Understanding Pigmentation: The Types and Causes

What Exactly is Pigmentation?

Pigmentation refers to uneven skin tone, which presents as brown spots on the skin. This discolouration is caused by the overproduction of Melanin, the pigment responsible for giving skin its colour. When Melanin is produced in excess, it accumulates in the layers of the skin causing it to darken. There are many forms of pigmentation, including sun damage, melasma or post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. In this 3 part blog series, we decode them for you.

Paige Starkey, RN at The Clinic, takes us through what is pigmentation, what does it look like and how to treat it. She will also share some up close visuals which will help you understand what type of pigmentation you have.

What Are The Different Types of Pigmentation?

SUN DAMAGE

Sun Damage pigmentation is a direct result of years of daily exposure to the sun. This damage to the skin causes darkened patches, spots and uneven skin tone often referred to as sunspots. This type of pigmentation is most often seen on sun-exposed areas such as the face, chest, shoulders and arms.

MELASMA

Commonly seen during pregnancy, Melasma presents as large patches of pigmentation generally appearing on the forehead, cheeks, upper lip and chin in a symmetrical pattern. This type of pigmentation is caused by fluctuations in hormone levels, and may be triggered by pregnancy, the contraceptive pill and other hormonal therapies.

POST-INFLAMMATORY HYPERPIGMENTATION

Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation develops from any form of injury to the skin, including acne scarring, burns or trauma, and can also occur after aggressive skin treatments such as chemical peels and laser.

Look out for our 3 part Pigmentation series that provides more information on:

Melasma

Sun Damage & Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentaion

Still unsure what type of pigmentation you have? Let one of our expert Registered Nurses help. We have 20 years experience treating complex skin concerns and only work with medical treatment and products that are clinically proven to work. For a skin consultation or to book your Pigmentation treatments, contact us on (02) 9386 1533 or email contact@theclinicbondi.com.au.