Skin Discoloration

July 7, 2008 · Filed Under Skin Care  Bookmark and Share

A flawless, glowing complexion is the dream of almost every person on the face of this planet. Though there are people who have such a lovely skin, sadly, they do not make up majority of the world population.
Skin Color Changes

Changes to skin coloration can indicate various medical conditions. Whitening can occur due to infections or to loss of pigmentation such as in vitiligo. Paleness can indicate a variety of severe infections, either local or to the entire body. Redness can indicate a variety of possibilities including local skin inflammations.

Considerations

Skin coloration is determined by the amount of pigment in the skin and the blood flowing through it. Blood that is saturated with oxygen is bright red. Blood that has lost its oxygen is dark bluish-red. People whose blood is deficient in oxygen tend to have a bluish discoloration to their skin called cyanosis.

Race: Persons of any race can be affected. However, it is much more common in constitutionally darker skin types than in lighter skin types, and it may be more common in light brown skin types, especially Hispanics and Asians, from areas of the world with intense sun exposure.

Age: Melasma is rare before puberty and most commonly occurs in women during their reproductive years.

How Serious is Skin Discoloration?

The skin is the largest organ of the human body. Because it is easily visible, any areas of color change show up readily. Many changes are minor, such as these “age spots.” However, some changes can be serious. Patients should inspect their skin frequently for anything unusual.

Skin Discoloration - Bluish

Skin coloration is determined by the amount of pigment in the skin and the blood flowing through it. Blood that is saturated with oxygen is bright red. Blood that has lost its oxygen is dark bluish-red. People whose blood is deficient in oxygen tend to have a bluish discoloration to their skin called cyanosis.

When Dark Spots Destroy Your Skin’s Even Tone

Some are there at birth and some are born much later in life, but any sort of dark mark on the skin can run the gamut from disturbing to disfiguring. “People are very bothered by skin discoloration,” offers Lynn McKinley-Grant, M.D., a doctor in Washington, D.C., who is board-certified in dermatology and internal medicine. “Whatever kind of discoloration it is — from melasma to age spots.

Discolored Skin Result Of Body Toxins

The pigment that gives the skin its color is called melanin. It is brown to black in color. Normally it is made by cells called pigment cells or melanocytes. These cells synthesize the melanin and then inject it into the surrounding skin cells called keratinocytes. Normally melanin is found only in the outer layer of skin called the epidermis. When in the epidermis, melanin is brown.









Comments

Leave a Reply











    • Square 75 Plus Purchase

      250x250 The Botanical solution to hair loss