Medications which cause dark spots or hyperpigmentation on the skin include the following:
Antiarrhythmics
Antiarrhythmics are used to treat abnormal heart rhythms. Antiarrhythmics that can cause hyperpigmentation include amiodarone. This drug is one of the causes of blue /grey facial pigmentation and pigmentation of the hands.
Antibiotics
Antibiotics are used to treat infections in the body. Antibiotics that can cause dark spots on the skin include septrin and tetracyclines like minocycline which is used to treat acne. Minocycline is one of the medications that causes dark spots on the face and blue/black pigmentation within scars. Minocycline induced hyperpigmentation can also occur on the nails, teeth and bones.
Anticonvulsants
Anticonvulsants are used to treat convulsions or seizure disorders. Anticonvulsants that can cause black spots on the skin include phenytoin. These tend to cause brown / grey pigmentation on the cheeks which resembles melasma.
Antimalarials
Antimalarials are used to treat malaria and other conditions like discoid lupus DLE and systemic lupus erythematosus SLE. Antimalarials that can cause skin darkening include chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine. These tend to cause blue /black patches on the head, neck, forearms and legs (shins). Antimalarials can also cause nail pigmentation.
Cytotoxics
Cytotoxics which are also known as antineoplatics or chemotherapeutic agents are used to treat cancer. Cytotoxics that cause drug associated hyperpigmentation include adriamycin, bleomycin, busulfan, cyclophosphamide, daunorubicin, doxorubicin, and fluorouracil. These tend to cause hyperpigmented streaks and lines on the upper body. Cytotoxics can also cause nail pigmentation.
Psychotropics
Psychotropics are used to treat mental conditions like schizophrenia. Psychotropics that can cause black spots on the skin include chlorpromazine. They tend to cause blue / grey pigmentation on skin exposed to the sun.
If you are taking any of these drugs which make the skin darker you should ensure that you also do the following to protect the skin from the effects of the sun:
Use Sunscreen
Use broadspectrum sunscreen which protects the skin from UVA and UVB rays. It should have a SPF of atleast 30.
A good example is La Roche Posay Invisible Fluid Sunscreen SPF 50 which can be purchased from our Skincare Shop.
Wear UV Sunglasses
Wear UV Sunglasses like these ones protect the eyes from UV rays from the sun.
Wear Sun Protective Clothing
Wear sun protective clothing to protect the skin from the sun. These include long-sleeved hoodies for men and long-sleeved hoodies for women which offer SPF 50+ protection. Some natural fibers like unbleached cotton alsol protect the skin by acting as UV absorbers while satiny silks reflect radiation.
FAQ
How does one cure drug induced hyperpigmentation?
To cure drug induced hyperpigmentation, ask the prescribing Doctor to change the medication and prescribe another one that does not cause hyperpigmentation. This is because withdrawal of the offending drug causes fading of the hyperpigmentation though it may take months or years.
To reverse pigmentation faster, Consult our Doctor for procedures like micordermabrasion and chemical peels.
Share with us in the comments section if you have used any of these medications which cause dark spots.