The Most Common Types of Hyperpigmentation... and What to Do About Them

Like acne, hyperpigmentation is a common skin affliction without a straightforward solution. In short, it's a condition by which patches of skin become darker in color than the normal surrounding skin and, once again like acne, it can have various causes. Some of the most common include melasma, sun spots and age spots.

"70 percent of my patients have some form of hyperpigmentation," says renowned dermatologist (and founder of the eponymous skin care line), Dr. Dennis Gross. "This darkening occurs when excess melanin forms deposits in the skin. There are many factors that cause hyperpigmentation including hormones, environmental aggressors like sun exposure or pollution and skin injury resulting from things like acne."

So how can we figure out what type of hyperpigmentation we have? And how do we treat them? Here, Dr. Gross breaks down the most common hyperpigmentation causes, as well as the most effective solutions.

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