Skin Pigmentation Disorder

Where can you get skin pigmentation disorder treatment in Qatar?

In Qatar, you can seek treatment for skin pigmentation disorders from various dermatology clinics and medical centers. Still, you surely need to set some criteria before booking your appointment, and we can guarantee you that al Siraj meets all the standards:

  • Reputation: Al Siraj Medical Center has a strong reputation for providing high-quality dermatological care and successful treatment results in the Qatari market; Google it up!
  • Dermatologist expertise: Our team of dermatologists is amongst the best in Qatar. With long experience in diagnosing and treating pigmentation disorders, your treatment journey will be super smooth.
  • Range of Services: Al Siraj Medical Center offers a comprehensive range of services for treating and diagnosing
  • Skin pigmentation disorders: including advanced treatment options, state-of-the-art machines, and technologies.
  • Patient Reviews: Our patients are very satisfied with their results, and we strongly invite you to read reviews and testimonials from them and hear what they say about their overall experience with Al Siraj.
  • Facilities: Al Siraj's facilities are very modern. We've equipped our medical center with all the amenities to provide a comfortable environment for all our patients during their treatment process.

Want to learn even more about Al Siraj Medical Center? Head to alsirajmedicalcenter.com

How to treat skin pigmentation disorder?

You've heard it before, but we'll say it again—Treatment for skin pigmentation disorder depends mostly on the cause. Some skin pigmentation forms can be treated with simple home remedies and self-care or even disappear naturally, while other skin conditions will require the help of a specialized dermatologist. 

Hyperpigmentation treatment

The first step should be to consult with your healthcare provider to identify and tackle any potential underlying causes of hyperpigmentation.

After the diagnosis, various forms of hyperpigmentation can be treated with therapies like: 

  • Dermabrasion
  • Light or laser therapy
  • Chemical peels
  • Cryotherapy

Hypopigmentation and Depigmentation

If your skin gets lighter due to skin damage, don't worry because after a short period of time, your skin will naturally rebuild, and you can still use some cosmetics prescribed by your dermatologist to speed up the healing. 

There is no one-shoe-fits-all treatment for depigmentation, so you must consult your dermatologist to decide what treatment plan fits your skin condition based on the cause, of course. 

Your dermatologist is likely to recommend therapies like: 

  • Light therapy
  • Surgery
  • Light-sensitive medicines
  • Covering patches with dyes
  • Prescription creams

Types of skin pigmentation disorders

Now it's time for some hands-on work! Let's speak in detail about the types of skin pigmentation disorders, and as a start, we've got to speak about Albinism first.

Albinism

Albinism is a genetic disorder caused by a lack of melanin production compared to the pigmentation of siblings and parents. It results in various genetic defects like very pale skin, hair, and eyes.

The symptoms of Albinism include the lack of color, hair, eyes, or skin, and this rare and inherited condition can affect the entire body or some skin patches and include two types:

  • Eumelanin: This is the most common type and comes in two forms: Brown eumelanin, which produces brown hues in the skin, hair, and eyes. Black eumelanin: Responsible for producing black or very dark brown colors.
  • Pheomelanin: This type is less common; it produces yellow to red hues in the skin, hair, and eyes and is often found in individuals with fair skin and blonde hair.

As of now, there is no cure for Albinism, and dermatologists must advise albinos to strictly avoid sun exposure, as they lack melanin, which serves as a natural protection from sunlight.

Melasma

Melasma (which you might also hear referred to as the mask of pregnancy) is another common skin pigmentation disorder that often catches women with darker skin tone, and its symptoms include brown or gray patches of skin discoloration on the facial area, as well as the areas that get exposed to the sun more often.

The effects of Melasma don't involve any risks. However, most individuals will prefer pursuing treatment for cosmetic purposes.

The leading causes of Melasma are:

  • Hormonal fluctuation, especially during pregnancy.
  • Some cosmetic and skincare products.
  • Sun exposure and heat.

Vitiligo

Vitiligo is another skin pigmentation disorder caused by the loss of melanocytes, or pigment-producing skin cells, and affects nearly 2% of humanity. The symptoms of Vitiligo are the loss of pigment in the skin, reflecting white patches; it can affect different body areas and leave small or large patches in the skin.

Vitiligo usually appears in sun-exposed areas like the hands, face, feet, and arms; it can also impact other areas, including the mouth, eyes, groin, and genitals.

Similarly to Melasma, Vitiligo doesn't present a risk for patients, but for beauty reasons, most people prefer undergoing a treatment.

For the moment, there is no known cure for Vitiligo, and the treatment involves

  1. Phototherapy (UVA or UVB light).
  2. Topical corticosteroids and calcineurin inhibitors

Hypopigmentation disorders

As we explained earlier, Hypopigmentation is due to the reduced amount of melanin in your skin, and your skin patches will appear lighter.

The principal causes for hypopigmentation range from:

  • Skin injuries like burns, infections, blisters, or chemical exposure.
  • Inflammatory conditions like eczema or psoriasis.
  • Genetic disorders like Albinism.

Whether Hypopigmentation is curable or not will ultimately depend on the cause of your skin lightening. If it's due to injuries or inflammatory conditions, then it's possible to treat, while if it's due to genetic disorders, then hypopigmentation disorders are permanent.

Hyperpigmentation disorders

Hyperpigmentation is a common and harmless skin disorder in which patches of skin get darker than the surrounding areas. This darkening happens due to the excess amount of melanin in the skin, the pigment responsible for standard skin color, forming deposits in the skin.

The causes of hyperpigmentation include:

  • Acne scars
  • Birthmarks
  • Pregnancy, which can lead to Melasma on the face
  • Age spots
  • Some medications like antibiotics and birth control pills
  • Sun exposure
Skin pigmentation disorder treatment, before and after

What causes skin pigmentation disorders?

Skin pigmentation disorders occur for multiple reasons. Let's explore the main ones:

Genetics

Your genetics are powerful enough to determine an individual's skin color and its propensity to pigmentation disorders. That's why you'll find specific genetic mutations/variations, the main reason behind skin conditions like Albinism or Vitiligo.

Skin diseases

A quick backstory to help you better understand skin diseases: Your skin tone is determined by what we call melanocytes (cells inside the outer layer of the skin), which produce melanin. Inside these skin cells, we find organelles, also referred to as melanosomes, and your skin color will ultimately depend on how much melanin your skin makes and how well these tiny factories work.

Here are some common disorders:

  • Hyperpigmentation disorders: Excessive melanin production.
  • Hypopigmentation disorders: Low melanin production
  • Vitiligo: Loss of melanin-producing cells.

Hormonal Changes 

Hormones are also a direct factor that leads to the development of pigmentation disorders. Hormonal fluctuations such as Melasma (pregnancy mask), menopause, and hormonal therapies will likely impact skin coloration.

Inflammation

Another potential cause of pigmentation disorders is inflammatory skin conditions or injuries such as Acne, eczema, and psoriasis. These skin problems can boost melanin production and directly cause hyperpigmentation.

Medications

Certain medications can also be the primary cause of pigmentation disorder due to the side effects they have on patients, especially Chemotherapy drugs, hormonal contraceptives, and certain antibiotics.

Skin Aging

The natural aging process can sometimes result in skin pigmentation changes, including age spots, also known as liver spots or solar lentigines.

BOOK NOW
FAQS

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes pigmentation worse?

Sun exposure and inflammation are the primary risk factors for general hyperpigmentation, as they can both stimulate melanin production. The more you're exposed to the sun, the higher your chances of developing increased skin pigmentation."

How can I treat pigmentation naturally?

Some home remedies may help naturally treat pigmentation, like: Apple cider, vinegar, Green tea extract, Red onion, Aloe vera.

What foods reduce pigmentation?

While there's no specific food that can directly reduce pigmentation, consuming nutrients containing antioxidants (such as oranges and spinach), Vitamin C (found in citrus fruits), and Omega-3 (from sources like salmon, tuna, and mackerel) can contribute to skin wellness, and potentially reduce pigmentation.

Can I remove pigmentation permanently?

To answer this question, we have to highlight that the permanency of pigmentation removal depends on a series of factors, such as the cause of the pigmentation, the treatment method used, as well as the patient's skin type and genetics.

Is vitamin C good for hyperpigmentation?

Absolutely, vitamin C can fade dark spots and hyperpigmentation by inhibiting melanin production, the pigment responsible for skin color. It also helps improve skin brightness.

How many hospital branches do you have?

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur pellentesque in scelerisque fames at habitasse convallis dolor scelerisque dictumst vitae lorem massa quisque.

What experience do your doctors have?

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur pellentesque in scelerisque fames at habitasse convallis dolor scelerisque dictumst vitae lorem massa quisque.

What medical specialities do you have?

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur pellentesque in scelerisque fames at habitasse convallis dolor scelerisque dictumst vitae lorem massa quisque.

How many hospital branches do you have?

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur pellentesque in scelerisque fames at habitasse convallis dolor scelerisque dictumst vitae lorem massa quisque.

What medical specialities do you have?

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur pellentesque in scelerisque fames at habitasse convallis dolor scelerisque dictumst vitae lorem massa quisque.

How many hospital branches do you have?

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur pellentesque in scelerisque fames at habitasse convallis dolor scelerisque dictumst vitae lorem massa quisque.

What experience do your doctors have?

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur pellentesque in scelerisque fames at habitasse convallis dolor scelerisque dictumst vitae lorem massa quisque.

What medical specialities do you have?

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur pellentesque in scelerisque fames at habitasse convallis dolor scelerisque dictumst vitae lorem massa quisque.