Hypopigmentation is a condition that may differ greatly from one person to another. It may be acute or chronic and its causes also differ. What causes hypopigmentation in human beings? Below are some causes and treatment.
Albinism
This is a genetic defect whereby the individual is born without the melanin producing cells. Melanin is the substance responsible for skin coloration and, therefore, its lack causes the skin to lack any pigmentation. This condition cannot be cured and only skin caring methods can be applied to prevent damage. Albinism is generally common in all populations.
Seborrhea
This is a condition whereby children get lighter skin patches especially on the face. These patches appear on areas that are prone to oily skin such as around the nose and on the chin. This condition is temporary and can be easily cured by applying topical creams.
Tinea versicolor
This is a fungal infection that causes the skin to have round patches that are lighter than the rest of the skin. It is caused by the fungus that is responsible for athletes' foot, jock itches, and ringworms in the head. Tinea versicolor can be easily cured by a dose of topically applied cream or by tablets.
Traumas to the skin
There are several causes of skin trauma such as burns or injury. When the skin is damaged, there is a temporary halt in the production of melanin. This causes the skin to lack color or to be hypopigmented. This is most obvious in people who were seriously burnt. In some cases, this condition can correct itself with time and the skin color may come back. However, in most cases it goes from hypo pigmentation to hyper pigmentation as the wound heals and this doesn't make the matters any better.
Post inflammatory hypopigmentation
After a serious skin infection or disease, the skin may present with hypopigmentation. This condition may be temporary and disappear within weeks. However, in some cases it can be somehow permanent. Infections like chicken pox, measles and smallpox may all cause hypopigmentation.
There are several ways to treat hypopigmentation:
Surgical Skin grafting
This is necessary only in cases of permanently hypopigmented skin like in serious burns and in accident injury. The skin may be permanently unable to produce melanin cells so melanin is introduced in terms of grafted skin from other parts of the body or from a donor. Skin grafting is expensive and usually traumatizing as it requires repeated surgical processes that may leave one drained and tired. Therefore, skin grafting may be turned to as a final resort when all the rest has failed.
Use of topical creams
There are several creams that can be used as treatment for hypopigmentation. These creams and ointments are available in drugstores and in pharmacies. Their use is only external and they work fairly well. Some of these creams are used to bleach the surrounding skin so that it can be evenly toned with the hypopigmented skin.
For more details about hypopigmentation creams, see also the blog post about Hypopigmentation Creams and Other Treatments.
Permanent makeup
This is not necessarily a way of treating hypo pigmentation rather; it is a way of concealing the damaged skin. This is very effective in evening out the skin color without having to use medicinal creams on the skin, some of which may have serious side effects.
Laser treatment
Although relatively expensive, laser treatment can cure skin hypopigmentation. This method is useful because not only does it cure the disease, it awakens the melanin cells to restart producing melanin, and therefore it is a permanent cure. There are no risks in laser treatment and the results are satisfactory.
Skin hypopigmentation can be very damaging on the person's self-esteem. However, with the presence of the above hypopigmentation treatment methods, she does not need to worry as treatment and recovery requires only a matter of time. Permanent cases like albinism, as well as temporary lightening of the skin, can also be dealt with very easily and you can go on to can lead a normal life.
