Dr Neil Niren on Hyperpigmentation
Hyperpigmentation is a skin condition caused by an increase in melanin, the cells responsible for producing color or pigment. Although hyper pigmentation is one of the most common skin disease, it is also one of the most difficult to treat. This prevailing condition affects women and man of every age and ethnic group, although it is most common in middle age and beyond. Hyper pigmentation can be directly caused by overactive melanocytes or a proliferation of the melanocytes themselves. On its own hyper pigmentation presents no medical threat, but sometimes it can be a symptom of other disease or illness.
Due to both environmental and lifestyle habits as well as better ingredients, hyper pigmentation and its treatment has become more prominent in the last decade. However, the negative impacts of tanning without UV protection or with inadequate UV protection are just starting to show on people and their sun-damaged skin. Furthermore, UV radiation is now stronger compared to a few decades ago, and increased environmental oxidants are certainly taking their toll as well. As Dr Neil Niren explains, taking anti-aging hormone therapies and birth control pills generates additional sun sensitivities.
Patients suffering from facial hyper pigmentation can become so concerned with their physical appearance and aesthetic implications that depression and anxiety may arise as a result. According to Niren, this condition deserves attention and treatment, including a thorough approach to skin analysis and readiness to try creative treatment options.
In general there are three main types of hyper pigmentation, each of them categorized by their cause. Melasma is probably the most common type of hyper pigmentation. This patchy brown discoloration affects an estimated number of five to six million women in the United States alone. The condition is caused by hormonal fluctuations like during pregnancy, thyroid dysfunction, use of birth control pills and hormone replacement therapy, and usually occurs on sun exposed areas of the face. Quite often melasma is rather difficult to treat.
