Most people experience hyperpigmentation as an after effect of the proverbial pubertal acne attack, but skin discolouration can occur at almost any period in your life. In this article we'll take a peek beneath your skin and examine the underlying causes of hyperpigmentation.
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Understanding The Chemical Basis For Pigmentation
The reason we all don't look like David Wrench (pictured below) is because our skin contains melanin – an umbrella term for three kinds of pigments. Eumelanin, pheomelanin and neuromelanin.
 Eumelanin causes most kinds of skin colouring, and that includes most kinds of hyperpigmentation. Pheomelanin is largely responsible for red hair and freckles, which explains why the two usually appear together. Scientists are unable to determine what neuromelanin does.
How Melanocytes Cause Hyperpigmentation
Melanocytes are cells located in the basal (deepest) layer of the epidermis (the outer skin) that produce melanin. Besides pigmentation, melanin is also the body's natural defense mechanism against ultraviolet rays, with the chemical diffusing up to 99 percent of all UV radiation. Now, when melanocytes go into overdrive, they create excess melanin that in turn, causes skin darkening. And UV rays can stimulate melanocytes, which is why the skin tends to darken after prolonged exposure to sunlight. Â
Why Acne (And Scarring) Causes Skin Darkening
Trauma to the skin from excessive acne (and from picking at excessive acne) can also cause hyperpigmentation. This is because scar tissue is far more vulnerable to ultraviolet radiation than normal skin tissue and, as a result, melanin concentrations tend to be higher in the scarred area. Consult your local dermatologist if you feel you are falling victim to photo-aging, but for now, make sure you check out some online reviews like Kaya reviews.
Explaining Age-Related Hyperpigmentation
Ever wonder why some senior citizens have brown/purple spots on their hands and faces? Well, as the body ages, it begins to reduce its regulation of melanin production and diffusion, causing liver spots or ‘senile freckles' to appear around higher concentrations of melanocytes or around areas that are heavily exposed to sunlight, i.e., the hands and face.
Most people experience hyperpigmentation as an after effect of the proverbial pubertal acne attack, but skin discolouration can occur at almost any period in your life. In this article we'll take a peek beneath your skin and examine the underlying causes of hyperpigmentation.
Â
Understanding The Chemical Basis For Pigmentation
The reason we all don't look like David Wrench (pictured below) is because our skin contains melanin – an umbrella term for three kinds of pigments. Eumelanin, pheomelanin and neuromelanin.
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Understanding The Chemical Basis For Pigmentation
The reason we all don't look like David Wrench (pictured below) is because our skin contains melanin – an umbrella term for three kinds of pigments. Eumelanin, pheomelanin and neuromelanin.
 Eumelanin causes most kinds of skin colouring, and that includes most kinds of hyperpigmentation. Pheomelanin is largely responsible for red hair and freckles, which explains why the two usually appear together. Scientists are unable to determine what neuromelanin does.
How Melanocytes Cause Hyperpigmentation
Melanocytes are cells located in the basal (deepest) layer of the epidermis (the outer skin) that produce melanin. Besides pigmentation, melanin is also the body's natural defense mechanism against ultraviolet rays, with the chemical diffusing up to 99 percent of all UV radiation. Now, when melanocytes go into overdrive, they create excess melanin that in turn, causes skin darkening. And UV rays can stimulate melanocytes, which is why the skin tends to darken after prolonged exposure to sunlight. Â
Why Acne (And Scarring) Causes Skin Darkening
Trauma to the skin from excessive acne (and from picking at excessive acne) can also cause hyperpigmentation. This is because scar tissue is far more vulnerable to ultraviolet radiation than normal skin tissue and, as a result, melanin concentrations tend to be higher in the scarred area. Consult your local dermatologist if you feel you are falling victim to photo-aging, but for now, make sure you check out some online reviews like Kaya reviews.
Explaining Age-Related Hyperpigmentation
Ever wonder why some senior citizens have brown/purple spots on their hands and faces? Well, as the body ages, it begins to reduce its regulation of melanin production and diffusion, causing liver spots or ‘senile freckles' to appear around higher concentrations of melanocytes or around areas that are heavily exposed to sunlight, i.e., the hands and face.
Most people experience hyperpigmentation as an after effect of the proverbial pubertal acne attack, but skin discolouration can occur at almost any period in your life. In this article we'll take a peek beneath your skin and examine the underlying causes of hyperpigmentation.
Â
Understanding The Chemical Basis For Pigmentation
The reason we all don't look like David Wrench (pictured below) is because our skin contains melanin – an umbrella term for three kinds of pigments. Eumelanin, pheomelanin and neuromelanin.
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