What Men and Women Need to Know about Hyperpigmentation

What You need about Hyperpigmentation

Skin is the largest sense organ common in both men, and women. But skin differs on several parameters like structural, functional, and on other aspects. The skin exhibits sensory and protective functions, but their responses vary individual-wise.

Nature of Skin

Skin in hyperpigmentation, acne, or other skin diseases, exhibit variance, some skins may show improvement, while others may not. Not all skins are able to self-repair damages, caused by the UV rays like hyperpigmentation, suntans, etc.  In India, the climatic condition is above normal in the summers which favor the UV radiation to be at its harsh causing skin disorders like – hyperpigmentation, suntan, bacterial, and fungal diseases.

Prevalence – Skin Condition

Hyperpigmentation is a common skin disorder that concerns the major Indian population. Though the cause factors are many, UV radiation is the major cause of Hyperpigmentation in India. Lack of effective sunscreen protection exposes the skin to harmful UV rays with subsequent oxidation, hence leading to acute hyperpigmentation conditions. The facial features deteriorate in hyperpigmentation, and if already suffering from acne or scars, the condition worsens. Dark pigmentation is a pigmentation dysfunction that prevails in India.

What You Need About Hyperpigmentation In India

What is hyperpigmentation?

Men and women may notice tan-like signs, either in dark brown or gray patches, on their skin, which degrades with frequent UV exposition. Such symptoms confirm hyperpigmentation disorders, which occur in any skin type. Ultraviolet radiation causes pigmentation disorders but is avoidable with organic sun-screen solutions.

Hyperpigmentation in India Gender wise – The Indian Journal of Dermatology

Hyperpigmentation of the skin is a cutaneous pigmentation issue that incarnates in types like –

Lentigines (Solarigo), Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH), Dark eye circles, and Melasma. The details below regarding the prevalence of Hyperpigmentation gender-wise in India reference an article by the Indian Journal of Dermatology published on the NCBI website (ref – https://bit.ly/3Jw3XXr)

Types of Hyperpigmentation and Its Prevalence in India

• Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH)

It is also known as ‘more color’, is a superficial skin condition, like skin irritation, or skin damage, which when in contact with UV rays, tans turning purple, brown in appearance. An acquired skin pigmentation disorder, an after-effect of inflammation like lichen planus, acne vulgaris, dermatitis, pityriasis rosea, psoriasis, impetigo, irritant, etc.  Around 70% of the Indian population suffers from PIH, and both genders are likely to acquire it.

• Solar Lentigo/ Actinic Lentigines/ Solar Lentigines/Lentigo Senilis

It is a type of Hyperpigmentation, caused by UVA radiation, that affects both males and females. It’s a skin pigmentation disorder and signifies photoaging that increments with age. UV exposure is the cause, as it acts as a hyperpigmentation catalyst. Solar Lentigo affects 70% of India’s population, and women above 50 years are prone to develop this condition.

• Melasma

It is a skin disorder and sub-heads as a type under hyperpigmentation that appears as a brownish/greyish mark and is caused by UV radiation. Around 90% of women suffer from Melasma, which includes 20-30% aged between 40-65 years.

Determinants that cause hyperpigmentation condition

• Prolong exposure to UV radiation
• Inflammations, Injuries
• Pregnancy
• Medications
• Allergies

Uv Radiation And Hyperpigmentation

Composition

The UV radiation constitutes – UVA, UVB, and UVC, UVC is the most destructive radiation, but is blocked by the ozone layer. The UV radiations that penetrate through ozone are, UVA and UVB in a 95% and 5% mix. UVA rays cause most of the skin allergies and rays on earth throughout the year. UVB radiation is intense during the summers and causes sunburn and tan, but isn’t capable like the UVA that breaches through windows. Men and Women both need protection against UVA and UVB rays.

• Ultraviolet A-B-C

Though hyperpigmentation has other cause factors, Ultraviolet Radiation is the major cause of Hyperpigmentation in Men and Women in India which needs the best treatment. UVA radiations are more harmful than UVB rays. It sinks deep through facial skin layers damaging the healthy skin cells and is the root cause of premature aging, photoaging in addition to hyperpigmentation.  The UVB rays are also harmful but less damaging in intensity. UVB rays to declines skin integrity, sunburn, and darkens the skin pigment via oxidation.

Effects of UV Radiation

Genetic Alteration

UV radiation potentials to alter the genetic/DNA attributes, like skin color. UV exposition impacts the melanin and enhances melanin production if exposure is prolonged. Skin complexion is due to the presence of melanin, the primary pigment which the UV rays alter. The intensity of skin damage by UV radiation depends on the exposure time, 10 minutes being the minimum slot of causing severe skin damage. The major risk of developing severe hyperpigmentation is due to prolong solar interaction. The more the exposure, the more intense is the damage.

Hyperpigmentation in Men and Women – Cause Factors

Ultraviolet Radiation is the major cause of Hyperpigmentation in Men and Women in India which needs the best treatment. Hyperpigmentation with acne and scars is a terrible condition to have, but not all are fortunate to have their dark complexion, and acne scars healed naturally.

Melanin presence

Melanin index was significantly high in men as compared to females; hence hyperpigmentation is more probable in Men. Studies affirm that women have lighter skin pigmentation than men.

Men are prone to developing hyperpigmentation

The sebaceous glands are more active in males than in women with larger skin pores allowing excess sebum production and this reasons why most men have oily skin. The abnormal production of sebum trigger conditions that cause acne formation, whiteheads, blackheads, bacterial concentration, and finally hyperpigmentation in Men.

Skin Tensibility in Genders

Skin elasticity is the same in both genders, but Men have higher pigmentation, and facial drooping with thicker skin, than women, approximately 25-30%more in thickness which adds more resistivity against UV radiation. But at a point, when the outdoor movement is frequent and is inevitable, skin thickness does no benefit.

Genetics and External – Unisex Condition

Genes affect skin pigmentation, and so do the external environmental conditions. Ultraviolet radiation tops the external factor list that causes hyperpigmentation. If anyone in the family ever had hyperpigmentation, then hyperpigmentation becomes an inheritance condition that’s more prone to occur.

Whether you are in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, or any part of India, the climatic condition and the airborne particles are influential in factoring in hyperpigmentation both in men and women.

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