Esthetics Core Written Practice Test

Hyperpigmentation is characterized by the presence of darker skin patches resulting from an overproduction of melanin in the skin. Melanin is the pigment that gives skin its color, and when there is an increase in its production, it can lead to areas of skin becoming significantly darker than the surrounding skin. This condition often arises due to various factors, including sun exposure, hormonal changes, certain medications, and skin injuries, but fundamentally, it revolves around the excess of melanin creating those darker patches.

While other conditions may involve changes in skin color or texture, they do not define hyperpigmentation. For instance, red skin patches typically suggest inflammation, which is not related to melanin levels. Lighter patches of skin denote a lack of melanin, often due to sun damage or other factors but still do not fall under the category of hyperpigmentation. Lastly, uneven skin texture from aging refers more to the physical surface of the skin than its pigmentation. Therefore, the fundamental aspect of hyperpigmentation is the increased melanin production leading to darker skin patches.