Skin discoloration can happen on any type of skin. However, it may be more apparent when it occurs on darker skin. Skin conditions, such as acne or eczema, could discolor black skin.
Many treatments can reduce skin discoloration, including laser therapy and chemical peels. Home remedies may include creams that contain vitamin C or retinol.
A person should speak with a dermatologist before trying any sort of treatment. A dermatologist specializes in treating skin conditions and can suggest a product or treatment that is a good match for an individuals skin type. A person may find a dermatologist directly, or they may receive a referral from their doctor.
Below, we look at the different causes of discoloration on black skin and how to treat it.
Discoloration on dark skin can happen for a variety of reasons, including:
Skin discoloration causes skin to look lighter (hypopigmented) or darker (hyperpigmented).
Hyperpigmentation is when the skin becomes highly pigmented and appears darker than usual. This results in dark spots.
Acne, eczema, wound healing, and sun exposure can all cause hyperpigmentation.
A form of hyperpigmentation called melasma typically occurs with hormonal changes. Pregnancy or some types of hormonal birth control could cause melasma.
Postinflammatory hyperpigmentation is common in dark skin and may develop after an injury or inflammatory response. The resulting dark spots and discoloration sometimes last for years.
With hypopigmentation, the skin loses its pigment and becomes lighter than usual. A person can be born with hypopigmentation or they can acquire it.
Like hyperpigmentation, hypopigmentation may occur once a wound heals. It is also much more noticeable on black skin.
Vitiligo is a condition that causes melanin-producing cells to malfunction, leaving some patches of skin lighter than others.
Hypopigmentation from inflammation or infection usually resolves on its own. However, hypopigmentation from scarring is more difficult to alleviate and people respond differently to vitiligo treatment.
Learn more about vitiligo here.
Causes of discoloration on the face include:
Discoloration of the hands can happen because of:
Potential reasons for discoloration on the legs include:
The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) say that skin-lightening creams can help reduce hyperpigmentation.
However, it is advisable to buy these from a reputable retailer. Some creams may contain toxic ingredients, including mercury. Creams that do not meet stringent manufacturing safety standards may cause rashes, make discoloration worse, and exert other harmful effects on the body.
Before trying any treatment or cream, a person should either contact a dermatologist directly or speak with their doctor. A doctor may treat the condition on their own, or they may refer an individual to a dermatology department.
A person should notice their skin getting better when they stop using products that cause skin irritation and discoloration. However, it can take up to a year for some dark spots to fade.
To alleviate skin discoloration and scarring people may want to use products that contain:
Therapies that help alleviate skin discoloration include laser therapy and chemical peels.
However, a person may experience some side effects from these treatments. For example, laser therapy can help reduce dark spots but may produce hypopigmentation around the affected area. It can also worsen hyperpigmentation in some cases.
Learn more about laser therapy for scars here.
If a person notices a sudden patch of discoloration that does not go away, or gets worse, they should speak with a doctor. It is important to talk with a doctor about sudden skin discoloration as it could be a sign of skin cancer.
Similarly, if a person feels self-conscious about skin discoloration, they should talk with a dermatologist. They can suggest treatment options to reduce hypopigmentation or hyperpigmentation. A person can find a dermatologist directly or seek a referral from their doctor.
In some cases, discoloration is unavoidable.
With acne, wounds, and sunburn, some strategies can help prevent discoloration. These include:
When a person has eczema, emollients and lotions may help provide relief from itching.
While most skin discoloration is nothing to worry about, in some cases it could be a symptom of skin cancer.
According to the AAD, people of color often receive skin cancer diagnoses when their cancer is at a later stage. Because of this, it is crucial that people of color do regular skin checks.
Addressing the underlying cause of the discoloration may help reduce any future instances of hypopigmentation or hyperpigmentation. However, in some cases, hypopigmentation or hyperpigmentation can be permanent, especially if it is present at birth.
If a person has concerns about discoloration on their skin, they should speak with a dermatologist. In many cases, medical treatments may produce better results than at-home remedies. A person can contact a dermatologist directly or receive a referral from their doctor.
Skin discoloration is often harmless and not usually cause for concern. However, a person should speak with their doctor if they notice sudden changes in skin color, or the discoloration is spreading or getting worse.
See the original post here:
What causes black skin discoloration? Is it treatable? - Medical News Today
- Retrospective analysis of 397 DABE | CCID - Dove Medical Press - December 3rd, 2023 [December 3rd, 2023]
- Derm In The News: November 26-December 2 - Dermatology Times - December 3rd, 2023 [December 3rd, 2023]
- When is the Best Time to Try Alternative Treatments for Eczema? - National Eczema Association - September 23rd, 2023 [September 23rd, 2023]
- How Eczema Negatively Impacted the Way She Talked to Herself - National Eczema Association - September 23rd, 2023 [September 23rd, 2023]
- Colloidal Oatmeal Effective in Improving Atopic Dermatitis in Black ... - Dermatology Times - September 23rd, 2023 [September 23rd, 2023]
- Combination Treatments in HS Require Further Review - Dermatology Times - September 23rd, 2023 [September 23rd, 2023]
- Addressing Misconceptions, Concerns Around Biosimilar Use - Dermatology Times - September 23rd, 2023 [September 23rd, 2023]
- Native American and Indigenous Communities Face Dermatologic ... - Dermatology Times - September 23rd, 2023 [September 23rd, 2023]
- Microwave Therapy Successful for Treating Warts in Children - Dermatology Times - September 23rd, 2023 [September 23rd, 2023]
- 9 Best Antifungal Body Washes Review - The Jerusalem Post - September 23rd, 2023 [September 23rd, 2023]
- Patients With Severe Psoriasis Have Higher Risk of Heart Disease ... - AJMC.com Managed Markets Network - September 23rd, 2023 [September 23rd, 2023]
- Swimming and skin: What to know if a child has eczema - Harvard Health - May 20th, 2023 [May 20th, 2023]
- Experts demand traffic-light labels to show strength of eczema cream - Daily Mail - May 20th, 2023 [May 20th, 2023]
- Its mosquito season. Here are tips for treating bites, preventing them in the first place - Yahoo News - May 20th, 2023 [May 20th, 2023]
- How new EU incentives will help all patients get the best treatments - Euronews - May 20th, 2023 [May 20th, 2023]
- Consistent Use of Ceramide-Containing Products Combined With ... - Dermatology Times - May 20th, 2023 [May 20th, 2023]
- The Best Swimming Skin and Hair Products | livestrong - Livestrong - May 20th, 2023 [May 20th, 2023]
- These 13 Household Items Contain Smells That Are Harmful To ... - Rock 92.9 - May 20th, 2023 [May 20th, 2023]
- FDA Approves First Pill to Treat Moderate-to-Severe Crohn Disease - HealthDay News - May 20th, 2023 [May 20th, 2023]
- Feds investigating eczema cream after two Oregon babies found with high levels of lead in blood - OregonLive - January 27th, 2023 [January 27th, 2023]
- Heres how to treat eczema and other skin conditions for cold weather - The Hindu - January 27th, 2023 [January 27th, 2023]
- Atopic eczema - NHS - November 23rd, 2022 [November 23rd, 2022]
- Seborrheic dermatitis - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic - November 23rd, 2022 [November 23rd, 2022]
- Oatmeal skincare is the perfect solution for sensitive skin (+ best products to try) - Lifestyle Asia Singapore - November 23rd, 2022 [November 23rd, 2022]
- Eczema - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf - October 21st, 2022 [October 21st, 2022]
- Cold, dry weather can trigger eczema - how to reduce damage to the skin this winter - Express - October 21st, 2022 [October 21st, 2022]
- Eczema on lips nhs - kved.erxe.de - August 29th, 2022 [August 29th, 2022]
- xrfkc.vitalhaskap.pl - August 29th, 2022 [August 29th, 2022]
- Atopic eczema and alopecia areata - cyasn.kugel-lernfoerderung.de - August 29th, 2022 [August 29th, 2022]
- north shore zipline oahu - owk.tophouse.shop - August 29th, 2022 [August 29th, 2022]
- nak stock - vbi.maxense.shop - August 29th, 2022 [August 29th, 2022]
- Atopic eczema and alopecia areata - zayqif.hydra-market.shop - August 29th, 2022 [August 29th, 2022]
- fort worth map with zip codes - prxrzj.rids-gear.shop - August 29th, 2022 [August 29th, 2022]
- Ear Eczema: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments - Healthgrades - August 29th, 2022 [August 29th, 2022]
- The Mutha Body Oil Is Worth the Splurge, Especially If You Have Sensitive Skin - POPSUGAR - August 29th, 2022 [August 29th, 2022]
- Are You Allergic to Your Beauty Products? A Patch Test Might Tell You - Allure - August 29th, 2022 [August 29th, 2022]
- Stinky sweat turns out to have a surprising health benefit : Goats and Soda - NPR - August 29th, 2022 [August 29th, 2022]
- Makeup for Eczema-Prone Skin: Considerations, Products, and Tips - Healthline - July 13th, 2022 [July 13th, 2022]
- Eczema Vaccinatum: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment - Healthline - July 13th, 2022 [July 13th, 2022]
- What Is Topical Steroid Withdrawal in Atopic Dermatitis Treatment? - Everyday Health - July 13th, 2022 [July 13th, 2022]
- A new 'cure for eczema' pill has been signed off but who is allowed to take it? - Cosmopolitan UK - July 13th, 2022 [July 13th, 2022]
- What Causes Dandruff And How To Get Rid Of It, According To A Dermatologist - Fatherly - July 13th, 2022 [July 13th, 2022]
- Allergies on the rise due to climate change - BusinessWorld Online - July 13th, 2022 [July 13th, 2022]
- Cryotherapy Treatment: Uses and Benefits - newschannelnebraska.com - July 13th, 2022 [July 13th, 2022]
- Mutations of Filaggrin Leading to Eggs & Milk Allergies - Physician's Weekly - June 18th, 2022 [June 18th, 2022]
- How AI & the Pandemic Are Changing the Skin & Hair Clinic Experience - The Quint FIT - June 18th, 2022 [June 18th, 2022]
- How to treat your childs dry skin in winter - Lowvelder - June 15th, 2022 [June 15th, 2022]
- Topical steroid: Types, uses, side effects and treatment as revealed by doctors - Hindustan Times - June 15th, 2022 [June 15th, 2022]
- Psoriasis in the Belly Button: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment - Healthline - June 15th, 2022 [June 15th, 2022]
- In his last days, my father asked for Yiddish music - Forward - June 15th, 2022 [June 15th, 2022]
- Throwing away the water after cooking rice? Know how it could benefit your skin and hair - Times Now - June 15th, 2022 [June 15th, 2022]
- Family 'devastated and numb' as boy, 9, dies a day after breaking his arm - Coventry Live - June 15th, 2022 [June 15th, 2022]
- Happy Cappy Not Just For Babies; Everyone With Sensitive Skin Can Benefit - Pediatric Shampoo Granted Trademark in New Campaign: 'No Scalp Left... - June 15th, 2022 [June 15th, 2022]
- Eczema on black skin: Pictures, symptoms, and treatment - June 11th, 2022 [June 11th, 2022]
- Eczema on the Ears or Eyebrows: How to Cope - Everyday Health - June 11th, 2022 [June 11th, 2022]
- What People With Eczema Need to Know About Self-Screening for Skin Cancer - National Eczema Association - June 11th, 2022 [June 11th, 2022]
- How to protect children with eczema from scratching until they bleed - Channel NewsAsia - June 11th, 2022 [June 11th, 2022]
- Autism, allergies and other diseases and disorders afflicted baby boomers, too - PolitiFact - June 11th, 2022 [June 11th, 2022]
- Is saltwater good for the skin? What to know Beaufort South Carolina The Island News - The Island News - June 11th, 2022 [June 11th, 2022]
- What's trending? The most-read stories on APAC beauty market and consumer insights - CosmeticsDesign-Asia.com - June 11th, 2022 [June 11th, 2022]
- Canada to require a warning be printed on every cigarette - Coventry Live - June 11th, 2022 [June 11th, 2022]
- Holistic Acne Treatments That Are Better Than What You've Been Doing - The List - June 11th, 2022 [June 11th, 2022]
- Almirall: Eight out of Ten Patients Maintained Skin Clearance at One Year in Lebrikizumab Atopic Dermatitis Monotherapy Trials - PR Newswire UK - June 7th, 2022 [June 7th, 2022]
- Woman left balding and bedbound by chronic eczema clears the condition with a 9 face cream - The Independent - June 7th, 2022 [June 7th, 2022]
- Poll: Six in 10 people would eat food that has fallen on the floor - Coventry Live - June 7th, 2022 [June 7th, 2022]
- The itch that rashes: Treating and understanding eczema - El Paso Inc. - June 5th, 2022 [June 5th, 2022]
- Celebrities With Eczema Speak Out - Everyday Health - June 5th, 2022 [June 5th, 2022]
- Lotion, Cream, Gel, and Ointment Similarly Effective for Childhood Eczema - HealthDay News - June 5th, 2022 [June 5th, 2022]
- Antibiotics Given Before C-sections Are Not Linked to Asthma, Eczema in Young Children - Pharmacy Times - June 5th, 2022 [June 5th, 2022]
- Eczema Skin-Care Products Market Size, Scope and Forecast | Alliance Pharma Plc., Bausch Health Companies Inc., Bayer AG., AbbVie Inc., Eli Lilly and... - June 5th, 2022 [June 5th, 2022]
- What are the benefits of ceramides for the skin? - Medical News Today - June 5th, 2022 [June 5th, 2022]
- Some Allergies Associated With Lower Risk of SARS-CoV-2 Infection - Smithsonian Magazine - June 5th, 2022 [June 5th, 2022]
- The CDC is sending monkeypox vaccines to people at high risk in a race to prevent the spread - CNBC - June 5th, 2022 [June 5th, 2022]
- Missing Sikeston teen may be heading to Kansas City area - KMBC Kansas City - June 5th, 2022 [June 5th, 2022]
- Should you cleanse or exfoliate first? What to know - Medical News Today - June 5th, 2022 [June 5th, 2022]
- Dry Skin: Eczema, Itchy Skin, Causes, Treatments, Relief, Types - May 17th, 2022 [May 17th, 2022]
- Foods to Eat and Foods to Avoid If You Have Eczema - The Beet - May 17th, 2022 [May 17th, 2022]
- 3 Women With Eczema Describe the Ways They Combat Nighttime Flare-Ups - Verve Times - May 17th, 2022 [May 17th, 2022]
- The Challenges of Parenting a Child With Eczema - Verve Times - May 17th, 2022 [May 17th, 2022]
- Manuka Honey Benefits for Skin: Benefits, Masks, and More - Greatist - May 17th, 2022 [May 17th, 2022]