Pigmentation

What are some common types of pigmentation?

Freckles

These are light brown small flat spots on sun exposed skin such as the cheeks and nose. They may appear in childhood or adolescence and increase in number with age. Freckles may lighten with reduced sun exposure and with use of broad spectrum sunscreen. If they persist, freckles can be safely removed with pigment laser treatment.

Solar lentigines

These are brown discrete patches that appear on sun-exposed areas like face, arms and legs. Solar lentigines are due to chronic sun exposure. Solar lentigines are harmless and do not turn cancerous. They can be removed effectively with pigment laser treatment.

Melasma

Melasma is a common problem that causes pigmentation on the face. It usually appears as brown patches on cheeks, forehead, upper lip and nose bridge. Although hormonal changes, such as during pregnancy or taking oral contraceptive pills, may contribute to the development of melasma, sunlight is still the main cause of melasma. Melasma is often recurring but there are effective treatments available.