Latest news with #melanocytes
Medical News Today
02-07-2025
- Health
- Medical News Today
What to know about skin pigmentation disorders
There are two types of skin pigmentation disorders: hyperpigmentation, in which the skin produces too much melanin, and hypopigmentation, in which the skin produces too little pigmentation refers to the amount of color or 'pigment' in a person's skin. This differs according to the concentration of pigment-producing cells called melanocytes in the skin. Melanocytes produce melanin, which gives skin its involves darker spots or patches on the skin, whereas hypopigmentation involves lighter spots or of skin pigmentation disorders There are two main types of skin color changes in skin pigmentation disorders: hyperpigmentation and is where the skin's pigment-producing cells — melanocytes — produce too much of the pigment melanin. This causes darker spots or patches on the to the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology (AOCD), examples of hyperpigmentation include:frecklessolar lentigines, also known as sun spots, age spots, or liver spotsmelasma, which typically develops as a result of hormonal changespost-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH), which can occur following acne or other inflammatory skin conditionsHypopigmentationAs the American Academy of Dermatology explains, hypopigmentation is where the skin's melanocytes produce less melanin than normal. This causes lighter spots or patches on the causes skin pigmentation disorders?Some changes in skin pigmentation may not be due to health conditions. For example, sun exposure can cause hyperpigmentation. Similarly, medications or injuries to the skin may cause underlying cause of a skin pigmentation disorder may depend on the type of condition a person of hyperpigmentation disordersA 2023 review states that sun exposure is the most common cause of hyperpigmentation. However, hyperpigmentation disorders may have other underlying causes blue-gray or brown spots on a person's face or arms. It can occur due to sun exposure or hormonal changes, which may occur due to medications such as the birth control occurs when a person's skin remains darker than typical after a lesion heals. Injuries or skin conditions that may cause these lesions include:chemical exposure or burnsacnepsoriasisatopic dermatitisCauses of hypopigmentation disordersThe 2023 review suggests most hypopigmentation occurs as a result of prior skin trauma, such as from blisters, infections, or following conditions may also cause hypopigmentation:Albinism: Albinism is a rare genetic disorder that causes a lack of pigment in the skin, hair, and versicolor: Also called tinea versicolor, this common fungal skin infection occurs due to an overgrowth of yeast that usually lives harmlessly on the skin. It can cause hyper- or hypopigmented scaly alba: This condition causes hypopigmented lesions that tend to affect the arms, face, and upper torso. Most cases resolve in around a Vitiligo is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks melanocytes. This can cause one or more of the following symptoms: lighter spots or patches on the skin or inside the mouth or nostrilsa white streak in the hair on the head or whitening of the eyebrows or eyelashesloss of color in the iris of an eyehearing loss due to the loss of melanocytes inside the earHow do doctors diagnose skin pigmentation disorders?When diagnosing skin pigmentation disorders, a doctor will begin with a physical examination of the skin and may ask about a person's medical history and any family history of skin or dermatologists may also use a device called a Wood's light to help detect areas of hyperpigmented or hypopigmented skin. The device emits ultraviolet (UV) light that causes the skin to glow. Certain patterns of fluorescence can help a doctor diagnose specific pigmentation some cases, doctors may order additional tests to help confirm a diagnosis. For example, if a doctor suspects vitiligo, they may order blood tests to look for commonly associated are the treatment options for skin pigmentation disorders?The treatment for hypopigmentation disorders depends on the type. Some disorders, such as pityriasis alba, may resolve on their own. Others, such as vitiligo, may improve with sun protection and oral or topical to a 2023 review, the preferred method of treatment for skin pigmentation disorders is laser therapy. This treatment works by targeting and breaking down excess melanin in the skin to achieve a more uniform skin tone.A 2019 review suggests laser therapy and intense pulsed light therapy (IPLT) may help treat some forms of hyperpigmentation, such as solar lentigines and certain types of the authors caution that laser therapy and IPLT may be less effective at treating melasma and PIH. These treatments may also be less safe, particularly for people with darker skin tones, causing a higher risk of PIG, burns, scarring, or worsening of other skin pigmentation disorders, doctors may recommend a treatment plan that combines sun protection with topical medications, such as:hydroquinonetretinoin and a mild corticosteroidother medications, such as azelaic acid, kojic acid, or vitamin CPeople can speak with a doctor to learn the most suitable treatment for their skin treatment is not necessaryIn some cases, treatment for atypical pigmentation may not be medically necessary. However, if these changes in skin pigmentation affect a person's mental health or self-esteem, a doctor may recommend ways to cover the skin, including:cosmetics, such as foundationover-the-counter skin care productsself-tanning products, including creams or sprays»Learn more:How can people even their skin tone?When to contact a doctor People can speak with a doctor if they have any concerns about their skin to the AOCD, most types of hyperpigmentation are usually harmless, though for some people, they may cause cosmetic concerns. However, hypopigmentation can sometimes signal an underlying issue, such as an autoimmune disease like vitiligo. As such, people should contact a doctor if they notice lighter spots or patches on their a medication causes skin changes, a doctor may recommend stopping or changing the medication. However, people should never stop or change a medication without their doctor's asked questionsHow do skin pigmentation disorders appear on different skin tones?Hypopigmentation disorders, such as vitiligo, involve a lightening of the skin, regardless of a person's natural skin disorders may present differently depending on a person's natural skin tone and the cause of the pigment example, people with dark skin may notice skin spots or patches that are brown, gray, purple, or black. People with light skin may notice skin spots or patches that are pink, red, tan, or disorders, such as vitiligo, involve a lightening of the skin, regardless of a person's natural skin disorders may present differently depending on a person's natural skin tone and the cause of the pigment example, people with dark skin may notice skin spots or patches that are brown, gray, purple, or black. People with light skin may notice skin spots or patches that are pink, red, tan, or there any natural remedies for managing skin pigmentation disorders?According to a 2018 review, the following natural remedies may have the potential to help to lighten areas of hyperpigmentation, but further research is necessary:azelaic acidsoylignin peroxidaseascorbic acidellagic acidlicorice extractsniacinamidemulberry People should speak with a healthcare professional before trying natural remedies on their to a 2018 review, the following natural remedies may have the potential to help to lighten areas of hyperpigmentation, but further research is necessary:azelaic acidsoylignin peroxidaseascorbic acidellagic acidlicorice extractsniacinamidemulberry People should speak with a healthcare professional before trying natural remedies on their diet affect skin pigmentation disorders?Diet's effects on skin pigmentation disorders may depend on the condition a person to a 2022 review, most studies agree that a combination of vitamin B12, folic acid, and sun exposure can help restore skin pigment in cases of vitiligo. The review adds that there is some evidence to suggest zinc may also help to manage the effects on skin pigmentation disorders may depend on the condition a person to a 2022 review, most studies agree that a combination of vitamin B12, folic acid, and sun exposure can help restore skin pigment in cases of vitiligo. The review adds that there is some evidence to suggest zinc may also help to manage the skin pigmentation disorders, the skin produces too much or too little of the pigment melanin. Hyperpigmentation describes an overproduction of skin pigment. Examples include solar lentigines and melasma. Hypopigmentation describes an underproduction of skin pigment. The most common example is of these disorders are harmless, though they may cause cosmetic concerns. Some may also signal an underlying hormonal imbalance or autoimmune condition. Anyone with changes to their skin should contact a doctor to find the underlying cause.
Forbes
18-05-2025
- Health
- Forbes
Beware Of Nasal Tanning Sprays, Here Are The Concerns
You may have seen those advertisements claiming that you can just squirt nasal tanning sprays up your nose to help give yourself a tan that's oh so lit. But when it comes to your nose, it's important to pick carefully. Meaning choose carefully what you put up your nose. Such nasal tanners have not received U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval or undergone rigorous scientific testing. Plus, there have already been reports of bad reactions to such tanners, suggesting that you might end up paying through the nose, so to speak. The main active ingredient in these nasal tanners is melanotan II. This is a synthetic hormone that's supposed to stimulate melanocytes—specialized cells in your skin— to produce more melanin. Melanin is the pigment that can make skin darker. Normally, the way to get a tan is to have sun exposure stimulate these melanocytes to churn out more melanin. When you spray melanotan II up your nose, it can rapidly seep through the inner lining of your nose into the underlying blood vessels to get into your bloodstream. From there, it can in theory go to melanocytes all over your body and bind to the melanocortin receptors on them. This in turn should stimulate the melanocytes to produce melanin. However, you still may need at least some ultraviolet light exposure to activate things. In other words, sitting in your man cave or woman cave spraying melanotan II up your nose alone may not give you that savage or dope tan. In fact, it's not even clear how much melanotan II is needed to go all George Hamilton versus Snooki versus whatever look you are aiming to get. That's because there's no real evidence that these nasal tanners have undergone rigrous scientific testing. Yes, many of the claims about nasal tanners lack that little called scientific evidence. It's not clear whether legitimate dose-response studies have been done by anyone to see how different bodies may respond to different doses of melanotan II. This lack of testing is a big reason why it's is currently illegal to sell melanotan II in the U.S., U.K. and Australia. Yes, illegal starting with a big 'ill.' That's because melanotan II has not been approved by regulatory bodies of those countries for any type of in the human body use. Again, melanotan II has not undergone enough rigorous testing to determine how effective or safe it may be. Plus, there have been reports of people suffering significant side effects from using such nasal tanning sprays. For example, William Higgens reported for the BBC on a case of a women suffering a severe allergic reaction after using a nasal tanner. This landed her in the hospital. She described herself as 'suffocating inside' and 'drowning' within her own body, which by the way aren't good feelings to have. There have also been reports of facial flushing, appetite changes, nausea, vomiting and, oh, spontaneous erections with melanotan II use. Besides the, 'Did you try nasal spray tanning or are you just glad see me' problem and other shorter term side effects, there may be longer term ones as well. Patty Weasler, RN, BSN listed for Verywell Health some potentially not very well skin changes, such as increased moles and dark lines. Yeah, chances are you aren't looking for something that will give you as many moles as possible. She also listed some really serious possibilities such as encephalopathy syndrome, rhabdomyolysis and melanoma. Moreover, since products containing such nasal tanners are being illegally sold and not regulated, you may have no idea of how much melanotan II may be in a given product and what other ingredients may be present. A study published in Drug Testing and Analysis found vials of injectable melanotan II labeled as having 10 milligrams (mg) only had 4.32 to 8.84 mg of the ingredient along with 4% to 6% impurities. So you may even be getting less of what you thought you were getting and more of what you didn't think you were getting. So, there isn't even a guarantee that a given nasal tanner will give you the ran you want. Of course, the time-tested way to get a suntan is to lay out in the sun or a tanning bed. The concern, though, with such options, as I laid out in Forbes previously, is the skin damage from ultraviolet light exposure, which can lead to bad stuff like skin cancer. This damage can be worsened when cover your skin with substances like suntan oil, baking lard or beer (yes, people were actually pushing beer-tanning on TikTok in 2023 as I detailed before in Forbes.) Using proper sunscreen can reduce your ultraviolet exposure while still allowing you to get a suntan. Wearing most types of sunscreen is not like wrapping your body with aluminum foil. Some UV rays still can get through to your skin to stimulate a tan. Just make sure that you use sunscreen with a sun protection factor or SPF of at least 30. If you want to completely minimize any UV exposure then maybe getting a faux tan is fo' you. There are two main ways to get a faux or fake suntan. One is via a spray tan that isn't supposed to go up your nose or in your eyes, mouth or any other opening in your body for that matter. Instead, you spray this solution that includes dihydroxyacetone on just the surface of your skin. There the DHA can react with the amino acids on your skin to give your skin a temporary, brownish (or in some cases maybe orangish) look that fades within a few weeks as your skin naturally sheds and exfoliates. Another way to get a fake suntan is to cover it with substances that have suntan-looking colors. This is the rationale behind bronzers, liquids, creams or powders that you can put on your skin to provide a tan appearance as long as the bronzers remain on your skin. Unless you plan to never ever take a shower or wash your face, you will probably have to reapply bronzers if you want to maintain the tanned appearance for a while. Oh, and don't stick bronzers up your nose or through any opening of your body either. In general, it's a good idea to keep your nose clean when it comes to tanning, especially the inside of your nose. Don't fall for bull-bleep claims made about stuff like nasal tanning sprays. Instead, stick to options that are backed by science. That can make the difference between your skin looking like all rosy versus a rotisserie chicken or worse.
