Suffer from an uneven skin tone? Suddenly discovered patches on your skin? Don't worry, you aren't the only one. Pigmentation affects people of all races and ages. Cosmetic dermatologist Dr Sadhana Deshmukh says that the skin is the largest organ of the body and is made up of two layers - the upper epidermis and the lower dermis.
"The epidermis and the dermis are further divided into other layers. The lower most layer of the epidermis is known as the basal layer and contains organelles called melanosomes. These melanosomes contain cells called melanocytes, which produce a pigment called melanin. The colour of skin depends mainly on this melanin and the amount of melanin present in the other layers of the epidermis," says Dr Deshmukh.
What is pigmentation?
Pigmentation can be of two types - Hypopigmentation and Hyperpigmentation. Hypopigmentation (decrease in skin pigmentation) is a condition in which patches of skin become lighter or whiter in colour than the normal surrounding skin.
Hyperpigmentation is a common and usually harmless condition in which patches of skin become darker in colour than the normal surrounding skin. This darkening occurs when an excess of melanin, the brown pigment that produces normal skin colour, forms deposits in the skin.
Causes
Pigmentation can be caused due to genetics, sun exposure, stress, fluctuating hormones caused by pregnancy and or by birth control pills, menopause, insulin resistance, damage to the skin due to injury or overly aggressive skin care treatment or frequent use of hair dyes.
Dermatologist and cosmetologist Dr Kalpana Sarangi says that while pigmentation is common, it can often be an embarrassing condition. "Many of us accept brown patches of pigmentation as part of growing older. However, youngsters are easily affected in a negative way when they suffer from imperfect skin. Affecting more women than men, overexposure to sun rays and a daily onslaught of environmental elements such as air pollution and the toxins in our food, all wreak havoc on our skin, damaging cell walls and connective tissue, making skin appear dull and lacklustre. Pigmentation becomes prevalent then," says Dr Sarangi.
