Skin pigmentation disorders cause colour changes to your skin. Melanin which is produced by our own cell is the pigment responsible for your skin’s colour. Hyperpigmentation happens due to an excessive production of melanin by melanocytes. 

Common conditions include:

• Melasma
  • Mainly due to fluctuating hormonal changes in your body especially during pregnancy and perimenopausal period
• Lentigenes
  • Related to excess sun exposure over time in adulthood
• Freckles
  • Usually presence in sun-exposed area during childhood
• Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) 
  • This is a result of injury or inflammation to the skin

Causes of hyperpigmentation:

• Prolonged sun exposure
• Hormonal changes – pregnancy, perimenopause 
• Prolonged skin irritation/ trauma – Acne vulgaris, burn, improper skin care product
• Medications – Contraceptive hormonal products, Hormonal replacement therapy, chemotherapy
• Medical conditions – Liver pathology, PCOS, Obesity, Addison disease, Insulin resistance

Treatment options

• Definitive treatment of underlying medical condition
• Withhold any hormonal related medication
• Q switched Nd:YAG pigment laser treatment
• Mesotherapy – MesoTranexamic acid
• Microneedling
• Chemical peeling
• Oral Antioxidant/ Tranexamic acid
• Lightening cream – Kligman’s formula
• Sunscreen – Physical and Chemical