 |
NetWellness provides the highest quality health information and education services created and evaluated by faculty of our partner universities.
Monday, March 22, 2010
|
|
|
NetWellness provides the highest quality health information and education services created and evaluated by faculty of our partner universities.
Monday, March 22, 2010
|
Skin Care and Diseases |
Can discolored skin be result of body toxins03/08/2001 |
Hello, I am a 28 year old African American male. At a young age (apprx. 15) I started noticing darkening around my eyes and check area near the eyes. Over the years it seems to have gotten worse. Now it is really noticible. My Physicians have always directed my to Dermatologists who would prescribe perscription skin Bleaching creams and Retin A. None of which helps. Im currently using Hydroquinone and havent noticed any difference either. The last Dermatology used an ultraviolet light and stated that the discoloration was deep in the skin. My question is what may have caused this? Could this be from Toxins in the body or sun damage or something? Also should I continue to use skin bleaching? Can being overwieght cause skin discoloring? (I am 6`3 and 300lbs) Thanks
The pigment that gives the skin its color is called melanin. It is brown to black in color. Normally it is made by cells called pigment cells or melanocytes. These cells synthesize the melanin and then inject it into the surrounding skin cells called keratinocytes. Normally melanin is found only in the outer layer of skin called the epidermis. When in the epidermis, melanin is brown.Sometimes the melanin pigment gets into the second, lower layer of skin called the dermis where it is not supposed to be. There are some known reasons for melanin to get into the lower dermal layer but often we do not know the reason. Medications can cause melanin to get into the lower layer. But only some will do that.
Regardless, melanin in the lower layer of skin causes the skin to have a gray or blue tint that is not desirable.
There are no medications including hydroquinone that can remove melanin from the lower layer of skin. So if your melanin discoloration is in the dermis, then there will be no way to treat it. Melanin in the dermis is like a tattoo. Incidentally like tattoos, melanin in the dermis can be removed by lasers but this is very costly and is not possible for large areas of skin.
Hydroquinone is useful only for dark skin caused by too much pigment in the epidermis.
Body weight is not a cause for discoloration although the body folds around the neck, the arm pits, groin and other places will become dark in individuals who are obese.
|
James J. Nordlund, MD Professor Department of Dermatology College of Medicine University of Cincinnati |
|
|
Please note: only your personal physician or other health professional you consult can best advise you on matters of your health based on your medical history, your family medical history, your medication history, and how information from any of these databases may apply to you. Neither University of Cincinnati (NetWellness) nor any party involved in creating, producing or delivering this web site shall be liable for any damages arising out of access to or use of this web site, or any errors or omissions in the content thereof. (More) 
|