Adrenocorticotropic hormone can be broken down to produce melanocyte-stimulating hormone, leading to hyperpigmentation of the skin. Melanocyte-stimulating hormone levels are also raised during pregnancy and in women using birth control pills, which can cause hyperpigmentation of the skin.
Have you ever wondered which hormone causes pigmentation? The underlying hormone responsible for triggering the melanocytes is melanocyte stimulating hormone (MSH). This hormone increases the production of melanin, which is responsible for darkening your skin.
Estrogen and progesterone are two of the major factors responsible for catamenial hyperpigmentation of the skin. Generally, the changes happen in the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle when the serum levels of sex hormones are at their peak.
PHILADELPHIA — When skin cells responsible for pigmentation are exposed to estrogen or progesterone, the cells respond by adjusting their melanin production, resulting in either skin darkening or lightening.
Sun protection is the most important part of treatment since the pigment will continue to darken with exposure. Traditional methods used to remove melasma include chemical or acid peels, dermabrasion, bleaches, pulsed light and traditional laser treatments.
A steep rise in oestrogen levels will stimulate excess melanin production – this results in hyperpigmentation of your skin.
When it comes to melasma, research has found that elevated levels of estrogen, and to a lesser degree elevated progesterone levels, are associated with increased skin pigmentation.
Cutaneous manifestations associated with vitamin B12 deficiency are skin hyperpigmentation, vitiligo, angular stomatitis, and hair changes.
If you have a thyroid disorder, you are about four times more likely to develop melasma than a person without a thyroid disorder. A recent study found that there's a strong association between hypothyroidism and melasma, and both conditions involve hormonal imbalances.
Discolored skin patches may also commonly develop on certain body parts due to a difference in melanin levels. Melanin is the substance that provides color to the skin and protects it from the sun. When there's an overproduction of melanin, it can cause differences in skin tone.
Researchers found that skin color can be regulated by estrogen and progesterone, two of the main female sex hormones. Estrogen darkens the skin; progesterone lightens the skin.
Melasma and Malnutrition. While melasma most often develops after prolonged sun exposure or during pregnancy due to fluctuating hormone levels, it may also be a sign of malnutrition or liver disease. Studies have linked melasma to people with poor liver function, vitamin B12 deficiency and iron deficiency anemia.
A woman who is postmenopausal and given progesterone may develop melasma, while those who are given estrogen alone do not; this implicates progesterone as playing a primary role in the development of melasma.
Also, the hormonal fluctuation you get in perimenopause could also cause higher estrogen levels, alternating with low levels, and could also contribute to melasma.
Hyperpigmentation occurs due to overproduction of melanin and estrogen and progesterone imbalances in the body.
Introduction. The deficiency of vitamin B12 can cause specific skin manifestations, such as hyperpigmentation, vitiligo, angular stomatitis, and hair and nail changes [1].
Vitamin D is an essential hormone synthesized in the skin and is responsible for skin pigmentation. Low levels of vitamin D have been observed in vitiligo patients and in patients with other autoimmune diseases.
The Hormonal One: MELASMA
It's caused by hormone imbalances and is why expectant mothers, and women on birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy typically have brown or tan patches on their faces. Couple this surge in hormones with sun exposure and it's hello melasma, bye-bye to that perfectly even skin tone.
Hyperpigmentation is caused by an increase in melanin. Melanin is the natural pigment that gives our skin, hair and eyes their color. A number of factors can trigger an increase in melanin production, but the main ones are sun exposure, hormonal influences, age and skin injuries or inflammation.
However, there are no scientific studies that show that vitamin B12 is effective as a treatment for melasma, and is usually only recommended to combat the fatigue that patients with anemia so often experience.
Subsequently, the patient had been receiving a MVI tablet daily containing Vitamin B12 (1 mg) and showed improvement in his presentation [Figure 4]. Usually, hyperpigmentation resolves within 3 months of initiation of treatment, in about 87% of such patients.
Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is used as a treatment modality in depigmentation of hyperpigmented spots on the skin and gingiva.