What Is Pigmentation? Understanding Your Skin Tone
Skin pigmentation begins at a cellular level. Through a process called melanogenesis, specialised cells known as melanocytes produce melanin, your skin’s natural defence against UV radiation and inflammation. In Singapore’s tropical climate, however, this protective response is constantly triggered, often leading to the visible, persistent clusters we recognise as hyperpigmentation.
At our clinic, every pigmentation concern is carefully assessed across two primary biological depths:
- Epidermal Pigment (Surface Level): Melanin concentrated in the outermost layer of the skin. These typically appear as well-defined brown or tan spots — most commonly presenting as Freckles or Solar Lentigines (sunspots).
- Dermal Pigment (Deep Level): Melanin that has settled into the deeper structural layers of the skin. These often carry a bluish-grey or slate hue with softer, more diffused edges — a pattern characteristic of conditions such as Hori’s Naevus or deep-seated Melasma.
