Hyperpigmentation facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Hyperpigmentation
Classification and external resources
Specialty	Dermatology
Patient UK	Hyperpigmentation

Imagine your skin having tiny color factories! Hyperpigmentation is when some of these factories make too much color. This causes certain areas of your skin or nails to become darker than the rest. The extra color comes from something called melanin. Melanin is the natural pigment that gives your skin, hair, and eyes their color.

Why does this happen? Many things can cause it. Too much sun exposure, skin irritation (like inflammation), scratches, or even some medicines can lead to darker spots. Sometimes, it's linked to other health conditions. You might see it as dark patches (like melasma), dark spots after a pimple heals (post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation), or small freckle-like spots (lentigines). People with naturally darker skin tones might notice hyperpigmentation more often. This is because their skin naturally produces more melanin.

What Causes Dark Spots?

The Ayam Cemani chicken breed is completely black, even its internal organs! This is a natural example of hyperpigmentation.

Dark spots on your skin can appear for several reasons. One common cause is too much sun exposure. The sun's rays can make your skin produce extra melanin. Skin injuries, like cuts, scrapes, or even pimples, can also leave behind dark marks. This is called post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. When your skin heals from an injury or irritation, it sometimes makes too much melanin in that area. People with darker skin tones might notice these spots more easily. Their skin naturally has more active cells that make melanin.

How Skin Color is Made

Your skin color comes from a pigment called melanin. Special cells in your skin, called melanocytes, create this melanin. These cells are found in the lower part of your epidermis (the outer layer of your skin). Melanin is what gives color to your eyes, hair, and skin. When you spend time in the sun, UV light tells these melanocyte cells to work harder. If these cells are grouped together, they can create a darker spot. As people get older, these cells might not be spread out as evenly, leading to more noticeable dark spots.

Health Conditions and Hyperpigmentation

Sometimes, dark spots are a sign of other health conditions. Here are a few examples:

• Addison's disease: This is a rare condition where your body doesn't make enough of certain hormones. It can lead to darker skin, especially in areas like scars or skin folds.
• Acanthosis nigricans: This causes dark, thick, velvety patches of skin, often in body folds like the neck, armpits, or groin. It's often linked to insulin resistance.
• Melasma: Also known as the "mask of pregnancy," this causes dark, patchy areas on the face. It's much more common in women.
• Post-acne marks: These are the dark spots left behind after pimples heal. Many teens experience this.
• Linea nigra: A dark line that can appear on the tummy during pregnancy.
• Peutz–Jeghers syndrome: A rare condition that causes small, dark spots on the lips and inside the mouth, along with growths in the stomach and intestines.
• Exposure to certain chemicals: Some chemicals, like those found in certain medicines, can cause skin darkening.
• Smoker's melanosis: Dark spots that can appear in the mouth due to smoking.
• Coeliac disease: A condition where eating gluten damages the small intestine, which can sometimes be linked to skin changes.
• Tinea fungal infections: Infections like ringworm can sometimes leave darker patches after they heal.
• Mercury poisoning: Exposure to mercury, especially from some skin creams, can cause skin darkening.
• Graves' disease: A condition where the thyroid gland is overactive, which can sometimes affect skin color.
• B12 deficiency: Not having enough Vitamin B12 can sometimes lead to skin changes.
• Atopic dermatitis: This common skin condition (also known as eczema) can leave dark spots after the inflamed skin heals.

Sometimes, skin treatments like laser procedures can also cause temporary darkening of the skin.

How Doctors Check for Hyperpigmentation

If you have dark spots that worry you, a doctor can help figure out why. They will usually:

• Look closely at your skin: They might use a special light called a Wood's lamp. This light helps them see skin changes more clearly.
• Ask about your medical history: They will ask questions about when the spots appeared, if you've had any injuries, what medicines you take, and if anyone in your family has similar spots.

How to Manage Dark Spots

Treating dark spots can be tricky, and what works for one person might not work for another. The goal of most treatments is to reduce the amount of extra melanin in the skin.

Creams and Gels (Topical Treatments)

Many treatments come as creams or gels that you put directly on your skin. These are called topical treatments. They often work by slowing down the process of melanin production. Some of these creams need a doctor's prescription, especially stronger ones. Examples include creams with hydroquinone, azelaic acid, or kojic acid. Other helpful ingredients can be found in over-the-counter products, like niacinamide (a form of Vitamin B3), ascorbic acid (Vitamin C), or retinoids (like tretinoin). It's important to use these products carefully and always follow directions. For example, hydroquinone used to be very common. However, because of some safety concerns over long-term use, its use is now more controlled in many places. The WHO has also advised caution with it.

Oral Medications

Sometimes, doctors might suggest taking certain medicines by mouth. For example, a combination of procyanidin (found in things like grape seeds) with vitamins A, C, and E has shown good results for some types of dark patches, like melasma. Studies have shown it can be safe and helpful.

Laser and Light Treatments

For some types of hyperpigmentation, doctors can use special light or laser treatments. These treatments use focused light energy to target the extra melanin in the skin. Examples include YAG lasers or intense pulsed light (IPL). These can help fade dark spots like melasma or marks left after acne.

See also

• Hypopigmentation
• List of skin conditions