The colour of your skin, hair and eyes is determined by a pigment called melanin. This pigment is produced by pigment-cells called melanocytes. Healthy melanocytes will evenly distribute pigment throughout the skin, giving a smooth and even complexion.

Unhealthy, inflamed or damaged melanocytes can either over-produce clumps of pigment leading to hyperpigmentation (dark spots), or stop producing pigment altogether leading to hypopigmentation (white spots).