Hyperpigmentation (often referred to as pigmentation) is the result of an excess of melanin production. We’re all born with a genetically programmed skin tone — the baseline colour that makes your complexion uniquely yours. Hyperpigmentation, however, appears when certain areas start producing extra melanin after triggers like sun, heat, hormones or inflammation.

It has a variety of causes and establishing the cause of your pigment is the only way to effectively treat it. Common causes of hyperpigmentation include:

• Ageing
• Trauma
• UV radiation exposure
• Medications & medical conditions
• Hormones
• Genetic predisposition

The word melanin mentioned above, refers to cells that are called melanocytes in the skin that make melanin, the pigment that controls the colour of our skin. The actual number of melanocytes within our skin is the same regardless of skin type, it is the production of melanin from these cells which determines skin colour. High levels of melanin cause darker skins and lower levels cause lighter skins. 

Hypopigmentation refers to areas of lightened skin and hyperpigmentation refers to areas of darkened skin, both are caused by altered levels of melanin. This occurs when the melanocytes are damaged or not functioning adequately, therefore affecting melanin production (either stopping production or increasing production). 

Triggers for melanin production such as the sun, heat, injury and hormones cause the melanin to be produced in the deep layers of the skin. The melanin then slowly rises through the layers to the skin to sometimes sit more superficially (such as freckles and sun spots).

This is why some pigmentation is difficult to see and difficult to treat as it sits deep within the dermis of the skin. Melasma is a condition where the melanin can sit both superficial and deep making it much more difficult to treat.

In the effort to protect us from the damage from UV rays, our skin releases an enzyme called Tyrosinase. This enzyme allows our melanocytes (our melanin cells) to release melanosomes (pigmented melanin). These melanosomes act to absorb UV rays to protect our nucleus (DNA) from sun damage. The colour of our skin will determine how much tyrosinase is released (the darker your skin tone, the more melanin is released, but also the higher your tolerance is to the sun).

The more sun damage your skin receives, the more melanin will be released to protect our skin cells. This damage to our DNA within the melanocyte can lead to pigmentation which is the freckling pigmentation called Ephelides or uneven skin tone. It is basically the leaking of pigment.