Hypopigmentation & black skin
What is Hypopigmentation?
Hypopigmentation happens when the skin loses its melanin in certain areas and depending on the cause of hypopigmentation it can develop during childhood or because of skin damage.
Some science notes on pigmentation: our pigmentation is the colouring of our skin and incase of any injuries or harm to the skin, this colour can change. The change can go two ways, either darker (Hyperpigmentation) - read more about Hyperpigmentation in our journal feature or lighter (Hypopigmentation) and on black skin this is more visible and apparent.
There are so many stigmas around hypopigmentation and black skin. Frankly, pigmentation at large is often a topic of discussion due to its apparent visibility against our darker complexions. But, despite it being an increasing concern amongst us, it is also nothing to be ashamed of or insecure about if our pigment differs from person to person.
A deep dive into Hypopigmentation, the different types & treatments.
Types of hypopigmentation can include:
Vitiligo: An autoimmune disease in which the pigment-producing cells are damaged, causing white patches on the skin, that can also appear on the entire body. With 2% of the population that experience this condition, it is more obvious in black skin with greater psychological stress due to its visibility.
For more information on Vitiligo (causes, treatments & solutions) >>> Read our BSD Journal Feature.
Albinism: A rare hereditary disorder that is caused when the enzymes that help produce the melanin aren’t present and means the skin lacks the pigmentation in the skin, hair and around the eyes. It is a unique gene that stops the body from producing melanin.
Pigmentation Loss due to skin damage: If you’ve experienced a skin infection, blister or burn, your skin may temporarily lose the pigment in that area. Coming back over time, this type of hypopigmentation isn’t often permanent and can often be treated.
Tinea Versicolor: This starts from a fungal infection that is caused from overactive yeast in the skin. According to the American Academy of Dermatology it is said to be more apparent in people living in tropical or subtropical regions as these environments help fungus to thrive.
Lichen Sclerosus: White & thin patches that occur in the anal and genital areas but can also develop in the upper body, breasts and arms. Whilst its cause is unknown, there is research suggesting previous damage to the area of the skin, an imbalance of hormones and an autoimmune disorder.
Other Causes of Hypopigmentation
In addition to the above, Hypopigmentation can also be caused by;
Eczema: (Also referred to as Atopic Dermatitis) which causes brown & grey patches on the skin but as the skin heals this may turn white, creating hypopigmentation on the skin’s surface.
Contact Dermatitis: A type of Eczema triggered by a substance causing the skin to become dry, irritated and may lead to lightened areas of the skin.
Healed Blisters: As blisters heal, the skin may become lighter or darker as a result.
Psoriasis: A autoimmune disorder that increases the rate that the skin produces new cells, this causes discoloured patches on the skin that will look lighter and do have a change of healing.
Scars & burns: The skin around the scar or burn may become damaged in the process of healing, leading to lighter skin in the area.
PIH (Post-inflammatory Hypopigmentation): Different from post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, this can be because of skin damage or skin inflammation where the pigment decreases in the skin.
Treatments for Hypopigmentation.
The best course of treatment is most importantly based on the cause for discolouration*. However the most common treatments (including treating Post Inflammatory Hypopigmentation), provided by medical practitioners and skin therapists can include topical steroids and creams, oral medication and light or laser treatments to help even out the pigment in the skin. Again, dependent, but if the cause of the hypopigmentation is due to inflammatory conditions such as Psoriasis, the skin will often heal itself over a matter of weeks and months, with no severe treatments needed.
Other focused treatments according to Bianca Estelle, Black Skin Directory Practitioner, Skin Specialist, Medical Aesthetician and Founder of Bea Skin Clinic is as a “first step, I always recommend to keep your skin out of the sun and protect it from UV rays this will help prevent further damage. The key for treating hypopigmentation is that we want to encourage the skin to naturally re-pigment itself and so, sometimes in the clinic we recommend LED therapy and CO2 Laser as it helps with healing and regeneration as well as relying on the body’s natural healing process”.
*This doesn’t include Vitiligo.
At-home Treatments
Bianca explains, “topical treatments for hypopigmentation are very limited with little improvement. Supplements such as vitamin D3 can help to repigment the affected areas but again, this isn’t a fail-safe treatment. Sufferers should also try to avoid stress as much as possible to help naturally increase Vitamin D3 levels”. This is because there is an intimate link between our vitamin D levels and stress. When under stress our body releases the hormone, cortisol, blocking the calcitriol receptor in the body and absorbing and suppressing vitamin D as a result. Whether through supplement form or minimising stress, optimising the skin’s intake of vitamin D3 is considered helpful for repigmenting the skin.
It can be quite disheartening dealing with and treating hypopigmentation, especially with the cultural stigmas attached. Before education and awareness surrounded the skin condition, many communities treated hypopigmentation with shame as though hypopigmentation is contagious, a result of poor diet or upbringing and in more severe cases, a curse of some kind. Since research and innovation has developed over the years, it has become clear that hypopigmentation conditions are not associated with social, economical or cultural practices but through a genetic change. Therefore, those with hypopigmentation conditions shouldn’t be treated differently because of their skin colour or genetic makeup, hypopigmentation is a complicated nature and it is very tricky to outline concrete treatments.
For those with hypopigmentation concerns, we highly recommend seeking an expert’s advice and treatment plan if wanting to improve it but still vital to remember - each complexion is unique but equally beautiful.