What Is Skin Pigmentation And Its Causes?
Skin pigmentation is a process by which certain areas of the body get darker as compared to the other areas. The pigments are mostly seen on the face normally under the eyes and around the mouth but can appear on any part of the body. Elbows are the area where the skin is often darker as compared to the arms. Similarly the skin can get darker around the belly area. The darkening can be due to exposure to ultraviolet rays or due to some disease. Before starting treatment it is essential to know the reason. Your dermatologist will be able to guide you.
Melasma is a cause of pigmentation of your skin. The reason for this medical condition is not fully known. This causes pigmentation on face and forearms. If a member of your family is known to have suffered from this condition you can take this as a cause of your pigmentation. Pigmentation due to this reason generally fades away with time. Certain creams available in medical stores containing hydroquinone can help. If on application your skin gets irritated or further darkens, this should be discontinued.
Eczema can be another cause of pigmentation. This is caused due to reduction of immune system of the skin. The skin gets red and is accompanied with lot of irritation and cracking. In extreme cases liquid may ooze out. This condition requires antibiotic treatment. A visit to a doctor is a must.
Dark pigments of the skin on the elbows or the belly can be due to liver spots. These are also called aging spots or solar legumes. Melanin gets activated due to excessive exposure of the parts to body to sunlight. The pigmentation can also be due to acne or ingrown hair. The exposure of skin to physical trauma can darken the skin. Elbows get darker due to contact with other surfaces when sitting or resting. Addison’s disease can be another cause. Application of bleaching cream can help out of this condition.
Melanoma is a type of life threatening skin cancer which causes darkness of skin. Melanoma is mainly caused by over exposure to ultraviolet rays of the sun. The skin becomes scaly accompanied with itching and development of abnormal moles. The pigmentation and moles slowly start spreading to the surrounding areas. In case of any such symptom the doctor should be consulted.
In case of women, these dark spots could occur due to hormonal changes caused inside the body as a natural phenomenon or due to birth control pills. Certain medicines to correct hormonal imbalance can be a cause. Certain antibiotics or other medicines can also affect your skin tone. If you notice any abnormal change it is necessary to consult your doctor to ascertain cause. If there is no apparent cause home remedy of application of pack of lemon juice, yogurt and honey can also be tried.