What causes melanin production?
Melanogenesis can be hampered or intensified by a number of external factors. UV radiation, skin inflammation, some metals (copper, iron), some hormones e.g. pituitary gland hormone (MSH – melanocyte stimulating hormon), sex hormones (mainly estrogens) and other factors activate this process. UV radiation both present in sun rays and emitted by artificial light sources such as solariums used for tanning, usually have the basic impact on hyperpigmentation development. Frequent exposure to UV rays, both from natural and artificial sources, e.g. from the sun or from solarium, cause rapid development of numerous dark spots. Excess of melanin, i.e. hyperpigmentation Pigmentation disorders may be of endo- or egzogenic origin. We may distinguish depigmentations, i.e. skin areas devoid of pigment and hyperpigmentations. Skin hyperpigmentations are deposits of melanin found only in the epidermis or both in the epidermis and the dermis. Those are mainly freckles (ephelides), lentigos (lentigines
