Pigmentation

Pigmentation is a term that refers to patches of skin that have become darker or lighter in colour.

These patches can appear in small localised areas, or may affect larger parts of the body. Hyperpigmentation causes the skin to go darker, whereas hypopigmentation leads to patches that are lighter.

As a result of the over or underproduction of melanin in the skin, pigmentation issues aren’t usually found to be harmful, but it can cause the development of conditions such as: melasma, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation or sun spots.

Hyperpigmentation is a fairly common concern that is often found to affect parts of the face or body where frequent exposure is likely, such as on the face, shoulders and hands. As a result of too much melanin in the skin, hyperpigmentation develops as the sun’s UV rays trigger an overproduction of the skin’s natural pigment.

Hormones are also thought to create a similar response, with melasma (a condition often seen during pregnancy or the menopause) being a common example of this. When post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation occurs, injury or inflammation to the skin is the likely cause. A common example of this condition is discolouration on the face where acne once appeared.

If someone is experiencing hypopigmentation it is likely that genetics are the reason it has developed. This type of skin discolouration can also occur through injury or trauma to the skin and the underlying tissues, such as in cases of burns, dermatitis, psoriasis or frequent skin infections.

The skin has developed a certain amount of scar tissue to repair itself from these conditions, which is lighter in tone than the skin itself.

Chemical peels, Dermalux LED, microneedling and medical grade skincare are effective solutions that The Bloom Clinic has available to help with reducing the appearance of hyperpigmentation. By regenerating the skin over a course of treatments, healthy new cells are able to grow and the new skin that is revealed will be fresher and without uneven pigment.