Dyschromia

What is dyschromia?

Dyschromia is a condition in which uniformity is not present within the cells of your skin, melanocytes, that are responsible for its color. The more melanocytes present in the skin, the darker the color, the fewer there are, the lighter the skin color.. With dyschromia, patches of skin with nonuniform levels of melanocytes are observed to cause discoloration. The two classifications within this condition are hyperpigmentation (dark spots) and hypopigmentation (light spots). Dyschromia can take form as freckles, age spots, melasma, liver spots, chloasma, lentigines, etc.

What all causes dyschromia?

The causes of pigmentation caused by dyschromia can vary. The most commonly observed causes are squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, cuts, scrapes, moles, medication-induced photosensitivity, vitiligo, sunburn, insect bites, wounds, radiation therapy, erythrasma, etc.

What does treatment look like?

● Microdermabrasion: This noninvasive cosmetic treatment requires multiple sessions and aims to expose newer, healthier skin to the surface. Small course crystals are rubbed across the skin with a wand to gently exfoliate and remove the top layer of the skin.

● Q-switched laser: The Q-switched laser is a highly-intense beam of light that releases multitudes of short strong pulses to break down pigmentation and increase cell turnover for new skin to form at a faster pace.

● Topical creams: Hydroquinone aids in lightening skin tone, while tretinoin and steroid creams can be applied to further aid the skin’s ability to lighten.

● Chemical peels: A chemical is applied on the surface of the skin to remove the topmost layer and make way for smoother, healthier skin. This procedure is done multiple times until the desired appearance of the skin is achieved.