'Pigmentation' caused by improper use of digestive aids or blood pressure medication can turn skin dark

Common Medications Can Turn Skin into a 'Pigment Magnet'

Some medications we take on a daily basis can cause skin pigmentation to worsen. On the June 28, 2026, broadcast of MBN's 'Lim Seong-hoon's Great Challenge,' the causes of so-called 'pigment addiction,' which exacerbates freckles and blemishes during the summer, and methods for preventive care were discussed.

In this episode, Kang So-mi, who struggles with acne scars and freckles, and Park Eun-hee, who experiences skin sagging after childbirth, appeared to take on a three-week skin improvement challenge. Family medicine specialist Cho Ae-kyung and internal medicine specialist Lee Kwang-kyun analyzed the participants' skin conditions and presented customized countermeasures.

The 'Phototoxicity' Caused by Drug Ingredients and the Mechanism of Pigmentation

Experts warned that ingredients in certain digestive aids, hypertension medications, and painkillers can cause 'phototoxicity' in the skin, leading to pigment addiction. Specialist Cho Ae-kyung defined pigment addiction as "a state of falling into a vicious cycle where the skin gradually becomes darker by repeatedly performing the action of producing pigment."

When drug ingredients circulate through the blood and lie dormant in the skin pigment, they generate reactive oxygen species upon meeting ultraviolet (UV) rays, which accelerates the production of melanin pigment. Regarding the phenomenon that occurs when the skin is exposed to high temperatures for a long time, specialist Lee Kwang-kyun explained, "Melanocytes perceive that the skin is under attack and produce more pigment," adding, "If such stimulation is repeated, the skin can enter a state of pigment addiction where it produces pigment on its own."

Summer 'Thermal Aging' and the Day-and-Night Melanin Factory

Summer climate characteristics also exacerbate pigmentation issues. Specialist Cho Ae-kyung cited 'photoaging' and 'thermal aging' as representative causes that fuel freckles. In summer, not only are the days longer, but temperatures do not easily drop even at night, causing the pigment production factory inside the skin to operate day and night, accelerating the aging process.

As the process of the skin being attacked by heat is repeated, the activity of melanocytes becomes even more vigorous. This thermal aging phenomenon, combined with the summer environment where temperatures do not easily decrease, continuously stimulates the pigment production mechanism.

Smartphone Blue Light Can Leave 'Tattoo-like Pigmentation'

In addition to UV rays, blue light emitted from smartphones and monitors is also a cause for concern. Blue light continuously stimulates the melanin system.

Specialist Lee Kwang-kyun explained the danger of blue light through an analogy. While color changes caused by UV rays are at the level of temporary tanning, blue light penetrates deep into the skin, creating pigment that lasts a long time, much like a 'tattoo.' In particular, exposure to blue light late into the night can continuously stimulate the melanin system, causing freckles that last longer than those caused by UV rays.