Pigment spots (hyperpigmentation) are brown colorations of the skin caused by the activation of melanocytes. This activation takes place mainly through the UV radiation contained in sunlight. For this reason, pigment spots on the face are very often found on the shoulders, hands, décolleté and especially on the face.
Pigment spots can appear in the form of freckles (ephecids) or age spots (lentigo solaris) and take on different shades of brownish, reddish or ochre. A quite frequent special form of pigmentation disorders is the café-au-lait stain (nevus pigmentosus), which owes its name to its light to dark brown very even pigmentation. However, it is not only found specifically in the facial area.
Cause of pigmentation marks on the face
Our skin is home to a multitude of different cells, including melanocytes. Under the influence of UV radiation, these produce the skin pigment melanin and release it to the surrounding horny skin cells (keratocytes). Melanin is important in that it protects the skin and underlying tissues from the damaging UV radiation.
In summer, this is how the typical summer tan is created. However, melanocytes may produce a particularly high amount of melanin in some areas, resulting in pigment spots on the face. This can have different causes.
In addition to a genetic predisposition or a particularly frequent or excessive exposure to UV radiation (the face is particularly affected by this), hormonal processes such as pregnancy or the menopause in women play an important role. However, the pill (a hormone preparation) can also promote the development of pigment spots. (See: Pigment disorder caused by the pill) After a pregnancy or after the body has become accustomed to the hormonal fluctuations during the menopause or when taking the pill, the pigment spots on the face can then disappear again.
Furthermore, a number of diseases can be the cause of the pigment disorders. These include skin diseases such as herpes zoster (a secondary infection with the chickenpox virus), psoriasis, acne and various metabolic disorders. A lack of folic acid and vitamin B12, which is very rare in our society, can also cause pigment disorders. Finally, pigment spots can also occur due to certain drugs that increase the light sensitivity of the skin, so that the melanocytes are stimulated to produce more melanin. Antibiotics from the group of tetracyclines and gyrase inhibitors are particularly noteworthy here, as are chemotherapeutic agents and preparations containing St. John’s wort.
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