Melanin production and skin pigmentation in humans are highly diverse and influenced by several factors such as heredity, UV exposure, and some medications. Many skin diseases that result in pigmentary abnormalities also affect patients' psychological well-being, social functioning, and physical appearance. The two main categories of skin pigmentation are hyperpigmentation, in which pigment appears to overflow, and hypopigmentation, in which pigment appears to decrease. The most frequent skin pigmentation diseases in clinical practice include albinism, vitiligo, melasma, Addison's disease, and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, which can be caused by drug interactions, eczema, and acne vulgaris. Treatments for pigmentation issues include anti-inflammatory drugs, antioxidants, and drugs that block tyrosinase, which stops the synthesis of melanin. Treatments for skin pigmentation include oral and topical medicines, natural treatments.
1. Overview
Skin color is determined by skin pigmentation, which is the amount of melanin produced by the body. Melanocytes in the skin's epidermal layer create the two primary forms of melanin, eumelanin and pheomelanin. Darker skin tones are caused by eumelanin, whereas lighter skin tones are caused by pheomelanin.
The dark brown pigment eumelanin absorbs UV radiation from the sun and shields the skin from sunburn. Higher amounts of eumelanin are linked to darker skin tones, whilst lower levels are linked to lighter skin tones. One of eumelanin's other advantages is its ability to prevent skin cancer.
2. Skin Pigmentation Causes
A frequent condition that can be brought on by a number of circumstances is skin pigmentation. Genetics, sun exposure, and some drugs are the three main factors that contribute to skin pigmentation. It will be easier to treat and prevent skin pigmentation if we are aware of its basic causes.
2.1. Heredity
Unexpectedly, skin tone can be influenced by 125 genes. As seen in Figure 1, hormones and genes control the synthesis of melanin. An individual can regulate the quantity of pheomelanin or eumelanin produced by their skin by making choices about how much sun exposure they get, how much medication and cosmetics they use, and other factors. These components could change the skin's tone.
2.2. Sun Exposure
Skin pigmentation is frequently caused by sun exposure. To protect itself against UV radiation from the sun, the body makes more melanin. To protect the skin from the sun's rays, this could make the skin more pigmented. Figure 2 shows how pigmentation emerges as a result of continuous UV exposure. The formation mechanism consists of the following stages. (1) Free radicals are created by UV light. (2) The biological agents that affect melanocytes, the cells that produce pigment, are activated by UV light and free radicals. (3) Tyrosine, an amino acid, is converted by the enzyme tyrosinase into melanin pigments, which have a reddish-brown hue. (4) The pigment-producing enzyme Tyrosinase is activated more by biological substances. (5)
Visit 3. Different Types of Pigmentation Disorders.
An individual's skin tone may change when they are unwell; it may become lighter (hypopigmentation), as shown in Figures 3A, B, or darker (hyperpigmentation), as seen in Figures 3C, D. Hypopigmentation is the result of the body producing less melanin, the pigment that controls skin color. On the other hand, hyperpigmentation results from an increase in melanin synthesis [4,5,18].
3.1. Hypopigmentation Causes
The most frequent cause of low melanin concentration (hypopigmentation) is prior skin trauma, which includes skin lesions including blisters, infections, burns, exposure to chemicals, and other wounds. The skin will appear paler than the surrounding skin surface once an injury has healed [19]. Different areas of the skin may become hypopigmented as a result of other hereditary illnesses.
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