Makeup and Beauty

Discoloration of the skin occurs due to precipitation of pigments or exposure to the sun. The condition is also called blemished skin. This is often mistaken for scarring. Initially, all the scars are red, pink or purple but the color fades in due course. Many scars become temporarily lumpy during healing but later flatten. The skin may darken because of pigments in the skin. The two main pigments deposited in the skin being iron and melanin.
Color cells (melanocytes) are studded in their millions throughout the skin. They produce a brown pigment called melanin. All races have the same number of color cells in the skin but they produce different amounts of pigment. The colour of the skin also depends upon the blood supply to the skin. The darkening is worst in black skin and may occur even after acne. Increased hormone level in the body during pregnancy period, too, stimulates the color cells of the face and brown patches appearing around the eyes, cheeks and on the upper lip. Contraceptive pills can cause similar brown patches on the face and body. Allergy to perfumes may also produce dark patches on the face and neck. It is important to wash off all perfumes before sunbathing. Drugs may cause changes in skin color which tend to be all over the body. Very dark patches may develop in later life in the groins and armpits. They can be a sign of illness and a doctor should be consulted.

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Filed under: Skin Care