8 Pigmentation Disorders

It is not surprising that many people believe that pigmentation disorders are minor. They are, after all, not life threatening, and most don’t even impact the person’s overall health. However, the damage that is done to the person’s self-esteem can be devastating, especially if the pigmentation problem occurs in the face. People with noticeably uneven pigmentation may be so unhappy about their condition that they do not want to leave their home. This can have terrible effects on their ability to seek employment or personal relationships. Worse, other people may be put off by the sight of a person who has a pigmentation disorder, even though none of the ones discussed are contagious.

1. Skin Damage

Damage to the skin can occur for many reasons. Third degree burns, whether from fire, radiation, acids or other corrosive chemicals leave lasting scars that can be disfiguring. Also disfiguring are scars left by gunshot and knife wounds and accidents. Animal and even human bites can cause lasting damage on the skin. In the past, diseases could deform a person’s features. They included smallpox and Hansen’s disease or leprosy. Even acne leaves scars and pits on the face, especially the type of acne that forms cysts or nodules.

Scars are the way the skin heals after an injury, even if they are unattractive. They are different colors than the surrounding skin because they are not formed the same way that normal skin is. Scars and normal skin are made of collagen, but in a scar the collagen is arranged like a row of bricks. Normal skin has a more basket weave look. Scar tissue is also weaker than normal skin, lacks hair and sweat glands and is more susceptible to damage by UV radiation. It also loses water faster than normal skin, which stimulates the body to build more collagen to protect it. This only makes the scar more unsightly.