Hyperpigmentation: What Causes Skin To Darken? - Healthline

Maybe your like

HealthlineSubscribe

Skin Care

We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. Here’s our process

What You Should Know About HyperpigmentationMedically reviewed by Owen Kramer, M.D. — Written by MaryAnn De Pietro, CRT — Updated on September 11, 2023

Types
Symptoms and risks
Causes
Diagnosis and treatment
Prevention
Outlook

Hyperpigmentation can occur due to sun exposure, certain medications, pregnancy, and health conditions including Addison’s disease. Treatment can include topical products.

Hyperpigmentation isn’t necessarily a condition but a term that describes skin that appears darker. It can:

occur in small patches
cover large areas
affect the entire body

While increased pigmentation usually isn’t harmful, it can be a symptom of another medical condition. Learn about types of hyperpigmentation, causes, and how to treat it.

Types of hyperpigmentation

There are several types of hyperpigmentation, the common ones being melasma, sunspots, and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.

Melasma. Melasma is believed to be caused by hormonal changes and may develop during pregnancy. Areas of hyperpigmentation can appear on any area of the body, but they appear most commonly on the stomach and face.
Sunspots. Also called liver spots or solar lentigines, sunspots are common. They’re related to excess sun exposure over time. Generally, they appear as spots on areas exposed to the sun, like the hands and face.
Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. This is a result of injury or inflammation to the skin. A common cause of this type is acne.

What are the symptoms and risk factors?

Darkened areas on the skin are the main symptoms of hyperpigmentation. Patches can vary in size and develop anywhere on the body.

The biggest risk factors for general hyperpigmentation are sun exposure and inflammation, as both situations can increase melanin production. The greater your exposure to the sun, the greater your risk of increased skin pigmentation.

Depending on the type of disorder, other risk factors for hyperpigmented patches may include:

oral contraceptive use or pregnancy, as seen with melasma
darker skin type, which is more prone to pigmentation changes
drugs that increase your sensitivity to the sunlight
trauma to the skin, such as a wound or superficial burn injury

What causes hyperpigmentation?

A common cause of hyperpigmentation is an excess production of melanin. Melanin is a pigment that gives skin its color. It’s produced by skin cells called melanocytes. Several different conditions or factors can alter the production of melanin in your body.

Certain medications can cause hyperpigmentation. Also, some chemotherapy drugs can cause hyperpigmentation as a side effect.

Pregnancy changes hormone levels and can affect melanin production in some women.

A rare endocrine disease called Addison’s disease can produce hyperpigmentation that’s most obvious in areas of sun exposure, such as the face, neck, and hands, and areas exposure to friction, such as elbows and knees.

The hyperpigmentation is a direct result of an increased level of a hormone in your body that results in increased melanin synthesis.

Excessive sun exposure can also cause an increase in melanin.

How is hyperpigmentation diagnosed and treated?

A dermatologist can diagnose the cause of your hyperpigmentation. They will request your medical history and give you a physical exam to determine the cause. In some cases, a skin biopsy can narrow down the cause.

Topical prescription medication can treat some cases of hyperpigmentation. This medication usually contains hydroquinone, which lightens the skin.

However, prolonged use of topical hydroquinone (without any breaks in use) can cause darkening of the skin, known as ochronosis. So it’s best to use topical hydroquinone only under the care of a dermatologist so that they can properly guide you on how to use the medication without any adverse effects.

Using topical retinoids also assists with lightening dark spots of the skin.

Both of these medications can take a few months to lighten darkened areas.

Home care also includes using sunscreen. Sunscreen is the single most important factor in improving most causes of hyperpigmentation. Look for:

a physical blocking sunscreen, preferably with zinc oxide as the main active ingredient
at least an SPF 30 to 50
broad spectrum coverage

Use a sunscreen daily. Reapply it every 2 hours if you’re out in the sun — more frequently if you’re sweating or swimming.

There are also skin disorders with which visible light may play a role in perpetuating the hyperpigmentation, such as in melasma.

In that case, look for a mineral sunscreen that also has iron oxide in it, which can block some visible light. Use daily. Wear sun-protective clothing that’s SPF-infused.

Shop for SPF-infused clothing online.

Your doctor may also suggest laser treatment or chemical peels to reduce hyperpigmentation, depending on the cause of your hyperpigmentation.

If you don’t already have a dermatologist, you can browse doctors in your area through the Healthline FindCare tool.

How is hyperpigmentation prevented?

It’s not always possible to prevent hyperpigmentation. However, you can protect yourself by:

using sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30
wearing hats or clothing that block sunlight
avoiding the sun during the time of the day when it’s strongest, which is typically 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Avoiding certain medications may also help prevent hyperpigmentation.

What’s the outlook for hyperpigmentation?

Hyperpigmentation isn’t generally harmful and usually isn’t a sign of a serious medical condition.

In some cases, dark areas will fade on their own with good sun protection. In other cases, more aggressive treatment is needed. There’s no guarantee that the dark spots will fade completely, even with treatment.

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Addison’sdisease. (2018).https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/addisons-disease/
Castenado-CazaresJP, et al. (2014). Near-visible light and UV photoprotection in the treatmentof melasma: A double-blind randomized trial. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1111/phpp.12086
Hyperpigmentation.(n.d.).https://www.aocd.org/page/Hyperpigmentation
Pigmentation:Abnormal pigmentation. (2016).https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/11014-pigmentation-abnormal-pigmentation
ShalkaS. (2017). New data on hyperpigmentation disorders. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1111/jdv.14411
TanE. (2007). Skin toxicity of chemotherapy drugs.https://www.dermnetnz.org/topics/skin-toxicity-of-chemotherapy-drugs/

Share this article

Medically reviewed by Owen Kramer, M.D. — Written by MaryAnn De Pietro, CRT — Updated on September 11, 2023

Hyperpigmentation: What Causes Skin To Darken? - Healthline

Health Conditions

Condition Spotlight

Wellness Topics

Product Reviews

Featured Programs

Featured

Lessons

Newsletters

Lifestyle Quizzes

Health News

This Just In

Top Reads

Video Series

Find Your Bezzy Community

Follow us on social media

Skin Care

Types of hyperpigmentation

What are the symptoms and risk factors?

What causes hyperpigmentation?

How is hyperpigmentation diagnosed and treated?

How is hyperpigmentation prevented?

What’s the outlook for hyperpigmentation?

How we reviewed this article:

Read this next

How To Fade Dark Spots In Darker Skin Tones

Hyperpigmentation Caused By Inflammation – Signs And Treatments

What Is Post Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation? - WebMD

Does Hyperpigmentation Go Away? - Epara Skincare

How Long Does Hyperpigmentation Take To Fade?

Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation And Acne - Verywell Health

How Long Does Hyperpigmentation Take To Fade Away? Is It A ... - Quora

Hyperpigmentation Acne: Causes And Treatment

Hyperpigmentation: What Is It And How To Get Rid Of It | Honest

How To Get Rid Of Hyperpigmentation With Visible Results - Banish

Will Acne Pigmentation Eventually Fade? - Adore Beauty

Hyperpigmentation On Black Skin - Healthline

After IPL How Long Does Hyperpigmentation Last? - RealSelf

How To Treat Hyperpigmentation In Just Two Weeks - Bioelements

Contact