L81: Other disorders of pigmentation

Other disorders of pigmentation, as a group, refer to conditions that affect the color of the skin. These disorders can occur due to imbalances in the production, distribution, or breakdown of melanin, the primary pigment that influences skin color. Some of these conditions result in increased pigmentation, known as hyperpigmentation, where areas of the skin become darker than the usual color. Others may lead to decreased pigmentation, or hypopigmentation, characterized by lighter patches of skin. The disorders might be localized, just affecting some specific areas of the skin, or generalized, impacting the whole skin. These disorders are not transmittable and are often caused by factors such as genetic influences, autoimmune diseases, metabolic diseases, nutritional deficiencies, or certain drugs. The symptoms of these conditions are largely visual, and don't normally involve discomfort or pain but could be associated with other systemic symptoms depending on the underlying cause.