The Ultimate Guide To Pigmentation, Its Causes & Treatments

By Mary Basiadima, 15 April 2020

Thank you for visiting our ultimate guide to pigmentation. We hope after you have finished reading it you will be better prepared to tackle your pigmentation. (8 min read)

This guide covers the following areas:

What is pigmentation?

According to the Mariam Webster dictionary pigmentation is :

"a colouring matter in animals and plants especially in a cell or tissue"

What causes skin pigmentation?

We can suffer from pigmentation issues whatever age, sex, skin tone and ethnicity we are.

Skin pigmentation can result in an over or under production of melanin. Melanin is produced by the meloncytes in the skin cells. When there is an over production of pigmentation it is called hyperpigmentation, when not enough is produced it is called hypopigmentation.

Skincare experts and Doctors are not sure of the exact reason for certain skin pigmentation changes. Other conditions like sun spots have obvious causes.

Pigmentation and hyperpigmentation

Pigmentation of the skin is a misleading phrase as all skin contains pigmentation. When it is unwanted or a problem it is best referred to as hyperpigmentation.

Hyperpigmentation causes dark patches or spots. They can be beige, brown, red or purplish coloured and can appear anywhere.

The sun is one of the biggest causes of pigmentation, along with pregnancy and hormonal changes. Below are the most common forms of . Sometimes it can be severe and noticeable like vitiligo or albinism. Let’s look at these two extreme forms of pigmentation first.

Pop star Jackson is said to have suffered from vitiligo which saw his skin colour change over the years from dark to light.

Other severe skin pigmentation issues can occur due to autoimmune conditions, hormonal changes and sometimes shock.

Pigmentation seen in clinics everyday is not a severe as the two conditions above. The following types of pigmentation are more common, starting with one of the most common .

What is Melasma?

Pigmentation caused by pregnancy is called Melasma. (It is also known as ‘chloasma’ or