Everything You Need to Know About Hyperpigmentation

I love a word that’s self-explanatory. Take, for example, hyperpigmentation, which is a broad term for any sort of discoloration or darkening of the skin. Hyper, excessive; pigmentation, coloring. Simple. Unfortunately, really understanding (and successfully treating) hyperpigmentation is a very different story.

How does hyperpigmentation happen?

In general, hyperpigmentation occurs when there’s an excess production of melanin. Melanin is cool, because it gives the skin color, but overproduction in a concentrated area can cause the skin to darken. This results in large, uneven dark spots that might pop up on the face, neck, shoulders, and/or hands. The time it takes to get rid of these dark spots varies from person to person, but in general, it’ll likely take several months.

There are several types of hyperpigmentation, but for the sake of clarity, we’re going to focus on the most common ones.

• Melasma: Likely caused by hormonal changes, melasma often develops during pregnancy, though it really can pop up at just about any time. It’s the most common form of facial pigmentation and, unfortunately, it’s more common in women, especially those with darker skin tones.

• Sunspots: Sunspots, or liver spots, are fairly common—if I had to guess, you’ve probably seen some before on your grandparents. They’re related to excessive sun exposure over time, so they generally appear on areas exposed to the sun (think face and hands).

• Post-inflammatory: This kind of hyperpigmentation is the result of an injury or inflammation to the skin. It’s often caused by acne, leaving a dark spot in place of the pimple. It can also occur following an eczema flare-up. While this type of hyperpigmentation is generally considered temporary, it can be very intense in color. This is also more common in those with darker skin tones.

Wait, why is it more common in darker skin tones?

If we really think about this, the answer is actually quite simple. Darker skin tones have more melanin in the skin than lighter skin tones. The cell structures that hold melanin tend to be full and leaky in darker skin types, which causes hyperpigmentation more readily. Darker skin tones are also more sensitive to factors that cause (and further develop) hyperpigmentation, like sun exposure. Hyperpigmentation is actually one of the most common skin concerns for Black people.

But that doesn’t mean that only people with darker skin tones suffer from hyperpigmentation. For example, me! I am a very hyperpigmentation-prone human. Most of my pimples leave behind dark spots that stay on my face for months on end. It really sucks—even when my skin is acne-free, I often have spots left on my face.

So how do I stop hyperpigmentation from forming?

Sometimes, it’s unavoidable—the tendency towards hyperpigmentation is hereditary and even with the best protection, we can never guarantee that dark spots won’t form.

Still, we can try our best.The best way to avoid hyperpigmentation is by wearing SPF, which also happens to be the answer to just about any skincare issue. Not only will it protect skin from developing hyperpigmentation, it’ll also stop already-present hyperpigmentation from getting worse. The more a dark spot is exposed to the sun, the darker it becomes in comparison to the surrounding skin.

Got it. Are there any other ways to get rid of existing hyperpigmentation?

There are a few ways! Take a look:

Sounds good to me. Any more advice?

Of course. Be patient. There is no quick fix for dark spots—even a vigilant skin treatment takes at least 30 days to start showing any progress.