A lot of people are becoming skin-conscious nowadays. Some wish to have whiter and fairer skin, while others desire to have flawless skin and even skin tone. Unfortunately, there are individuals who are suffering from skin darkening. They feel uncomfortable showing to the public their darkened skin areas and uneven skin tone. Two of the main causes of skin darkening are the following: prolonged exposure to sunlight and irritation due to clothes or allergies.
Basically, darkening of the skin happens through the process of melanogenesis as a result from exposure to the sun. There are times where excessive melanin production that results in hyperpigmentation in small patches, while it may spread to other areas at times as well. Melanin is responsible in producing pigmentation in the skin. For instance, a fair-skinned individual may develop a tan skin due to repeated exposure to the sun. Some may regard tanning as a style and healthier than a pale complexion. This is something that is misinterpreted because tanning may lead to skin cancer.
Exposure to Sunlight
The UV rays emitted by the sun activates melanogenesis, thereby increasing the production of melanin. Melanogenesis has the same process of sunburn creation. When a person experiences sunburn, the cellular DNA of the skin is damaged, leading to the formation of wrinkles or even cancerous cells. The ultraviolet rays stimulate molecular lesion formation causing the breaks of DNA strands in the skin. Once the breakage happens, it can cause mutations that may lead to skin cancer formation.
Aside from too much exposure to sunlight, skin darkening and excessive melanin production may happen as a result of too much consumption and burning up of retinoids. Retinoids are simpler forms of Vitamin A that can be found in vegetables. One of the commonly known retinoids is the beta-carotene, which is commonly found in carrots and other orange vegetables. Consuming too much beta-carotene rich vegetables may cause hyperpigmentation, causing the complexion to have an orange appearance.
Hyperpigmentation and skin darkening may occur due to exposure to Psoralens. These substances are present in instant tanners, which are advertised as safe alternatives to tanning. However, these Psoralens are known as carcinogens, which may also lead to skin cancer.
Skin Darkening due to friction in Clothing or Allergic Cause
Skin darkening can also be caused by chronic irritation caused by friction from clothing, while rashes and allergic reactions may result in hyperpigmentation as well. Certain fabric clothing, when constantly used, may result in skin darkening due to friction with the clothing. On the other hand, a certain ingredient used in whitening age spots may occur an opposite effect. Some certain ingredients may stimulate excessive melanin production, causing the appearance of dark black bumps on the skin. Also, the alcohol content in cosmetics may lead to the formation of hyperpigmented areas of the skin or age spots. Some individuals may have a genetic tendency to freckle, while others may have a darker complexion due to heritage.
Prolonged exposure to sunlight and allergic reaction or clothing use are some of the main reasons why skin darkening occurs. Fortunately, there are plenty of interventions that can be used in attaining a fairer, whiter skin.