The underlying hormone responsible for triggering the melanocytes is melanocyte stimulating hormone (MSH). This hormone increases the production of melanin, which is responsible for darkening your skin.
Medication with hydroquinone and retinoic acid are used to treat hyperpigmentation. It may take a few months to lighten the dark spots. Laser therapy is also used to treat hyperpigmentation. Homecare remedies and use of sunscreen are also helpful.
Estrogen and progesterone are two of the major factors responsible for catamenial hyperpigmentation of the skin.
Melanocyte-stimulating hormone describes a group of hormones produced by the pituitary gland, hypothalamus and skin cells. It is important for protecting the skin from UV rays, development of pigmentation and control of appetite.
Melasma is a common skin disorder. It most often appears in young women with brownish skin tone, but it can affect anyone. Melasma is often associated with the female hormones estrogen and progesterone.
The hyperpigmentation related to vitamin B12 deficiency is more common in darker-skinned patients. Few other cases of skin hyperpigmentation due to vitamin B12 deficiency have been reported in the literature. The mechanism of hyperpigmentation is due to increased melanin synthesis rather than a defect in melanin.
They can appear as flat patches or freckle-like spots. Commonly affected areas include your face, including the cheeks, upper lip and forehead, as well as the forearms. Melasma is sometimes called the “mask of pregnancy” because it frequently affects pregnant women.
The deficiency of vitamin B12 can cause specific skin manifestations, such as hyperpigmentation, vitiligo, angular stomatitis, and hair and nail changes [1].
What causes hyperpigmentation? Skin gets its color from a substance called melanin, which is made by skin cells. When those skin cells are damaged or unhealthy, they can produce too much melanin. The melanin can clump, causing that area to appear darker.
Estrogen and progesterone are two of the main female sex hormones. Natale et al. now show that estrogen increases pigment production in human melanocytes, and progesterone decreases it.
Hyperpigmentation is always accompanied by a number of endocrine diseases, such as Addison's disease and hemochromatosis. However, the occurrence of hyperpigmentation in thyroid dysfunctions is rarely reported in the literature.
Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is used as a treatment modality in depigmentation of hyperpigmented spots on the skin and gingiva.
Skin pigmentation can be reversed based on how severe the condition has been. Most skin pigments show signs of healing with appropriate treatments which includes home remedies, topical creams and cosmetic procedures.
“Melasma likely occurs when the pigment producing cells in the skin (melanocytes) produce too much pigment (or melanin),” Dr. Keira explains. “The underlying hormone responsible for triggering the melanocytes is melanocyte stimulating hormone (MSH).
Vitamin D is an essential hormone synthesized in the skin and is responsible for skin pigmentation. Low levels of vitamin D have been observed in vitiligo patients and in patients with other autoimmune diseases. Therefore, the relationship between vitamin D and vitiligo needs to be investigated more thoroughly.
Foods that Can Cause Skin Pigmentation
Foods that contain copper are leafy greens, like spinach, kale, and mustard greens, as well as whole grains, nuts, seeds, legumes, asparagus, and summer squash.
Vitiligo is a chronic (long-lasting) autoimmune disorder that causes patches of skin to lose pigment or color. This happens when melanocytes – skin cells that make pigment – are attacked and destroyed, causing the skin to turn a milky-white color.
Although it also is a type of condition characterized by darker patches of skin, melasma is differentiated from other forms of hyperpigmentation mainly by its cause; rather than just being sun-related, melasma is caused in part by hormonal changes within the body.
Answer: Melasma is typically caused in women by exposure to estrogens. For this reason, any hormone replacement you are taking that contains estrogen can contribute, so I would refrain from using estrogens.
A woman who is postmenopausal and given progesterone may develop melasma, while those who are given estrogen alone do not; this implicates progesterone as playing a primary role in the development of melasma.
Although vitamin D is essential for skin health, its primary role is the promotion of melanin formation, which may cause more skin darkening.
Common causes of widespread hyperpigmentation include melasma, drugs, cancers, and other systemic disorders. Test patients who have widespread hyperpigmentation not caused by drugs for disorders such as primary biliary cholangitis, hemochromatosis, and Addison disease.