Pigment Disorders Cause Color-Changing Skin

Pigments are dyes of the human body, animals, and plants. Much or less pigment affects a person's skin color. However, there are times when skin color changes due to pigment disorders. Various kinds of human skin color are affected by a body pigment called melanin. Melanin also plays a role in giving hair and eye color. If there is too much melanin in the body, the body color will get darker. Vice versa, if the body produces a little melanin, the skin color becomes paler.

Pigment Abnormalities That Can Occur

Melanin is produced by cells called melanocytes. When melanocytes are damaged or unhealthy, melanin production can be disrupted, which then affects the skin color due to pigmentation disorders. There are pigmentation disorders that only affect a small area of ​​the skin. However, there are also pigmentation disorders that attack the entire body. Here are some common pigment disorders:

• Melasma

Melasma is a skin problem when black patches occur on the skin of the cheeks, forehead, nose, chin, neck and hands. Melasma can appear in areas of the body that are often exposed to sunlight, and is more common in women, although it can also occur in men. If it occurs in pregnant women, melasma is also called chloasma. Chloasma can disappear by itself after the pregnancy is over or it can also be treated with a skin cream. If you suffer from melasma, it is recommended not to be too often or too long in the sun. Protect your skin by applying SPF 30 or higher for any outdoor activities, wearing a wide-brimmed hat, and seeing a skin specialist if this condition does not improve.

• Vitiligo

Vitiligo is an autoimmune disease that attacks pigment producing cells. This condition causes loss of skin color resulting in white patches on the skin. Vitiligo occurs due to reduced melanin locally only in certain skin areas. Usually, color changes first appear in areas that are exposed to sunlight, such as hands, arms, legs, face and lips. Signs of this pigment disease include the appearance of gray hair on hair, eyelashes, eyebrows, or beards before the age of 35 years, change or loss of color on the retina (inner lining of the eyeball) and the tissue that lines the inside of the mouth and nose (mucous membranes) ), and the appearance of white patches around the armpits, navel, genitals, and rectum.

• Albinism

Albinism is a genetic disorder due to gene mutations that cause malfunctioning cells that produce melanin. This genetic mutation makes the skin, hair, or eyes in albinism become colorless, and cause eye problems. Albinism cannot be treated, and sufferers of this pigment disorder must use sunscreen at all times. Because without melanin, the skin of people with albinism is more at risk of damage due to sun exposure or even suffering from skin cancer.

• Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation

It is a condition of changing skin color to darker or lighter after inflammation or irritation. This condition can be preceded by an infection of the skin, burns, or exposure to irritants that damage the skin. Usually this situation will improve within a few months.

Caring for the skin is highly recommended so that health is maintained. If your skin suddenly appears black or white patches with a size that is quickly expanding, you should immediately consult a dermatologist to get the right treatment.