Influence of sex hormones on skin pigmentation

Many factors contribute to the increase in interest in the condition of the body's skin. In mass media, social networks, films, the ratio of the displayed and covered body has changed, social networks offer a wide selection of "filters" for automatic processing of images that allow you to hide flaws. In this regard, women feel the need to maintain self-esteem by fighting defects in those areas that, in their opinion, are not perfect enough. We will talk about hyperpigmentation of intimate areas.

Hyperpigmentation is a darkening or intensification of the skin's natural color, usually due to increased melanin deposition (hypermelanosis) in the epidermis and/or dermis. Less commonly, it may be caused by the deposition of endogenous or exogenous pigments in the dermis, such as hemosiderin, iron, or heavy metals.

Determining factors

Human skin color is mainly determined by two types of melanin: eumelanin and pheomelanin. Other important factors are capillary blood flow, chromophores such as carotene or lycopene, and the collagen content of the dermis. Eumelanin and pheomelanin are present in people with any skin color, but their ratio varies greatly and determines its shade.

Full version of the access article in Ukrainian