Skin Discoloration: Types, Causes and Symptoms

Skin discoloration refers to a change in the natural color of the skin. There can be many consequences of skin discoloration; sometimes the skin may turn whitish, lighter, darker, yellowish, orange, reddish or bluish. Normal skin contains cells called melanocytes, responsible for producing the skin pigment, melanin. The color of skin is determined by the amount of melanin pigment and blood flow.

Skin Discoloration: Types

Depending upon the color of skin developed, skin discoloration can be of many types. Some of the common skin discoloration include:

• Hypopigmentation - This type of skin discoloration is caused due to loss of skin pigment, melanin. A person suffering from hypopigmentation has lighter skin color in comparison to normal skin color. Examples of hypopigmentation include vitiligo and tinea versicolor.
• Hyperpigmentation - This condition is characterized by darker skin color. It is caused due to the presence of overactive melanocytes, which ultimately increases the melanin production. Overexposure to sunlight also causes hyperpigmentation. It also darkens the already hyperpigmented skin, if further exposure takes place.
• Paleness - A person's skin appears pale, due to reduced amount of oxyhemoglobin in the skin. There are several types of skin paleness based on the symptoms. It can be seen in the entire skin, whereas in some cases, paleness can be observed in specific areas such as white fingers and white patches.
• Redness - Reddening of skin can be observed either in generalized areas (whole body) or in localized areas (specific areas). Skin redness can be caused due to fever, viral infection, rash, sunburn, dermatitis, flushing and eczema. It often signifies skin irritation and allergic rash.
• Yellow Skin - Usually, yellow skin color is caused due to jaundice. It may also signify a severe liver condition. Hence, if the skin color of a person becomes yellow, it is important that the person seeks immediate medical attention. Also, color of his/her nails and eyes should be checked for proper diagnosis.
• Orange Skin - Orange skin coloration is as severe as yellow skin condition. It is more prevalent in infants, when they switch from liquid diet to solid diet. Generally, orange skin coloration is caused due to carotenemia, which occurs from excessive intake of carotene-rich foods.
• Cyanosis - This causes a bluish color development in the skin, due to the lack of oxygen supply in the blood. Cyanosis may also occur as a result of abnormal hemoglobin or presence of toxins (e.g. cyanide) in blood.

Skin Discoloration: Causes

Skin discoloration is caused due to many reasons. In fact, each of the different types of skin discoloration results from various abnormalities in the body metabolism. Let's see some of the common causes of skin discoloration.

• Diseases - Most cases of skin discoloration are symptoms of various diseases. For example, liver disease causes yellow skin, albinism causes white skin, anemia causes paleness and cyanotic heart disease causes cyanosis.
• Medications - Some skin discolorations may be caused due to the side effects of medications. For example, antibiotics (tetracycline) and antimalarial drugs may cause hyperpigmentation in some people. In most cases of minocycline treatment (for rheumatoid arthritis), hyperpigmentation is seen as the side effect.
• Pregnancy - In some women (especially women with dark skin), pregnancy can cause hyperpigmentation of the face or melasma due to increase in the activity of melanocytes. Usually, melasma fades away after childbirth.
• Diet - Recent research has shown that the skin color of a person also depends on his/her diet. The sensitivity of skin is known to increase with the intake of foods containing psolarens such as parsley and lime. Since, skin becomes more sensitive, its exposure to sun causes skin discoloration.

In addition to these factors, skin discoloration is also caused due to extreme climatic conditions, aging and heredity.

Skin Discoloration: Symptoms and Treatment

It is to be noted that skin discoloration can be a symptom of a medical condition. As already stated, the symptoms of skin discoloration vary depending upon the cause.

Treatment of skin discoloration is based on the cause. A patient who has developed skin discoloration can consult a qualified dermatologist for proper diagnosis of the skin condition. Proper skin care should be taken, and one should follow the prescription of the skin care professional. It is always advisable to limit exposure to sun and apply sunscreen, when going outdoors during daytime.