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Conditions

Skin Pigmentation Problems

Close-up of hyperpigmentation

Some skin conditions occur because the body produces either too much melanin (hyperpigmentation) or too little (hypopigmentation), which is the natural pigment responsible for the colour of our skin, hair and eyes. It’s melanin that protects the body from damaging ultraviolet light, which is why those with hypopigmentary conditions, such as albinism (causing light skin, white or pale yellow hair, and light blue or gray eyes) or vitilgo (which creates smooth, depigmented white spots on the skin) need to take extra care to protect their skin from the sun’s rays. ‘Liver spots’, which occur due to sun damage, are a common form of Hyperpigmentation (when the body produces too much melanin, causing skin to become darker than usual). Similarly, the skin condition melasma, which creates a dark mask-like discoloration that covers the cheeks and bridge of the nose, can often be triggered during pregnancy when haywire hormones lead to an overproduction of melanin that causes the “mask of pregnancy” on the face and darkened skin on the abdomen and other areas.

Comments and Questions

The EB doctors have been looking at your comments and have answered some of the common questions below. Remember that it is always best to check with a health professional if you have any concerns about your health.

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Please note: Unfortunately Channel 4 cannot respond to individual inquiries. If you have any concerns, you can check out NHS Choices, but ultimately it is always best to check with a health professional.

hi im 26 yrs old, i have this like skin pigmentation all over my back, neck, chest, under my arms, arms in hair below and on my head and in my bum line. it flares up wen im in shower or bath or when i have an hot flush iv had it for 8 years now and the doctor said to put selsun shampoo treatment for dandruff if it comes back to put it on but it keeps coming back and spreading more. please can u help.





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I have freckles on my face but just above my eyebrow several freckles have joined to create a large brown area, is there any way of removing this large freckle or lightening it? Thanks Danielle





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what do i have to do if my foreskin is to tight and doesn't pull back





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hi ,im 30 and i have pigmentation on my stomach and just round my chest area,ive had it about 1 year and been looking at skin condtions and i not seen anything like it, it looks like ive had a good tan and peeled a bit, it can get irrated after shower, its not got any worse,i have been exposed to sun in past but allways put on factor ,so i dont no what it is, thanks





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Hey im an 18 year old girl and in the past 3 weeks i have notised brown patches of skin appear on my shoulder, which i first thought was my fake tan gone wrong but when my tan wared off and i scrubbed and scrubbed it, it didnt dissapear. Now it has spread all over both shoulders up my neck ad all around my back. Its patchy and brown, it looks so ugly, im not sure what to do, it dissapeared for a few days, i went to the doctors and she said it might be a rash, which it is clearly not a rash it doesnt hurt, or it h its just there and i want it gone! Help?





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I've had acne for a few years...not severe and it cleared up using some gel I got from the doctors. However I've been left with what I thought was scarring but have recently read up about Post Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation and think thats what I have. Really effects my confidence, I'm 18 and get through a lot of foundation. Rarely have more than a few spots now so I was wondering if anyone has had similar and could tell me what they used to get rid of themarks left. Thanks





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Hi I am 49 yrs. old and have a big patch of pigmentation in both side od my cheek in one of your episode a friend told me you have a patient who's face almost fully covered with pigmentation and you prescribe a cream, can you tell me what is the name of that cream ? I live in Australia and do watch your show all the times sadly, I miss that particular episode . Thank you, Mylene





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I'm 14 and I have very dark pigmentation under my arms. I'm really embarrassed about it I try to cover it all the time with my clothes and in summer I just don't raise my arms. Is there anything I can do about it to lighten the skin so it looks better?





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i have a dark line on the bridge of my nose ,i was told because i was rubbing my nose upwards and now its left me with a horrible dark patch on the bridge of my nose , i really want it o fade away quick .Please Helpand help me by replying to my comment with suggestions . Thanks





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I also have the same problem i have a brownish skin and i have pigments line of the bridge of my nose to im only 15 , and its embarrassing showing the marks so i hide it with a concealer however it doesn't work i wont to have a natural skin , i cry everyday because of my problem because there's no help for me which i really need and i cannot see the doctors with out my parents permission , im scared and worried sdo somebody please help i will be grateful . Thanks

I'm a teen and i have a problem based on my face my nose to be precise,i have some kind of dark mark on the bridge of my nose , it was a line before but now its a big dark mark which looks really horrible, i used lightening creams to fade it away but no avail, try so many things but i don't know what to do now . Please Help .Thanks





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It looks like no one else has asked this question, so please fill in the rest of your details below.





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