The term pigmentation refers to the ranges of colour within the skin. Pigmentation can range from simple freckles, age spots and sun spots to large areas of discolouration like in Melasma. There are many causes and types of pigmentation which can be caused by hormones, sun damage, trauma and genetics. 

Types of Pigmentation

1. Freckles, brown sun damage, solar lentigos.
2. Melasma /Chloasma
3. Raised brown lesions
4. PIH (Post inflammatory pigmentation)

Disorders of pigmentation are primarily caused by trauma to the skin in the form of sun damage and UV exposure, injury and inflammation as well as hormonal, medications and underlying medical causes.

The most common causes we see in Australia is hyperpigmentation as a result of sun exposure, post inflammatory hyperpigmentation and Melasma (hormonal pigmentation).

Sun exposure
Melanin functions to protect the skin cells from UV damage however chronic sun exposure, frequent sunburns, tanning and solarium use will result in underlying cellular changes resulting in an increase in melanin.  This results in damaging effects such as reduced collagen and elastin, decreased skin laxity, poor texture, accelerated ageing and of course the risk of cancer. 

Trauma
Trauma or injury to the skin can result in hyper or hypopigmentation. The most common is hyperpigmentation due to inflammation which in turns triggers the production of melanin as a means of protecting the skin. This is especially common in darker skin types where there is already an excess of melanin. A common cause of post inflammatory hyperpigmentation is inflammatory acne, abrasions or surgical wounds, bites, burns, IPL/BBL or laser treatments and deep chemical peels which cause injury to the top layers of the skin. 

Hormones
Hormone imbalances, pregnancy, breastfeeding and certain medications such as the oral contraceptive pill can result in melasma which is an overproduction of melanin at both superficial and deep layers of the skin.