Our skin is not static — it evolves with every environmental exposure, hormonal change, and year of life. These shifts can alter your skin tone, creating areas that appear darker or lighter than your natural complexion. This phenomenon is known as skin discoloration, and it reflects a disruption in melanin regulation — the pigment system that defines skin color and protects against UV radiation.
Skin discoloration refers to areas of the skin that differ in color from your natural tone. It may appear as dark patches, lighter areas, redness, or even gray-blue hues caused by shifts in melanin production — the pigment that determines skin, hair, and eye color.
When melanin levels increase, the skin darkens (hyperpigmentation). When they decrease, the skin lightens (hypopigmentation).
Melanin is the pigment responsible for your skin, hair, and eye color. It’s produced by melanocytes — specialized cells that regulate how your body responds to sunlight and other stressors. When melanin becomes imbalanced through genetics, UV exposure, inflammation, or injury, the result is uneven tone or visible pigmentation contrast.
Advances in aesthetic medicine now allow discoloration to be addressed safely and precisely. Treatments may include light-based technologies, chemical resurfacing, or regenerative modalities that target pigment at its cellular source. These therapies work by dispersing excess melanin, improving clarity, and restoring uniform texture — all without compromising skin health.
The key lies in individualized evaluation: determining whether your pigmentation is superficial, hormonal, inflammatory, or vascular in nature. Proper diagnosis ensures your treatment is matched to the underlying cause rather than its appearance.
At Beverly Wilshire Aesthetics, every pigmentation treatment plan is developed under physician supervision. Our approach balances clinical precision with an aesthetic philosophy of restoration — understanding that every shift in tone tells part of the skin’s story. Through advanced diagnostic insight and measured intervention, we guide the skin back to equilibrium — luminous, balanced, and unmistakably alive.
Several factors lead to skin discoloration. Here are just some of these factors: Sunburns, aging, hormonal changes, infections, burns, and skin pigmentation disorders. All of these cause your skin to look damaged, dull, and discolored.
Sunburns and other burns damage the skin and often cause discolored skin patches.
Another determining factor for hyperpigmentation is age. As you age, you may notice more spots on the skin around the face, chest, and other areas. The risk of developing these spots is higher if you fail to apply sunscreen to these areas frequently and adequately enough.
Other Common causes include:
• Birthmarks (moles, Mongolian spots, port-wine stains, strawberry or salmon patches)
• Skin infections or rashes (rosacea, psoriasis, eczema)
• Hormonal changes or pregnancy (melasma)
• Autoimmune diseases such as lupus
• Certain medications or allergic reactions
• Skin cancer or genetic pigmentation disorders
There Are Several Reasons That Can Lead To A Change In The Color Of Your Skin, Such As Pigment Disorders, Injuries, And A Variety Of Internal Or External Factors. Skin Pigmentation Can Happen Anywhere On The Skin, And Appear As Hyperpigmentation, Hypopigmentation, And Depigmentation.
Diagnosis may involve:
• Blood tests
• Wood’s lamp examination
• Skin biopsy
Hyperpigmentation, In Which Patches Of Skin Become Darker, Is Quite Common And Usually Harmless. The Darkening Of The Skin Occurs Due To An Unusually High Amount Of Melanin In The Skin.
Hyperpigmentation Can Be Caused By:
Hypopigmentation Causes The Skin To Appear Lighter Because Of An Abnormally Low Amount Of Melanin.
Reasons For Hypopigmentation Include:
This Condition Causes The Skin To Lose Pigments And Become White. One Of The Common Causes Of Depigmentation Is Vitiligo.
Melasma Is Identified By Tan Or Brown Patches That Appear On Different Parts Of The Body, Like The Forehead, Upper Lip, Nose, And Chin. Melasma Is Often Called The “Pregnancy Mask;” However, In Rare Cases, Men Can Also Develop It. Women Who Are Consuming Pregnancy Prevention Medication Or Postmenopausal Medication Can Develop Melasma. Sunlight Can Make This Condition Worse.
Vitiligo Is An Autoimmune Disease In Which The Body’s Immune System Attacks The Pigment Cells. This Disease Causes White Patches Around The Mouth, Eyes, Or Back Of The Hand.
Other Skin Pigmentation Disorders Include:
Hormonal changes can lead to skin discoloration on the face. Allergic reactions, too, may result in discoloration of skin and appear as raised patches, bumps, or rashes.
Infections cause discolored patches of skin on different parts of your body. Infected cuts and scrapes can also change the texture and color of the skin.
Skin discoloration can happen in any part of your body; however, the most common areas are the neck, hands, stomach, buttocks, and around the mouth.
Any fluctuations in the melanin levels of the neck skin will lead to discoloration, which is commonly caused by one or more of these factors:
The skin on the hands is usually taken for granted. People often take it hard on their face, applying a bunch of products to do everything to their skin, but when it comes to their hands, they forget them. However, our hands are also exposed to the sun, and if you don’t protect the delicate skin of your hands, it could lead to dryness, dark spots, and discoloration. There are, of course, other reasons for skin discoloration of the hands, for example:
The thin and sensitive skin on the stomach is subject to discoloration too. It occurs as a result of a medical condition; however, the most common causes of discoloration on the abdomen are:
Although the darker area between the buttocks is usually not a cause for concern, conditions such as irritation and inflammation can lead to hyperpigmentation. Skin trauma and irritation can lead to post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, forming dark spots on or between the buttocks. The most common causes of such discolorations are:
The skin around the mouth is prone to discoloration. Here are just some of the causes:
Addressing Pigmentation Effectively Requires Identifying The Underlying Cause And Choosing Treatments Tailored To The Skin’s Biology:
Topical Brightening Agents — Dermatologist-Prescribed Formulations Containing Hydroquinone Alternatives, Azelaic Acid, Or Niacinamide To Regulate Melanin Synthesis.
Chemical Peels for Hyperpigmentation – Medical-grade chemical peels remove dull, pigmented surface cells and trigger new collagen formation within the dermis. When performed under physician supervision, they safely refine uneven tone and improve texture. Learn more about our chemical peels ›
Advanced Photorejuvenation And Fractional Resurfacing — Physician-Supervised Technologies That Target Melanin Clusters Safely For Gradual, Even Correction.
Our Lumecca IPL treatment uses precise wavelengths of light to selectively target red and brown pigments. Because the surrounding tissue remains untouched, it can treat age spots, sun damage, spider veins and more across face, neck, hands, legs and back. Most clients see visible improvement in 1–3 sessions; deeper pigment may require up to 4–6.
Daily Photoprotection — Broad-Spectrum SPF 30+ Sunscreen Remains The Most Essential Preventive Measure Against Both Discoloration And Premature Aging.
All Treatment Protocols At Beverly Wilshire Aesthetics Are Overseen By Board-Certified Medical Professionals To Ensure Safety, Efficacy, And Long-Term Pigment Stability.
Precision Light, Targeted Clarity
Lumecca™ IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) uses selective photothermolysis — wavelengths of light absorbed by melanin and hemoglobin to break apart unwanted pigment while preserving surrounding tissue. In one session, it addresses sun damage, freckles, age spots, and vascular redness with surgical accuracy.
How It Works
Each pulse of light in the 500–600 nm spectrum targets brown and red chromophores within the skin. The pigment absorbs the energy, fragments, and is naturally cleared by the body over the following days. The surrounding skin remains intact — a controlled renewal from within.
Clinical Course
Most patients see visible clarity after one to three sessions, spaced three to four weeks apart. More complex or mixed pigmentation may require a series of up to six for complete uniformity. Lumecca also stimulates dermal collagen, refining texture and tone beyond pigmentation alone.
Safety & Tolerance
Lumecca is a non-ablative, non-fractional therapy with minimal downtime. Temporary warmth, mild redness, or light flaking can appear for 24–48 hours. Pigmented spots darken briefly before fading, revealing smoother, more even skin within two weeks.
Expanded Treatment Spectrum
Lumecca effectively treats:
• Age spots and sun damage (brown or red pigmentation)
• Vascular lesions such as rosacea and spider veins
• Freckles, port-wine stains, and diffuse redness
It can be safely performed on the face, neck, décolletage, hands, and body — anywhere photodamage or uneven tone appears.
Microneedling complements IPL by activating the skin’s regenerative cycle. The controlled micro-injury process triggers collagen and melanocyte recalibration, reducing hyperpigmented patches and improving texture. This method is ideal for post-inflammatory pigmentation or darker skin tones where light-based energy must be used conservatively.
After treatment, the skin may feel warm or appear flushed for a short period. Keep the area hydrated, protected from direct sun, and avoid exfoliation until the skin returns to baseline. By the third week, the complexion appears clearer, smoother, and more luminous.
At Beverly Wilshire Aesthetics, every pigmentation treatment is MD-directed and customized to your skin’s unique tone and tolerance. Whether through Lumecca IPL, microneedling, or regenerative therapies such as PRP and Exosomes, our goal is simple: a complexion that reflects radiance, symmetry, and Skin Supremacy™.
What is hyperpigmentation?
When there is a high melanin production on a spot of your skin, that spot gets darker, causing hyperpigmentation.
What is the hyperpigmentation treatment?
Hyperpigmentation can be treated with over-the-counter solutions or laser procedures such as Lumecca.
Is hyperpigmentation permanent?
If you don’t treat hyperpigmentation, it could last a long time.
**Is IPL safe for all skin types?**
Yes. Under physician supervision, Lumecca can be safely used on most skin tones within Fitzpatrick types I–V.
**How long does a treatment take?**
A typical Lumecca IPL session lasts 20–30 minutes depending on the treatment area.
**When will I see results?**
Improvement is usually visible within one to two weeks, with optimal clarity after a series of three sessions.
