Skin Discoloration
Skin discoloration, can result from many different causes and skin conditions with the most common cause of skin discoloration being overexposure to the sun and blemished skin. In most cases, this is caused by excess melanin (the element in the skin that controls pigmentation) in the skin. To better understand these conditions, most can be classified based on the color that appears on the skin. Most often, these are shades of White, Brown, Blue and Yellow.
White Discoloration (Loss of Pigmentation)
The appearance of white spots or sections on the skin may indicate the presence of Vitiligo, a usually harmless condition which can be localized, on only half the body or in random locations. Some additional symptoms of Vitiligo include premature gray hair and skin discoloration inside the mouth. Vitiligo can occur in any shade of skin color but is often more prominent in those with darker complexions.
Medical treatment is often unnecessary and cosmetic skin discoloration cream that camouflages the affected areas and using sunscreen when outdoors will help to hide the condition. If medical treatment is desired, several approaches can be used to even out skin tone including corticosteroid and photo treatment using ultraviolet light.
Pallor is another condition that can cause the skin to lose pigmentation and become pale. This is usually caused by illness, emotional stress or an injury to the skin. Pallor can appear suddenly but is not considered a condition that requires medical treatment.
Brown Discoloration (Hyperpigmentation)
This type of uneven skin tone is probably the most common and consists of discolored skin spots (also known as "age" or "liver" spots). The overwhelming cause of these types of discolorations is excessive sun damage. Melanin, which is responsible for the brown pigment in skin and is used to create normal skin color accumulates and darkens the affected areas. These spots also commonly appear with aging, pregnancy (a condition known as chloasma gravidarum or "pregnancy mask"), use of birth control pills, chicken pox, acne scarring and shingles.
Skin treatment for these spots begins with minimizing exposure to the sun. Wearing sunscreen is a must.
More aggressive treatments include:
Creams containing Hydroquinone, a skin bleaching agent which slows the production of melanin.
Using skin lightening techniques such as skin bleaching which slows the production of melanin, acid peels containing glycolic acid or alpha hydroxyl acid.
More advanced techniques include laser treatments (also known as laser photorejuvenation). The Fraxel Laser is frequently used to remove discolored skin spots. With this device, tiny columns are made in the skin via the laser which removes unwanted pigmentation and leaves surrounding tissue unaffected.
Another common type of uneven skin tone are freckles (also called ephilides or lentigines). These are closely associated with red hair and fair skin and often increase with sun exposure. Smoking has also been shown to increase the presence of freckles as does prolonged exposure to the sun. Freckles are often treated the same way as hyperpigmentation.
Blue Discoloration
The presence of bluish skin almost always indicates a lack of oxygen in the blood and can be a sign of Cyanosis, which may suggest a life threatening condition (such as heart or lung disease). Oxygen levels usually need to fall below 90% for a diagnosis to be made. If you experience blue discoloration of the skin, it is important to seek medical advice.
The other form of bluish skin is Raynaud's Phenomenon. This is the brief bluish skin tone that occurs when the skin is exposed to extreme cold and blood vessels begin to spasm. Prevention is usually the key to treating this type of skin discoloration. Smoking, heart disease, arthritis, lupus and scleraderma can increase the symptoms of Raynaud's.
Yellow Skin Discoloration
Yellow tinted skin is almost always the result of Jaundice. This is caused when the substance bilirubin, a product of old red blood cells, accumulates in the body. Most often found in newborns, Jaundice can also be caused by a damaged liver which result from alcoholism or cirhossis. This condition is not treatable with skin lightening methods and should always be inspected by a physician.
Add pure aloe juice to lemon extract and mix with organic yogurt into a paste. Apply to the areas where discoloration (age spots) are occuring. Great for a night time treatment.