Pigmentation on the skin can be harmless and temporary – or the cause of an underlying medical condition.
The skin is the barometer of what goes on inside our bodies. If there is a disorder building up inside the body, the skin can indicate it by changing in colour or texture. Hence, its indications must be taken seriously – only such events as an acne breakout or fine lines are topical skin issues.
Skin pigmentation, especially, must not be ignored. It can manifest itself as dark spots or patches on the skin, or lighter patches. Both are a result of a disturbance in the melanin composition of the skin. Melanin is the pigment that gives skin its colour. It is uniformly distributed all over the skin on the body, but it can either accumulate or decrease in quantity in certain areas of the skin. This causes skin pigmentation.
The different types of pigmentation:
Skin colour changes: Sometimes, the skin acquires pallor or becomes darker. The former may be brought on by illness and hormonal changes. The latter is often a result of exposure to harsh sunlight. Infection in an organ may also cause skin colour changes.
Mottled skin: Skin pigmentation that reveals itself in a mottled pattern or as spots in a cluster may be the result of broken blood vessels just below the skin’s surface. It can also be a localised infection that shows up on the skin.
Dark patches: These are often brought on by changes in the blood’s composition. It is often a result of low haemoglobin in the blood. Other causes may be hormonal changes, especially seen during pregnancy.
Wine-coloured spots or patches: These are indicative of a blood disorder or blocked blood vessels. These must be investigated at once, because they are indicators of a serious underlying disorder.
Moles: Most people have moles, but if the mole changes in size, or becomes rougher or painful to the touch, it must be checked by a doctor immediately. ‘Beauty spots’ are normally harmless in nature, but if your skin develops a series of such spots rapidly, it is better to consult a doctor. Painful or swollen moles are sometimes indicative of skin cancer.
Light brown spots: Some people have a few coffee-coloured spots on the skin, mostly at the time of birth. But if these spots develop later, and begin to form in clusters on the skin, they could be indicative of an underlying genetic disorder that affects the nerve cells. Get these checked at once.
The skin is the barometer of what goes on inside our bodies. If there is a disorder building up inside the body, the skin can indicate it by changing in colour or texture. Hence, its indications must be taken seriously – only such events as an acne breakout or fine lines are topical skin issues.
Skin pigmentation, especially, must not be ignored. It can manifest itself as dark spots or patches on the skin, or lighter patches. Both are a result of a disturbance in the melanin composition of the skin. Melanin is the pigment that gives skin its colour. It is uniformly distributed all over the skin on the body, but it can either accumulate or decrease in quantity in certain areas of the skin. This causes skin pigmentation.
The different types of pigmentation:
Skin colour changes: Sometimes, the skin acquires pallor or becomes darker. The former may be brought on by illness and hormonal changes. The latter is often a result of exposure to harsh sunlight. Infection in an organ may also cause skin colour changes.
Mottled skin: Skin pigmentation that reveals itself in a mottled pattern or as spots in a cluster may be the result of broken blood vessels just below the skin’s surface. It can also be a localised infection that shows up on the skin.
Dark patches: These are often brought on by changes in the blood’s composition. It is often a result of low haemoglobin in the blood. Other causes may be hormonal changes, especially seen during pregnancy.
Wine-coloured spots or patches: These are indicative of a blood disorder or blocked blood vessels. These must be investigated at once, because they are indicators of a serious underlying disorder.
Moles: Most people have moles, but if the mole changes in size, or becomes rougher or painful to the touch, it must be checked by a doctor immediately. ‘Beauty spots’ are normally harmless in nature, but if your skin develops a series of such spots rapidly, it is better to consult a doctor. Painful or swollen moles are sometimes indicative of skin cancer.
Light brown spots: Some people have a few coffee-coloured spots on the skin, mostly at the time of birth. But if these spots develop later, and begin to form in clusters on the skin, they could be indicative of an underlying genetic disorder that affects the nerve cells. Get these checked at once.