This is a very complex question. I can’t answer it completely without a lot of research, but this is what pops into mind:
The type and amount of pigment (melanin) in your skin is determined genetically and enhanced by exposure to the sun.
Normal hormonal fluctuations can affect skin pigment, such as the mask of pregnancy (melasma). Some diseases and conditions affect pigment, including yellow jaundice from blood cell breakdown or orange pigmentation from excess carotene in the diet. And of course anemic people tend to be pale, but I don’t think that qualifies as "pigmentation".
June 29th, 2010 at 7:57 pm
This is a very complex question. I can’t answer it completely without a lot of research, but this is what pops into mind:
The type and amount of pigment (melanin) in your skin is determined genetically and enhanced by exposure to the sun.
Normal hormonal fluctuations can affect skin pigment, such as the mask of pregnancy (melasma). Some diseases and conditions affect pigment, including yellow jaundice from blood cell breakdown or orange pigmentation from excess carotene in the diet. And of course anemic people tend to be pale, but I don’t think that qualifies as "pigmentation".
References :
Medical librarian