Hyperpigmentation is the term used to describe excessive skin pigmentation due to increased melanin production. This increase in pigmentation can be caused by various factors and diseases, including exposure to ultraviolet radiation and some adrenal gland disorders.
In oncology, hyperpigmentation can occur as a side effect of chemotherapy. Among the main chemotherapeutic agents that can cause hyperpigmentation are:
In these cases, skin hyperpigmentation can appear around two to three weeks after the start of treatment and usually disappears between 10 and 12 weeks after the end of chemotherapy.
Hyperpigmentation can also result from radiation therapy. Among the patients most affected by this side effect are those undergoing treatment in the following regions:
Hyperpigmentation caused by radiation therapy usually appears near the end of treatment and may take several months to completely disappear.
