What should you know about stubborn pigmentation?

Pigmentation is a change in skin colour caused by increased, reduced, or uneven pigment. Dark patches may follow acne, eczema, burns, procedures, or other inflammation; they may also relate to hormones, medicines, or repeated light exposure. The colour, border, location, timing, and surface change help a clinician narrow the cause. Pigment can persist when the original trigger continues or when treatment irritates the skin.

Use daily broad-spectrum sunscreen and cover areas exposed to strong light. Treat itching, acne, or inflammation without picking, and stop products that sting or cause peeling. After diagnosis, a clinician may recommend skin brightening treatment, a chemical peel, IPL photofacial, picosecond laser treatment, or topical hydroquinone therapy. The choice depends on the pigment pattern, skin tone, cause, and risk of post-inflammatory darkening; more treatment is not always safer.

Book a dermatology review if a patch is new and unexplained, changes quickly, has an irregular border, bleeds, crusts, itches persistently, or develops a different surface. Seek advice before treatment when pigmentation follows a procedure, affects a sensitive area, or keeps returning despite trigger control.

Ask what is causing the colour change, whether any medicine or skin condition is contributing, and which treatment is appropriate for your skin tone. Discuss light protection, irritation warning signs, treatment spacing, and a maintenance plan.