Dark spots are a type of skin blemish that you don’t want to have. Dark spots occur when there is an increased amount of melanin. Whether you are dark, light, brown or olive skinned depends on this pigment. Although dark-skinned people are more likely to develop brown spots, that doesn’t mean it won’t develop in people with fair skin. Is sun exposure the only reason you have these horrible spots? Here are 5 causes of hyperpigmentation that you probably don’t know about.

Does plucking facial hair cause dark spots?

Having a mustache shade is every woman’s nightmare. Usually women use tweezers to get rid of unwanted facial hair. Waxes and depilatory creams are also widely used. Trauma to the skin from the forceps could cause the skin to become inflamed. It happens if you do not get rid of hair from the roots. Hair removal creams can also be harsh on the skin and cause inflammation. This will pave the way for post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.

You could use a hydrocortisone cream if you are afraid of darkening your skin. Apply a little to infected skin. However, use it sparingly and only for a short term. You need to take care of your skin. Make sure your cleanser isn’t too harsh for your skin. It is not advisable to use a toner and scrub when you have skin inflammation.

Your hormone level goes crazy

Hormonal imbalance is very common in women. Birth control and pregnancy pills can wreak havoc on your body’s chemical processes. An increase in your hormone level can cause an increase in melanin. The type of hyperpigmentation in this case is usually melasma. It usually occurs on the face and appears as brown spots.

For pregnant women, it is known as “the mask of pregnancy”. There may also be a light dark line running from the abdomen to the pubic area.

If the darkening of the skin is due to hormonal imbalances, it should not persist after delivery. If you’re unlucky and the problem doesn’t go away, use skin-lightening lotions or chemical peels to treat it. Do not hesitate to change your birth control pill if you think that is where your skin darkening problem lies.

Spend long hours on your laptop

Never in a million years would I have guessed that a computer could be to blame for the dark spots. The dark spots on the thighs could be the work of a laptop. That is why you should avoid working with the laptop on your lap for long hours. After a few months, hyperpigmentation problems may arise. If you feel the bottom of the laptop, you know it’s hot. That heat over time is warm enough to turn your skin dark. Some people know this as tan skin syndrome or fire spots. The more scientific name would be “erythema ab igne”. If you are an avid laptop user, you should get a laptop cooler or place it on a tray table that sits on your thighs.

Do you often spill lemon juice on your hand??

Do you usually drink cocktails? So be careful with the lemon or lime that you squeeze. It could give you discolored streaks on your skin. When exposed to UV rays from the sun, some citrus botanicals initiate a phototoxic reaction. Some people call it “waiter burn.”

So if you spill lemon juice on your hands and walk in the sun, you’ll not only get sunburn but also discolored streaks that look like drip marks. Having brown spots like this is very rare. However, it is something that you might want to keep in mind any time you are dealing with lemon juice.

Is your bra too tight??

When you want your breasts to look bigger and more voluminous, a fitted bra would be ideal. Too bad this could lead to dark spots. What is the explanation? The skin becomes irritated due to the friction between the bra and the skin. This triggers a change in skin color in that area. There’s a special name for this form of hyperpigmentation, which most doctors call “bra burn.” The skin takes on a shiny, dark red appearance, almost as if it has been burned.

Read below to see if you have the following bra problems. If yes, then you should get a bra that fits you better.

• Your bra clasp cannot stay on.
• The straps are so tight under your armpits that your flesh is sticking out.
• Bra straps are too tight on the shoulders and leave a line in the skin after removal.

For the treatment of bra-related hyperpigmentation, you can try a prescription or over-the-counter topical cream. Some people even suggest doing a chemical peel which works faster.