A common question that is asked by those who pay attention to their skin is “why is my skin becoming darker without sun exposure”. To properly understand and answer this question we must look at an array of factors that can contribute to as why our skin is getting darker. Although exposure to the sun is the most common reason as why our skin gets darker there are other factors at play also. Let’s now look at these factors more closely.
Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation
After our skin has been damaged and it begins to heal melanin production increases. This is in particular true when our skin has been damaged due to skin conditions such as acne, eczema and cuts. These skin condition initially inflame the skin and when the healing process starts our skin increases the melanin production.
These excess pigments caused by increased melanin production cause dark patches to appear on the skin. These dark patches that appear on the skin due to excess pigments are referred to as post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH). Anyone can have post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) but it tends to affect those with darker skin more. Since those with darker skin tones tend to already have a higher melanin level this added excessive pigments makes darker skin to become even more visible for this group of people.
Due to this the colour of our skin directly plays a role when it comes to post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH). In many cases when our skin becomes darker after skin damage, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) is the cause. Although post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) can appear in any body part, certain parts of our body are more prone to it. Body parts such as the neck, face and hands are more prone to post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH).
Aging can make our skin darker
Effects and signs of aging due to past sun exposure can affect our skin later years. If you were exposed to sun exposure and UV rays in the past it can accumulate. This accumulation of previous sun exposure not only causes signs of aging to appear on the skin but also causes the skin to become darker. Make sure to read our article about how to prevent sun damage which is very helpful if you want to protect your skin from sun damage.
The aging process causes our skin to slow down its recovery process also. This slowdown in the skin’s recovery process causes dark spots to appear on the skin. These dark spots will appear in the area of the body that were exposed previously to the sun. The parts of the body more likely to be affected are our hands, face and arms.
How hormonal changes make the skin darker
Another common cause of skin darkening is linked with hormonal changes. Certain medical conditions such as birth control, pregnancy and thyroid problems can cause our hormonal levels to change. These conditions can increase the levels of melanin production in our skin. Since melanin production is directly linked to our skin colour, the increase in their production can make our skin darker.
As our hormonal levels shift, it increases the melanin production in our skin. This shift in hormonal levels is something that is experienced frequently by pregnant women. When the levels of oestrogen are increased in pregnant women it can lead to melasma.
Although darkening of the skin due to melasma tend to go away after pregnancy, other hormonal shifts caused by pregnancy may require medical treatments. The areas of the body that are most likely to be affected by melasma due to pregnancy are the face, cheeks, upper lips, and forehead.
Hyperpigmentation caused by skincare products
Certain skincare products can make our skin darker. Ironically some of these skincare products are intended for brighten the skin initially but they can have reverse affects in some people. The reason these skincare products make our skin darker is due to certain ingredients present in them.
Certain skin conditions such as allergies, and irritation can be sparked by ingredients such as retinoids and hydroquinone. Allergies and irritation caused by using these ingredients can lead to a skin condition called ochronosis. When our skin is affected by ochronosis, our skin can become darker. The signs are most visible on the face since most skin-lightening products are applied to the facial areas.
Ochronosis is usually caused by incorrect usage of skin-lightening products such as a skin lightening cream. Usage of skincare products that have a high concentration of hydroquinone for a long time tends to cause ochronosis. If your skin has become darker recently after using skincare products as part of your skincare routine, you should look to see the ingredients present in them. We also recommend that you read our article about how to lighten and brighten skin which has information about correct way of lighten the skin.
Skin darkening due to nutrient deficiencies
Lack of certain nutrients in our diet can lead to skin darkening. A lack of key nutrients such as vitamin B12, vitamin D and folic acid can cause the skin to become darker. If your diet lacks certain foods rich in vitamin B12 such as fish, eggs, fortified cereals your skin can be getting darker due to lack of these key nutrients. If you are thinking about taking supplements for these deficiencies make sure to consult with your doctor before taking supplements.
Skin darkening due to environmental factors
In previous articles we have discussed the effects of environmental factors on our skin. Environmental factors such as pollution affects our skin. When these pollutants enter our skin, they tend to cause inflammation.
The inflammation sparks melanin production. This increase in melanin production tends to cause dark patches to appear on the skin. If you are living in an area such as polluted cities, pay extra attention to cleansing your skin and protecting your skin from pollution.
