Skin pigmentation contributes predominantly to the health and quality of life
of human beings. Melanin imparts color to the skin, which is produced during the
process of melanogenesis by the specialized cells, melanocytes. Many endogenous and
exogenous factors released from epidermal and dermal components regulate
constitutive skin pigmentation. The dysregulation of these factors followed by irregular
production and distribution of melanin leads to the onset of pigmentary disorders such
as hyperpigmentation or hypopigmentation. Pigmentation disorders include the entities
that are characterized by a pathological change in melanocytes to produce melanin.
Excess production of melanin leads to hyperpigmentary disorders and less or lack of
melanin leads to hypopigmentary disorders. The present chapter is dedicated to the
introduction and discussion of various pigmentary disorders with an overview of their
etiologies and pathogenesis.
Keywords: Dysre gulation, Hyperpigmentation, Hypopigmentation,
Melanogenesis, Pigmentation.
