Skin Pigmentation - What It Says About Your Skin Health?

Skin pigment disorders make the skin color to appear either lighter or darker than the normal color of the skin. They may even leave blotches or patches on the skin.

Albinism is a congenital disorder which occurs due to the partial or complete absence of skin pigment in skin, hairs, and eyes. It occurs due to the inheritance of recessive gene alleles. An individual having albinism is more susceptible to sunburns and skin cancer. Argyria is caused due to an excessive exposure of silver-containing chemical compounds. Pityriasis alba is the dry scaling appearance, usually on the face. Leprosy is caused due to bacterial infection.

Vitiligo is one of the hypopigmentation disorders. It appears as discolored patches distributed unevenly in different parts of the bodies including, skin, eyes, hair, and even mucous membranes. There is no cure for vitiligo; however, treatment may improve the appearance of the skin. Other hypopigmentation disorders include albinism, leprosy, phenylketonuria, tinea versicolor, and Angelman syndrome. Melasma, Acanthosis nigricans, and Grave s disease are the skin disorders which occur due to hyperpigmentation of the skin. Other hyperpigmentation disorders include Addison s disease, Cushing s disease, porphyria, coeliac disease, and Nelson s syndrome.

Laser therapy is used to improve the skin s appearance by removing the layers of the skin. It may be used to treat hyperpigmentation as well as hypopigmentation conditions. However, laser therapy is not suitable for individuals who have active acne or very dark skin. Dermabrasion, chemical peels, and bleaches are also used to treat pigment disorders. Topical corticosteroids, topical medications, and skin lightening products may also help in enhancing the skin appearance.