Hypopigmentation of Skin

If you have had a severe trauma to the skin, sometimes the natural color of the skin doesn’t return.



The trauma leaves behind a white scar and this is known as hypopigmentation.
Due to the injury or trauma, the melanocytes, cells that produce the pigment melanin, get impaired and are not able to produce any melanin. Therefore, the injured area looks white. Sometimes, the melanocytes get treated on their own and therefore, the scars take on the natural color of the skin.



There are however, times when the melanocytes are permanently impaired and the scars that are left behind become permanent.

Hypopigmentation Causes

Superficial abrasions that are caused by minor accidents usually get healed very soon. For sometime, you can see the formation of a scab in the area. These are just the platelets of the body, trying to clot blood. The scab usually falls off on its own after a while. Once the scab is out of its way, the melanocytes begin to produce melanin and the color of the scar soon begins to match that of the rest of the skin.
However, when an injury or a gash is deeper, the inner layers of the skin that contain melanocytes are also damaged. Often, the injured tissue never gets repaired. The process of healing is also different. With inflammation, there can also be fibrosis formation and the melanocytes that work to produce melanin may get blocked or may not be able to reach the surface of the skin, causing hypopigmented skin.
Sometimes, to correct some skin conditions, laser re-surfacing therapy is used. This therapy causes scarring that is intentional and such treatments often lead to skin hypopigmentation.

Treatment for Hypopigmentation

There are different remedies for hypopigmentation caused due to different reasons. If the scars are due to acne or minor accidents, the treatment given is similar to that given to patients of vitiligo.

Funnily enough, for skin hypo pigmentation caused by laser resurfacing treatment, more of laser resurfacing is used. Usually a pretreatment that involves the use of vitamin A and a lotion that contains glycolic acid is given to the patients. The patient is then given a chemical and a laser resurfacing treatment. The skin is then bandaged so that it can heal undisturbed.

It is very difficult to completely cure hypopigmentation of the skin and therefore it is best to protect yourself from any injuries that might cause it. Always try to get proper first aid and medical care when you injure yourself. If you receive a deep gash, it is best to bandage the wound. After you have got injured, apply sunscreen on the injured part every time you step out in the sun.