Dark Spots vs. Hyperpigmentation: What Science Really Says?

India experiences a tropical climate and has intense heat round the year This accelerates melanin production in skin that often leads to uneven patches or ‘dark spots’ forming on the face.

For people who don’t know what melanin is—it’s the pigment that gives your skin its distinct colour.

Skin pigmentation is simply a process where melanocytes produce melanin to protect deeper layers of your skin from the sun’s UV ray damage. But this process may go into overdrive or fall out of proper regulation—causing certain areas of your body to appear darker than their surroundings, resulting in hyperpigmentation.

Many use the terms ‘dark spots’ and ‘hyperpigmentation’ interchangeably. But science tells us they are not exactly identical. Dark spots generally refer to visible lesions, (meaning ‘not normal’ or ‘damaged’ skin in a certain body part) such as sunspots (solar lentigines) or post-acne marks. But hyperpigmentation is an umbrella term that covers any concept of excess melanin produced in skin—such as freckles, age spots, melasma, and including dark spots too. Confusion in diagnosis may lead to inappropriate treatments.

At Neolayr Pro, we always get the “Are dark spots any different from hyperpigmentation?” especially from people who are first-timers or relatively new to skincare. So today, we’ll help you out and clear your doubts for one and all.

Let’s start with, What is Hyperpigmentation?

When melanocytes (the cells that produce melanin) become overactive, they deposit extra pigment in certain areas of the body, causing hyperpigmentation. This excess melanin can now form flat or slightly raised patches, ranging in colour from light brown to black, depending on how deeply the pigment has settled in skin layers.

Some common Types of Hyperpigmentation include:

• Solar lentigines (Sunspots): They primarily occur due to chronic UV ray exposure, most commonly as flat, brown spots on the face and hands.
• Freckles (Ephelides): They are small tan marks affected by two factors: genetics and sun exposure. The good thing about them—they often fade in winter and low-sun months.
• Melasma: These are symmetrical patches, brown in colour and triggered by hormonal changes (that happens during pregnancy or birth control). Sun’s UV light worsens melasma. This condition is prevalent in skin types IV - VI.
• Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation (PIH): Skin inflammation or injuries leave behind dark marks, known as Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation (PIH), that are specifically persistent in darker skin tones. Individuals prone to acne or who suffer from eczema or had accidental burns—can develop PIH.

What are dark spots?

They are just localised patches on the skin that carry excess pigment.

To ease your doubts, let’s just put it this way—-all types of dark spots fall under the broad category of hyperpigmentation, but all forms of hyperpigmentation don't necessarily appear as dark spots. Some may have different colored patches or lesions, whereas others may differ in structure or how they appear on the skin.

What is the science behind melanin production?

Melanocytes are present in the top layer of skin (i.e. epidermis). They make melanin and store it in tiny sacs called melanosomes. 

When melanocytes get overstimulated (due to sun exposure, inflammation, or hormones), they go frenzy and pump out extra pigment, which then clump together and manifest as hyperpigmentation on the skin’s surface or deeper layers.

Let’s understand how melanin is made?

The process of making melanin is called melanogenesis. It starts when an enzyme named tyrosinase converts an amino acid (called tyrosine) into intermediary molecules (like DOPA), and eventually into melanin. You can think of tyrosinase as a factory machine that turns the raw material—tyrosine—into elemental parts of melanin.

Now, there are two types of melanin in the skin:

• Eumelanin: This is a brown-black pigment, more commonly found in darker skin tones. It offers stronger UV ray protection.

• Pheomelanin: This is a yellow-red pigment that is found in people with red hair and lighter skin. It provides less UV ray protection.

According to research, populations who live near the Equator have evolved with higher levels of eumelanin, which acts as a natural sunscreen to defend the human skin against intense UV rays and also preserve vital nutrients like folate (related to Vitamin B-complex). Similarly, people who live in areas with low sunlight produce less melanin, which encourages the body to make enough Vitamin D.

Why the confusion? Dark spots vs. Hyperpigmentation

Marketing and everyday language further stir more confusion and lead to errors in decision-making about which treatment is more suitable for a given condition. Dermatologists emphasize that accurate terminology is the need of the hour as treatment protocols differ for different forms of hyperpigmentation.

A few case-studies backed by Science