Brown spots and splotchy skin from pigmentation changes occur on all skin types. Depending on the severity of the spot, there are numerous promising treatments that can reduce the appearance of the troubled area.

What Causes Skin Pigment Changes?

The leading cause of spots on the skin is sun damage. Prolonged sun exposure causes accelerated pigmentation production (hyperpigmentation), which leads to a blotchy complexion with noticeable discoloration. There are several factors that determine the severity of the spots, such as a person’s skin color and history of sun exposure.

Treatments for Dark Spots

There are a variety of ways to treat hyperpigmentation. Here are a just a few cosmetic options:

• Topicals
• Chemical Peels
• Laser Treatments

Spots on Dark Skin

Many people mistakenly believe that pigmentation problems only occur in people with light skin, but a dark-skinned individual can suffer severe spots on the skin known as melasma or post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.

• Melasma: Melasma appears as a patch of brown discoloration (especially on the face). Some individuals suffer from facial melasma during pregnancy when it is referred to as ‘the mask of pregnancy.’ With melasma, a deeper layer of skin is affected which makes it difficult to treat.
• Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation: Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) occurs because of an injury or chronic inflammation. At the site, the skin starts to produce increased pigment. The pigment occurs deep in the skin’s layers which makes it hard to treat. Acne is a leading cause of PIH. However, psoriasis or a burn also leads to the condition.

Dark spots on dark skin require a multi-faceted treatment approach that often involves the use of topicals, microdermabrasion, chemical peels, lasers such as Nd: YAG lasers, and daily use of sunscreen.

Sun Protection Is a Daily Necessity

It is never too late to protect your skin from the sun’s harmful UVA and UVB rays. You should wear daily sun protection that has a Sun Protection factor (SPF) of at least 30 or greater. The sunscreen will help prevent future sun damage while preventing the current areas of concern from getting worse. No matter what your skin type, prevention of dark spots is always far easier than treatment.