Skin Pigmentation

The type, amount and distribution of melanin pigment plays an important role in the appearance of human skin color, determining that some people are more clear or brown.

The process of melanin synthesis of the amino acid tyrosine in cells called melanocytes present in the outermost layer of skin, the epidermis.

The protective role of melanin is the most important, but not enough on people with fair skin, intense sun exposure, or protect against the effects of ultraviolet A, and aging.

The sun's UVB radiation enhance the pigmentation of the skin by increasing melanin production and leading to a desired tan.

         *  There are disorders associated with skin pigmentation, which have high incidence of sun exposure.

Among those of lack of skin pigmentation is: 

Vitiligo:  white areas are no known cause and affect any age, on the back of the hands and around the neck and face.

The sun accentuates this condition, so your pharmacist will recommend sunscreens of high rate and use of sunless tanning or makeup correction to equalize the depigmented areas.

Among the cases caused by excess pigment known:

Freckles: are on sun-exposed areas and conditioned by heredity and especially in fair-skinned people.

senile pigmentations: come with age and are related to sun exposure, are similar to freckles, but it is not clear in the winter months. The most prone areas are the face and back of hands.

Melasma: is skin pigmentation or dark spots that appear on sun-exposed areas - forehead, cheeks and chin. Occur during pregnancy, taking contraceptives or menopausal women, as a result of treatments for osteoporosis prevention that combine estrogen and progesterone.

There are people at risk for developing skin cancers, including those with light skin who have freckles or many moles, with the melanoma the  most dangerous, which may extend to metastasize to other organs. Its early detection  allows healing and therefore should be monitored for warning signs, like moles or freckles that change of asymmetry, border, color or diameter, enlarged.