Why Do I Have Pigmentation?
Posted: Tuesday 10 January 2012 02:00pm
Put simply, pigmentation is the uneven distribution of melanin production within the skin. The term pigmentation covers a variety of skin concerns, from freckles, to sunspots, age spots, melasma and uneven, dull skin tone.
“The most common causes of pigmentation are sun exposure and melasma, a condition that primarily affects pregnant women and women taking birth control pills,” says Clinique Guiding Dermatologist, Dr David Orentreich.
Solar Pigmentation
As the name indicates, this is a direct result of sun exposure – the skin is reacting to aggression from UV rays. “In youth, we call it freckles; as we mature, we refer to it as sun spots,” says registered nurse Lisa Sullivan-Smith, from The Clinic in Sydney. “It is a dermal response triggered by sunlight. The skin is under attack from UV rays and it produces pigment to defend itself. With age, this reaction becomes worse.”
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Hormonal Pigmentation
This is related to oestrogen production, but is heightened by exposure to the sun. “It may be that someone is on the Pill, or is pregnant,” says Sullivan-Smith. “It appears as a milky-coffee or mask-like stain across the forehead or across the upper lip or cheeks, and often as a vertical line along the belly.”
Addressing the Problem
Clearly the simple solution – whether the pigmentation is solar, hormonal, or inflammatory – is to address the cause. Firstly, this means stopping the assault on skin. “Using a broad-spectrum, high SPF sunscreen every day is essential,” says Sullivan-Smith. “Aside from preventing more pigmentation forming, adequate sun protection will, when teamed with other treatments, help reduce an existing problem.”
Try: Dermalogica Solar Defense Booster SPF30, $63; L’Oreal Paris UV Perfect SPF30+, $24.95.
If the problem is linked to the Pill you are taking, it would be wise to speak to your GP about changing brands. In terms of pregnancy-related pigmentation, “this usually goes away soon after the birth of the baby,“ says Sullivan-Smith, but if it doesn’t, “there are other options, such as at-home skin whitening or in-clinic or in-salon treatments, available.”
