What should you know about a pure dark spot?

Darkening happens when skin produces or retains extra melanin. A mark may remain after acne, a cut, rash, burn, or other inflammation; this is called post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Repeated sunlight can create sun spots, while melasma often forms broader, fairly even patches on the face. Tinea versicolor can alter skin colour and may include fine scale, especially on the trunk. The shade, surface, number of marks, body site, and timing help separate these possibilities.

A changing spot deserves a closer look. Note whether it is enlarging, developing uneven colour, becoming raised, crusted, tender, or bleeding. A photograph taken in consistent lighting can help you describe change, but it cannot replace an examination.

Use broad-spectrum sun protection on exposed skin, cover the area when practical, and avoid picking or scrubbing it. Pause new products that sting or cause redness, since irritation can deepen pigmentation. Keep a simple record of when the spot appeared and what preceded it, such as a breakout, rash, medication, or strong sun exposure.

A clinician can inspect the surface and decide whether testing or treatment is appropriate. Options may include treating an underlying rash or infection first, followed by carefully selected pigment care. Chemical peels, skin brightening treatment, or picosecond laser treatment are not interchangeable and may worsen discoloration if the diagnosis or skin settings are wrong.

Arrange a prompt skin assessment for a spot that changes quickly, has several colours, develops an irregular edge, becomes a persistent sore, crusts, bleeds, or is new and unlike your other marks. Seek care sooner if it is painful, repeatedly irritated, or accompanied by a spreading rash or loss of sensation. Do not apply a strong lightening product to an undiagnosed changing lesion.

Ask: Does the shape or surface suggest pigment after inflammation, sun-related change, infection, or another cause? Do I need dermoscopy or another test? Which products should I stop? If treatment is suitable, what risks of irritation or darker rebound pigment apply to my skin tone?