Clear, even-toned skin is the envy of everybody - if you are fortunate to have it!

In Australia, excessive pigmentation (hyperpigmentation) is a very common condition in which patches of skin turn darker in colour than surrounding tissue.

This is caused when too much brown pigment (melanin) is in the skin. Another form of hyperpigmentation is known as lentigines (most commonly known as age or liver spots). These are caused by excessive exposure to ultraviolet solar radiation (UV rays from the sun), which damage the skin's surface and underlying structures (tanning).
This sun damage presents as small dark spots generally found on the face and hands, but which can also occur in any area constantly exposed to UV radiation. Please note: UV radiation occurs even when it is not sunny! Even on a cloudy day, significant amounts of UV can penetrate through glass and car windows and have an adverse affect on the skin.