Hyperpigmentation simply is overproduction of melanin, a pigment responsible for creating the colour of the skin. The spots or patches may also darken in comparison to the rest of the body. It can take on quite a variety of forms, from freckles and liver spots to age spots, Melasma, sunspots, technically known as solar lentigenes, dark circles under the eyes, and many more, commonly referred to as pregnancy mask.

Causes of Hyper Pigmentation:

Acne: The healed pits results in post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.

Sun Exposure: The skin suffers from hyperpigmentation with prolonged exposure to sunlight, causing spots or freckles.

Genetics: Some suffer from hereditary hyperpigmentation.

Hormonal Changes: This is the major cause of Melasma, in that it is caused by the change in hormones associated with pregnancy and leads to those dark spots that most pregnant women get on their faces popularly known as the “pregnancy mask.”

Poor Skin Treatments: Hyper-pigmentation can be caused by poor or malfunctioning cosmetic treatments.

Inflammation: The inflammation of the skin causes melanin production.

Types of Hyper-Pigmentation:

1. Melasma: Common with changes in hormone, but may be pregnancy related. 

2. Solar Lentigenes: Age or sunspot is the popular term; this results from the sun.   
3. Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation (PIH): That pesky dark spot after some type of inflammation that result due to conditions like acne or injuries.   

Treatments:

Retinoids and Vitamin C: These are added to skin lightening formulation to inhibit melanin synthesis.

Sun Protection: The use of broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 50, protective clothing to avoid melanin accretion and darkening.

Chemical Peels: -Glycolic or lactic acid peels remove the outer skin layers, therefore, lighten the pigment.

-TCA or phenol peel, deep chemical peel, should be considered for the large pigmentation.

Laser Treatments:

-Q-switched lasers are mostly only used to kill the cells that produce melanin.

-IPL Photofacial: While intense pulsed light treatment will lighten up the hyperpigmentation, it must be handled with caution.

Microdermabrasion: This is how the dead cells are taken off from the skin for its use for lightening the hyperpigmentation.

Cosmetic Camouflage: Some cosmetics have been designed specifically to cover up dark spots, making the patients having those at least aesthetically look fine for some time.

Home Remedies:


Potato: Having bleaching property can be used.

Aloe Vera: Can be placed on the spot to lighten out the spots. Apply on it using rose water.

Therefore, hyper-pigmentation of a serious extent has to be medically treated, and in the case of Melasma, where constant treatments are rather strenuous, active treatment has to be undertaken.