Sun Spots :Age Spots (Solar Lentigines) Dark spots from sun exposure, often on the face and hands. melanin overproduction

Melasma: (Chloasma): Blotchy, brown/gray patches, common during pregnancy or with hormonal changes.

Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation (PIH): Dark spots left after skin inflammation from acne, eczema, or injury

un Exposure: The most common trigger, causing increased melanin production. Sun exposure causes inflammation, which can also trigger melanin overproduction, skin cells (melanocytes) to produce excess melanin, the pigment responsible for skin color, as a protective response to harmful UV radiation, leading to dark spots (sunspots/age spots) from disrupted melanin production, especially with prolonged exposure. This overproduction, intended as a natural sunscreen, becomes uneven, creating darker patches on frequently exposed areas like the face and hands, and can also worsen conditions like melasma.

Sun Over Exposure: Solar Elastosis: Beyond pigment, UV rays break down collagen and elastin, leading to skin sagging, deep wrinkles, and a yellowed, leathery texture combined with dark spots.

UV Radiation Hits Skin: hen skin is exposed to the sun, ultraviolet (UV) rays penetrate the skin, damaging skin cells.

Melanocyte Activation: In response to this damage, melanocytes are stimulated to produce more melanin to shield the skin's DNA from further harm, causing tanning.

Melanin Overproduction: Excessive or prolonged sun exposure overwhelms this protective system, causing melanocytes to produce too much melanin or distribute it unevenly.

Formation of Dark Spots: This surplus melanin gets deposited in patches, resulting in visible dark spots, also known as sunspots or age spots, on areas like the face, hands, and shoulders

Inflammation/Injury: Picking acne, rashes, or skin trauma, or Acne lesions after the the inflammation has gone.

Hormonal Changes: Pregnancy, birth control, or other hormonal shifts.Hormones cause hyperpigmentation by stimulating melanocytes (pigment-producing cells) to create excess melanin, leading to dark patches, often triggered by fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone during pregnancy, birth control, or menopause, with estrogen increasing tyrosinase activity, a key enzyme in melanin synthesis, while stress-induced cortisol can also play a role. 

Estrogen & Progesterone: Elevated levels of these hormones, common in pregnancy or with hormonal birth control, directly stimulate melanocytes to produce more melanin, resulting in melasma and darkening of areas like the face, abdomen, and underarms.

Enzyme Stimulation: Estrogen increases the activity of tyrosinase, the rate-limiting enzyme in melanin production, leading to more pigment.

Hormonal Imbalance: Shifts in the balance between estrogen and progesterone, such as during menstrual cycles or menopause, can trigger hyperpigmentation, as can declining estrogen levels.

Stress & Cortisol: Stress raises cortisol, which can disrupt the balance of other hormones, upregulating melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH) and increasing melanin.

Other Hormones: Other hormones, like thyroxine and MSH, also interact with melanocytes, and thyroid disorders can increase the risk of melasma. 

Pregnancy: Often called "the mask of pregnancy" (melasma) due to rising estrogen and progesterone.

Hormonal Birth Control: Oral contraceptives can stimulate pigment production.

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Can also lead to increased pigmentation.

Menopause: Decreasing estrogen can paradoxically lead to increased melanin production and age spots.

Stress: High cortisol levels contribute to hormonal imbalances that affect pigmentation. 

Pathogens: Pathogens can absolutely cause hyperpigmentation, typically as postinflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH), where infections like impetigo, fungal issues (tinea versicolor), or even viruses (like COVID-19 in some cases) trigger inflammation, leading to excess melanin production and dark spots, especially in darker skin tones. Pathogens, including bacteria and fungi, create inflammation, which overstimulates melanocytes (pigment-producing cells) to deposit more melanin in the skin, resulting in lingering brown or gray marks after the infection clears Pathogens (bacteria, fungi, viruses) invade the skin, causing an inflammatory response. Cytokine Release: Immune cells release inflammatory mediators (cytokines, prostaglandins). Melanocyte Stimulation: These mediators signal melanocytes to produce more melanin (pigment). Melanin Transfer: Excess melanin is transferred to surrounding skin cells (keratinocytes). Dark Spot Formation: This accumulation results in brown or dark spots (PIH). Bacterial: Infections like impetigo can cause PIH, and specific bacteria like Paracoccus, Kocuria, and Alloiococcus have been linked to hyperpigmented spots. Fungal: Fungal infections like tinea versicolor cause skin discoloration. Viruses, can contribute to loss of pigmentation / hypopigmentation including COVID-19, have been reported to cause hyperpigmentation in some patients.

Medications: Certain drugs can cause darkening

Natural solutions for hyperpigmentation often involve ingredients with brightening, exfoliating, or melanin-inhibiting properties, like high quality Vitamin C, licorice extract green tea and aloe vera which help fade dark spots by preventing melanin overproduction and promoting skin renewal, though scientific evidence varies, and consistent sun protection is crucial

Schedule the Vital C Facial preferablyweekly or bi-Monthly until we see visible pumping results.

Or, Schedule a Skincare check-in for Holistic Skin care guidance.

Purchase the complete Image Vital C Skin Routine morning and Image Illuma Botanical brightening regimen for an evening skincare practice.

Exfoliate with Face Reality Mandelic Scrub or Image Ageless & Image Vital C Enzyme Mask Scrub 2-3 X/week.