Skin discoloration results from
various components. Some are natural, such as moles and
birthmarks. Others are associated with components such as sun
exposure (e.g., dispersed superficial actinic porokeratosis,
hyper pigmentation) or allergy or immune reaction (lichen planus).
The skin can get darker (e.g., acanthosis nigricans, progressive
pigmentary purpura) or lighter (albinism, vitiligo). The term
"skin whitening" refers to various cosmetic methods used to
whiten the skins pigment. Hyper pigmentation can also be related
to a number of diseases including:
Addison's Disease
Cushing's Disease
Acanthosis Nigricans
Melasma
Linea Nigra
Peutz-Jeghers syndrome
Smokers Melanosis
Celiac Disease
Cronkite-Canada syndrome
Porphyria
Tinea
Common treatment for
hyper-pigmentation can include hydroquinone, kojic acid, azelaic
acid, ascorbic acid, tretinoin (Retinol), topical
glucocorticoids, and licorice extract. All treatments fail if
the affected area is exposed to the sun with inadequate UVA/UVB
protection. The main goal is to reduce the hyper pigmentation
without causing hypo pigmentation; Since pigmentation is the
coloring of ones skin, when he or she is healthy the color will
appear "normal", however, in the case of diseases or other
conditions the persons skin may change its colorization by
becoming darker (hyper pigmentation) or lighter (hypo
pigmentation).
If you've had a skin infection,
blisters, burns or other injury to your skin, you may have a
loss of pigmentation in the affected area. The good news with
this type of pigment loss is that it's frequently not
everlasting, but it may take a long time to repigment. Cosmetics
can be used to screen the surface area, while the body
regenerates the pigment.
A number of drugs are also
known to reduce or even stop the hyper pigmentation condition of
the skin, these drugs include amiodarone, tetracyclines,
psychotropics, diltiazem, antimalarials, and heavy metals. For
the most part I would assume with hyper and hypo pigmentation
(as with anything else) that you would get a better effect if
you used something more natural or organic that has ingredients
in it such as Ginseng Extract, Caraway Extract, Carrot Seed
Extract, Geranium, Limonium, Cucumis Sativus, Paraffinum Liquid,
Proprietary Whitening Complex, Natural Fragrance, so all in all
it really is good for your skin, healthy, and it doesn't contain
a ton of chemicals!
Of course if your pigmentation
is at its absolute worst I would say you need to go and see a
dermatologist but for the most part I have seen quite a few
studies done online that including really high (positive)
results for skin care products that use the aforementioned
ingredients rather than harsher chemicals!
