Hyperpigmentation is the appearance of uneven skin tone on seemingly healthy skin.
It has two main causes.
These causes are either environmental caused by products or procedures, or intrinsic causes such as a pregnancy or other biological processes.
Once signs of this condition appear on your skin, immediate treatment is required.
You should pay close attention to any tale-tale signs.
If hyperpigmentation appears suddenly over a six month period in the form of spots or blotches there is a strong probability that this indicates an environmental factor as the culprit.
In this case you should try and recall the use of any new products, procedures, medication, or other environmental factors that may have affected your skin's appearance.
The probabilities of reversing this condition are higher if the sudden onset has appeared recently.
However, if the pigmentation came on relatively quick but is long standing, then it is probably deep in the dermis and thus, more difficult to remove.
Nearly 40% of all excess pigmentation will be found in the epidermis, the outer layer of the skin, leaving a high percent of cases in lower levels of the skin and therefore, difficult to treat.
In pregnant women, a common appearance of hyperpigmentation is chloasma or melasma.
This is a darker pigmented, continuous area, with uneven dimensions that generally fades within a year.
Another similar condition is due to the aging process.
In this case the origin of hyperpigmentation or uneven skin tone is basically caused by insufficient epidermal protein growth.
For that reason and others, you will find that in almost all sudden onset cases where an environmental agent is responsible, the common denominator turns out to be an acid-based topical regime or exfoliation series.
In other words, micro-dermabrasions, enzyme peels, scrubs, etc.
that were used abusively or too harsh for a given skin type.
In these latter instances, the exfoliations occurred at a much faster rate than the epidermis could produce new, healthy protein growth.
As a result, the skin suddenly lost its resiliency and softness and acquired a more rigid look and feel.
Other results of skin care abuse where the general appearance of blotchy skin tones and dark spots.
These effects are more worrisome because they can affect deeper layers of the skin.
It's safe to say that most cases of hyperpigmentation can be treated with special skin care products, nonetheless, if you observe the sudden onset of a solitary flat spot of stain resembling a pink tone, you should visit a dermatologist or physician.
More than likely, this is a sign of a pre-cancerous atrophic keratosis which has become visible.
The visible evidence is not alarming IF this appears when under a therapeutic regime, which may actually have 'lit up' the spot.
Hyperpigmented crusty nodes may also be hyperkeratotic (or hypekeratolytic) keratosis, which is a pre-cancerous condition as well.
This doesn't mean that you should worry about every freckle or moles that you have had for a long time.
These conditions tend to remain benign, but those in the skin cancer susceptible groups should be monitored closely.
However, if you do seem worried about a sudden growth or uneven skin tone you should immediately contact your local physician to have him/her study your case.
Hyperpigmentation is the visible evidence of a number of imbalances.
The question is; how do you restore a desirable look and regain your skin's healthy balance? First consider professional advice.
Some cases of simple, superficial hyperpigmentation can be early signs of a more dangerous condition.
Once you've ruled out any real danger, you can find a wide range of very helpful biological treatments that can visible even out blotched skin.
Hyperpigmentation has two main causes.
It can be induced by products or procedures (environmental cause), or appear as a sign of more biological processes such as pregnancy or aging (intrinsic cause).
Timing can give you some useful clues.
If hyperpigmentation appears all of a sudden, that is, a lot of spots and blotches that show up over a six month period, shows a strong probability that either a product or procedure (or both) or other environmental cause has been involved.
You can have a good chance of reverse this condition if the sudden onset has appeared recently.
If the pigmentation came on relatively quick but is long standing, then it is probably deep in the dermis.
Nearly 40% of the excess of pigmentation will be in the epidermis; the remainder will be in the dermis and therefore, much more difficult to treat.
In pregnant women, where a chloasma or melasma (a darker pigmented, continuous area, with uneven dimensions) occurs, the coloration will generally 'wash out' over a year.
Another condition that works in this way is simple aging, where the origin of hyperpigmentation or just plain blotchy skin, uneven tone and pigment deposits is basically caused by insufficient epidermal protein growth.
For that reason, and others, you will find that in almost all sudden onset cases where an environmental agent is at work, the common denominator turns out to be an acid-based topical regime or exfoliation series (including micro-dermabrasion, enzyme peels, scrubs).
In these latter instances, the exfoliations occurred at a much faster rate than the epidermis could sustain new, healthy protein growth.
As a result, the skin suddenly lost its resiliency and softness and acquire a more rigid, parchment look and feel.
Other consequences of this showed up as uneven, blotchy tone and spots.
These can affect very deep skin layers.
Which is all to say, hyperpigmentation is the visible evidence of a number of imbalances.
The question remains, as in skin rejuvenation, how to restore a desirable look and restore the balance.
If you observe the sudden onset of a solitary flat spot of even color tone (pink), hyperpigmentation treatment is not what you need.
More likely, that is a pre-cancerous atrophic keratosis which has become visible.
The visible evidence is not alarming IF this appears when under a therapeutic regime, which may actually have 'lighted up' the spot.
Hyperpigmented crusty nodes may be hyperkeratotic (or hypekeratolytic) keratosis, which is a pre-cancerous condition as well.
Freckles and moles that have had long standing residence time, tend to remain benign, but those in the skin cancer susceptible groups should be monitored closely.
If you are suffering one of these problems, don't despair.
Biological treatments are available to alleviate these conditions, even if you have already received more harm than good from chemical solutions.