What should you know about blemishes and uneven skin tone?

A blemish may be a spot, mark, patch, or area with a different colour or texture. Uneven tone often develops when pigment production varies across the skin. Sun exposure can deepen existing pigment, while acne, eczema, irritation, or an injury may leave a darker mark after the inflammation settles. Melasma often forms broader, symmetrical patches, whereas sun spots tend to appear on exposed areas. Redness, visible vessels, and changes in surface texture can also make the complexion look uneven even when pigment is not the main issue.

Appearance alone may not identify the cause. A clinician may consider when the change began, whether it followed a rash or treatment, which products touch the area, and whether the mark is stable or evolving.

Use gentle cleansing, avoid picking or scrubbing, and apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen to exposed skin. Sun protection helps prevent many dark marks from becoming more noticeable. Introduce active skincare products one at a time and stop any product that causes persistent burning, swelling, or a worsening rash.

A dermatologist can match treatment to the underlying change and your skin type. Options may include topical pigment treatments, a chemical peel, skin-brightening treatment, or light-based procedures such as IPL. These approaches are not interchangeable: active inflammation should be controlled first, and some procedures can worsen discoloration when poorly matched to the skin or performed while it is irritated. Share any history of easy scarring, cold sores, pregnancy, and medicines or skincare products before treatment.

Arrange a skin assessment if a spot is new and changing, has an irregular outline or several colours, repeatedly bleeds, forms a sore that does not heal, or becomes persistently painful or itchy. Seek prompt care for widespread discoloration with blistering, facial swelling, breathing difficulty, fever, or illness after starting a medicine or product.

Non-urgent review is also useful when pigment continues to spread, follows recurring inflammation, or affects your wellbeing. Bring photographs showing how it has changed and a list of products used on the area.

Ask what is driving the colour change, whether inflammation is still active, which ingredients suit your skin, and how to judge improvement without irritating the area. If a procedure is proposed, ask about preparation, expected recovery, possible pigment changes, and which aftercare signs require contact with the clinic.