Too much pigmentation can result from preceding inflammation caused by acne or skin trauma. If the over-pigmentation is caused by skin inflammation, the underlying inflammation must be stopped to break the cycle leading to the problem. Physicians cannot always predict whose skin will over-pigment. A predicator can be how responsive the person's natural skin is to tanning when exposed to natural sunlight. Unwanted pigment can be sun-induced or hormonally induced. Avoiding and correcting these factors can therefore be paramount in such individuals. Care should be taken to make the proper diagnosis of the underlying cause so that the treatment can be individualized to maximize the improvement. At home treatment and sun-avoidance suffice for many people but microdermabrasion and chemical peels are needed to boost the effect in others.
This is an example of melasma:
Melasma, cheek
