Everyone wants to have skin that is smooth and evenly colored. Patchy skin or skin that shows signs of hypopigmentation or hyperpigmentation is unattractive and can cause a person to feel self-conscious. When a person has severe hypopigmentation or hyperpigmentation, they may be worried that people are constantly staring at them, especially if the discoloration is apparent on their face. There are a lot of different ailments that can cause patchy colored skin. One of the most common is dyschromia.
What is Dyschromia?
Dyschromia affects the coloration of a person’s nails, hair or skin. The natural color of a person’s hair and skin is determined by the quantity of melanocytes they have. When a person has hyperpigmentation or hypopigmentation, something is affecting the level of melanocytes in certain parts of their skin or hair. Vitiligo is a term that is used to describe light patches, and melasma is a term that is used to describe darker patches.
The symptoms of dyschromia are easy to see. It can present itself as just one light or dark patch on the skin, or it may present itself as multiple light or dark patches on the skin. Dyschromia usually does not produce secondary symptoms. However, in some cases patients who are battling with dyschromia experience itchy skin.
How to Diagnose and Treat Dyschromia
In order to diagnose dyschromia, our medical professional at Metro Dermatology will need to look at your health history. Hypopigmentation may start out as a single patch. Over time, it will grow into multiple patches and can even lead to the entire body changing color. Light patches of skin may be caused by things like eczema or a fungal infection.
Hyperpigmentation might be the effect of hormonal changes that come about after pregnancy or after using birth control pills. In some cases, these will fade on their own, or they may need to be treated with steroid creams that are designed to enhance skin lightning. Laser treatments can help to minimize the symptoms of hyperpigmentation.
Ways to Prevent Dyschromia
Some forms of dyschromia cannot be prevented. However, other forms can be prevented by properly protecting the skin from sun damage. This includes using sunscreen when in the sun for an extended period of time.
It is recommended that a person uses a sunscreen that protects from both UVA and UVB rays. Some sunscreens include an FDA-approved physical blocker that causes light to reflect away from the skin instead of penetrating the skin.
Schedule Your Appointment Today
Having an even, smooth skin tone enhances a person’s appearance. It makes it easier for them to interact with others in a confident manner and makes a person feel happier with the way they look.
With locations in Elmhurst, Flushing, Englewood, and the Bronx, Metro Dermatology is here to assist you when it comes to dyschromia treatments. We can evaluate your unique situation and determine which treatments can benefit you. Contact us today to schedule your appointment to learn more.
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