No one likes marks on their complexion. You’ve probably heard words like melasma and liver spots. Both refer to the same condition: hyperpigmentation.
“Damage due to inflammation, UV exposure, and other environmental insults causes the cells to produce more pigment to protect themselves,” says Carl R. Thornfeldt, MD, a dermatologist in Fruitland, ID. Changes in estrogen levels (due to birth control pills or pregnancy) can also play a role.
This results in uneven pigmentation, a common condition that can affect any skin tone, “but in different ways,” says Elizabeth Tanzi, MD, assistant clinical professor of dermatology at George Washington University. Lighter skin…
