The amount of pigment or melanin in the skin determines the color of a person's skin. Under certain conditions, the production of melanin can be disturbed, causing a change in skin color. This condition can be caused by many things and one of them is pigmentation disorders.
The color of human skin is very diverse. These differences can be influenced by genetic factors and environmental conditions that affect the pigment or the amount of melanin in the body.
If the amount of melanin in the body is excessive, the color of the skin will be darker. Conversely, if the body has less melanin, the color of the skin will appear lighter. Not only skin color, melanin also plays a role in giving dark hair and eyes.
Various types of pigmentary disorders
Melanin is produced by cells called melanocytes. However, these cells can be damaged by exposure to the sun, side effects of medications, or certain medical conditions.
When melanocytes are damaged, melanin production can be disrupted and can affect skin color. This condition is also known as pigmentation disorder.
Pigmentation disorders are of various kinds. There are those that only affect a small area of the skin, but there are also pigmentation disorders that affect the whole body.
1.Melasma
Melasma is characterized by the appearance of black spots on parts of the body that are often exposed to the sun, such as the skin of the face, neck and hands. This condition is known to be more common in women, although it is not impossible that men suffer from it as well.
If melasma occurs in pregnant women, it is also called chloasma. This condition may go away on its own once the pregnancy is over or it can also be treated with skin creams.
If you suffer from melasma, we recommend that you do not expose yourself to the sun too often or for too long. Protect your skin by applying sunscreen with SPF 30 or more before going out.Do not hesitate to consult a dermatologist if this condition does not improve.
2.Vitiligo
Vitiligo is an autoimmune disease that attacks pigment-producing cells.This condition causes a decrease in melanin in certain areas of the skin, such as the arms, face, and body folds.
Vitiligo is usually characterized by the appearance of white spots on the skin. In addition, this pigmentary disorder is also accompanied by the appearance of gray hair in the hair, eyelashes, eyebrows or beard before the age of 35.
This condition also sometimes causes changes or loss of color in the retina and in the tissues lining the inside of the mouth and nose.
3. Albinism
Albinism is a genetic disease that causes melanocyte cell dysfunction. The existence of this genetic disease causes the skin, hair or eyes of people with albinism to turn colorless because they lack melanin. It is not uncommon for this condition to also cause vision problems.
There is no treatment that can cure albinism.However, there are several things people with the condition can do to prevent their condition from getting worse, such as always using sunscreen.
This is important because the skin of people with albinism is at greater risk of being damaged by exposure to the sun or even of suffering from skin cancer.
4. Inflammatory postpigmentation
This condition is characterized by changes in the color of the skin becoming darker or lighter after inflammation or irritation.
Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation can be triggered by skin infections, burns, or exposure to irritants that damage the skin. However, this condition usually improves on its own within a few months.