What are the causes of striped skin?

Striped Skin, What Are the Causes

The many functions carried by the skin make it unable to escape the problem. One problem that often afflicts is the striking color difference between one part of the skin and the other, or commonly called striped skin. Then, what can cause skin discoloration? The following are the causes:

Melasma

Brownish skin, bluish spots or gray on the face, may be melasma. This skin problem commonly affects women aged 20 years to middle age. Women who are pregnant also often experience differences in skin color due to melasma.

Melasma is believed to have a strong connection with hormonal changes in a woman's body and exposure to ultra violet from sunlight.

Solar lentiginosis

This condition is also called sunspots is a change in skin color in areas that often come into direct contact with sunlight for a long time. This one stripe often attacks the back of the hand, face, shoulders, upper back, and back of the foot.

The shape is small brown or black spots with varying sizes, ranging from the size of a pencil tip to a coin. Striped skin due to this condition often occurs in people over 40 years.

Vitiligo

If the two disorders above are categorized as hyperpigmentation, which means there is excessive production of pigments or skin dyes, then vitiligo is the opposite. Vitiligo occurs because of a lack of skin color production or hypopigmentation. This type of skin problem appears in the form of white spots that feel fine on the surface of the skin.

Striped skin due to vitiligo is caused by damage to skin pigment-producing cells due to autoimmune disorders. So far no drug has been found that can treat the condition of vitiligo.

Wounds

The appearance of a darker color on the skin can also be caused by injury or injury. Wounds on the skin such as blisters, burning, and infections can cause the skin to lose its pigment. Luckily, striped skin caused by wounds is not permanent or can be cured. However, to restore up to the original color takes a short time.

Exposure to sunlight

Stripes and black spots on the skin can also be caused by sun exposure. Indeed, the skin does need sunlight to produce vitamin D which is useful for bones. But it must also be understood that too much sun exposure can also cause skin burns and discoloration of the skin. Sun exposure triggers the skin to produce more melanin and become darker. In addition, sun exposure also reduces skin elasticity and causes dry, thick and wrinkled skin.

Other causes

Hyperpigmented stripes, can also be caused by the use of certain drugs such as minocycline, endocrine diseases such as Addison's disease, and the condition of excess iron in the body.

While hypopigmented striped skin can occur due to skin inflammation and fungal infections such as phlegm. In children, striped skin in the form of white, smooth, and dry spots on the face is called pityriasis alba.

Actions That Can Be Done

To avoid striped skin due to sun exposure, make sure to always wear sunscreen with enough SPF content. The SPF content above 30 effectively protects the skin.

If the skin is stripped due to a genetic disorder, then counseling can be done so that it does not affect the psychological condition of the sufferer. Although it cannot be treated, using the right cosmetics can cover it.

Treatment to treat striped skin needs to be adjusted to the cause. Because it is important to consult a dermatologist to get further examination. Topical medications, such as ointments or creams, and maybe also drinking drugs will be given by the doctor.

If the striped skin has affected psychological conditions, is difficult to remove, unknown cause, causes pain, or indicates symptoms of cancer, then immediately consult a doctor.