Dark spots on the face are primarily caused by an overproduction of melanin, the pigment responsible for skin color. The key causes include:
- Sun Exposure: UV rays from the sun or tanning beds stimulate excess melanin production as a protective mechanism, leading to dark spots often called sunspots or age spots. These commonly appear on areas exposed to sunlight such as the face, hands, and shoulders.
- Hormonal Changes: Conditions like melasma, which cause brown or tan patches, often occur due to hormonal changes during pregnancy, use of birth control pills, or hormonal fluctuations.
- Aging: As the skin ages, melanin distribution can become uneven, causing age spots to appear.
- Inflammation: Skin inflammation from acne, eczema, psoriasis, or injury can lead to post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, where dark spots remain after the skin heals.
- Wound Healing: Dark spots may develop after healing from cuts, burns, or insect bites.
- Skin Irritation: Certain skincare or hair products can irritate the skin, causing dark patches.
- Diabetes: Some diabetes-related skin conditions cause localized darkening.
- Medication Side Effects: Certain drugs, including some anti-inflammatory and antibiotic medications, may increase skin pigmentation.
The common mechanism behind these causes is excess melanin production or uneven melanin distribution, which darkens the affected areas of the skin.
