or skin resurfacing can offer relief from hyperpigmentation; this treatment takes off layers of the skin. Intense pulsating light therapy is good for changes in pigmentation. The IPL is a form of laser therapy and is limited due to its intensity.
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