What Causes Hyperpigmentation: Everything You Need to Know

Hyperpigmentation is when some areas of your skin become darker than others. This happens because your skin makes extra melanin, which is what gives your skin its color. Let’s learn what causes hyperpigmentation and how you can prevent it.

What Causes Hyperpigmentation?

Hyperpigmentation is caused by too much melanin in certain parts of the skin. Melanin is what makes our skin, hair, and eyes darker. Things like too much sun, hormonal changes, or skin injuries can cause your body to make extra melanin, leading to dark spots.

The most common cause is sun exposure. When your skin gets too much sun, it creates more melanin to protect itself. This can lead to dark patches on the skin, often called sunspots. Skin injuries like cuts, acne, or burns can also lead to hyperpigmentation as part of the healing process.

Contact us today to discover our expert body treatments designed to address hyperpigmentation and other skin concerns! Reach out online or call us at (816) 524-3438 to learn more about restoring your skin’s natural glow with our customized solutions!

What Causes Hyperpigmentation on the Face?

Hyperpigmentation on the face is mainly caused by sun exposure, acne, and inflammation. When your skin is exposed to the sun, it makes extra melanin to protect itself. Over time, this can lead to dark spots on the face.

Acne can also leave dark marks after the pimples heal. If you pick at your pimples, it can cause even more damage to the skin, leading to more dark spots.

To learn more about how to get rid of hyperpigmentation, check out our detailed guide.

What Causes Hyperpigmentation Around the Mouth?

Hyperpigmentation around the mouth is often caused by irritation, hormonal changes, or inflammation. Hormonal changes during pregnancy or menopause can cause dark spots to appear around the mouth. This condition is called melasma and is common in women.

Sometimes, makeup, toothpaste, or lip products can irritate the skin around the mouth, leading to dark patches. In some cases, frequent lip-licking or rubbing can also cause hyperpigmentation in this area.

What Causes Hyperpigmentation on the Lips?

Hyperpigmentation on the lips can happen because of too much sun exposure, smoking, or certain medical conditions. The lips are sensitive to sunlight, and without protection, they can become darker over time.

Smoking is another common cause. The chemicals in cigarettes can damage the skin and darken the lips. Sometimes, an allergic reaction to lip products or dehydration can also make the lips darker.

What Causes Hyperpigmentation in Addison’s Disease?

In Addison’s disease, a health condition that affects the adrenal glands, people can develop dark patches on their skin. This happens because the body makes too much of a hormone that causes extra melanin to be produced.

The dark patches usually appear on parts of the body that rub against things, like the elbows, knees, and even the gums inside the mouth.

What Causes Hyperpigmentation Spots?

Hyperpigmentation spots, often called sunspots or age spots, are usually caused by long-term exposure to the sun. These dark spots are most common on the face, hands, and arms because these areas get the most sunlight.

As we age, the skin becomes less able to repair itself from sun damage, making these spots more common in older people. Tanning beds and other artificial light sources can also lead to dark spots over time.

What Causes Hyperpigmentation During Pregnancy?

During pregnancy, many women experience hyperpigmentation because of hormonal changes. This is called melasma, or the “mask of pregnancy,” and it usually appears on the face. The skin around the cheeks, forehead, and nose can become darker.

Hormones like estrogen and progesterone increase during pregnancy, which can trigger more melanin production, leading to dark spots. Some women also notice a dark line down their belly, called the linea nigra, which is another form of hyperpigmentation caused by pregnancy.

What Triggers Hyperpigmentation?

Several things can trigger hyperpigmentation, like too much sun, hormonal changes, and skin injuries. The most common trigger is sunlight. UV rays from the sun make your skin produce more melanin, which can lead to dark spots.

Hormonal changes, like the ones caused by pregnancy or taking birth control pills, can also trigger a type of hyperpigmentation called melasma. Skin conditions like acne, eczema, or psoriasis can cause inflammation, which can lead to dark patches. Even certain medicines can trigger hyperpigmentation.

Why Have I Started Getting Pigmentation?

If you’ve suddenly noticed dark spots or patches on your skin, it could be from sun exposure, hormonal changes, or skin damage. If you spend more time in the sun without sunscreen, your skin may start to develop dark spots.

Changes in your hormones, like starting a new birth control or going through menopause, can also cause dark spots to appear. Skin injuries like acne or small cuts can leave dark marks behind as they heal.

Is Hyperpigmentation Caused by Stress?

Stress itself doesn’t directly cause hyperpigmentation, but it can make it worse. Stress raises your cortisol levels, which can upset your hormones and lead to more melanin production.

Stress can also make skin conditions like acne or eczema worse, and when those conditions heal, they may leave behind dark spots. Additionally, stress can slow down your skin’s ability to repair itself, making it easier for dark spots to form after injuries.

The Bottom Line

Hyperpigmentation is caused by too much melanin in the skin, which leads to dark spots or patches. It can happen for many reasons, like sun exposure, hormonal changes, and skin injuries. Common areas affected include the face, lips, and areas around the mouth. Understanding what causes hyperpigmentation can help you prevent it by protecting your skin from the sun and keeping it healthy.

What Treatments are Available for Hyperpigmentation?

Slimming Solutions offers several skin rejuvenation procedures to help diminish the signs of hyperpigmentation. Before your treatment, you will meet with her for a consultation, so she can help you decide which procedure is right for you. Our skin rejuvenation treatments include:

Microneedling

Microneedling is a rejuvenation process that uses a very fine needle to create “micro injuries” to your skin. It stimulates your skin’s natural production of elastin and collagen. This enables your skin to repair itself more efficiently, evening out its tone. You will feel no pain during the procedure.

Chemical Peel

A chemical peel promotes the removal of old, dead cells that give your skin a dull appearance. It can also help to reduce sunspots and hyperpigmentation. Chemical peels are made from all natural ingredients such as milk or fruit enzymes.

IPL FotoFacial RF

This skin rejuvenating therapy emits intense pulses of light into the skin to remove hyperpigmentation. Because the upper layer of the skin is not harmed, there are no scabs and healing is quicker. 

Am I a Good Candidate?

The best way to decide which process you are a suitable candidate for is to make an appointment for a consultation at Slimming Solutions. Our Master Injector, Joi Tydings, will be only too happy to discuss your options and your expectations, so you can be sure that you are getting the perfect skin rejuvenating solution for your type of skin hyperpigmentation. 

What Results Can I Expect?

Your results will vary slightly depending on the type of skin rejuvenation process you receive. However, you will soon notice that the darker areas of your skin will fade and you can enjoy a smoother and more even tone that will give you renewed confidence in your appearance.

Most skin rejuvenation treatments are quick and easy to administer. In fact, most only take a few minutes to perform. Because they are non-invasive, skin rejuvenation processes generally have little to no downtime associated with them; in some cases, you may experience mild redness after treatment.

Take The Next Step – Request a Consultation

Ready to learn more about treatments for hyperpigmentation? Schedule a consultation with Slimming Solutions Med Spa, located in Lee’s Summit, MO. Slimming Solutions Med Spa is a full-service medical spa equipped with a Master Injector, RN/esthetician who is also extremely well-versed in HRT and trained in natural hormone therapies. Call us at (816) 524-3438 or schedule an appointment online.