What is skin dyschromia?
Each person’s skin has its own unique color, which depends on a combination of congenital characteristics and acquired changes.
By nature, skin color is determined by the content of the melanin pigment in it, the thickness of the surface layer – the epidermis, the degree of development of the skin’s vascular network and other features.
The amount of melanin determines the color of not only the skin, but also the iris and hair.
The natural purpose of melanin is to protect against dangerous solar irradiation, so residents of southern latitudes have a higher amount of melanin, their skin, eyes and hair usually have a darker color.
Over the course of life, the natural color of the skin may change. Color changes can be normal (physiological), or have a pathological nature, or be caused by diseases of the internal organs, which is very important for their diagnosis.
If the skin color becomes darker, then we are talking about
hyperpigmentation
.
If the skin becomes lighter, or light areas appear on it, then this process is called
hypopigmentation
Both hyper- and hypopigmentation can be either diffuse, that is, affecting the entire skin, or focal.
Regardless of its prevalence, the process of changing skin color can be physiologically normal or be a consequence of pathological processes.
The most common normal increase in skin pigmentation is tanning: increased production of melanin under the influence of sunlight, which has a protective nature.
At our Prima Medica medical center (Moscow), dermatologists will identify the causes of skin dyschromia and offer you treatment methods.