What Causes Discoloration and What to do About it
Dark spots are unwanted and stubborn to get rid of. Often referred to as hyperpigmentation, discoloration occurs when more pigment is produced in certain spots on the body. All skin types and tones can experience hyperpigmentation, but it’s more common and easily produced for some. Darker skin tones, for example, are more prone to hyperpigmentation because their skin is already producing more melanin than other skin tones. What causes discoloration? Hyperpigmentation is caused by inflammation in the skin. Some of the most common causes of inflammation are: Sun exposure Hormonal shifts Pregnancy Acne Burns or wounds In response to inflammation, skin cells produce extra melanin (that’s the pigment that causes your skin to tan). Melanin acts as an umbrella over skin cells to protect the DNA inside from the source of the inflammation. Some discoloration is more superficial than others. Dark spots left behind by breakouts or a topical burn may be easier to reduce the appearance ...