Slide show: Sun damage
Image of uneven pigmentation
Previous Next 1 of 10 Uneven pigmentation

To protect itself from the damaging effects of the sun, your skin increases its production of the brown pigment called melanin. The extra melanin makes your skin look darker or sun-tanned. Sometimes the sun causes an uneven increase in melanin production, which produces irregular coloring (pigmentation) of the skin. The sun can also cause a permanent stretching of small blood vessels, giving your skin a mottled, reddish appearance.

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See more Multimedia Aug. 18, 2022