Tans are basically caused by excess melanin production in the skin after sun exposure. Forehead tans most often occur due to sunlight exposure. Although, there are several other factors responsible for forehead tans.
Dr Jushya Bhatia Sarin, through her Instagram reel, has explained three mysterious sources of forehead tans that most people don't know.
1. Continuous friction on forehead:
Continuous friction from wiping sweat from the forehead results in tanning. Tanning is a discoloration of the skin caused by sun exposure, and the friction from wiping sweat accelerates the tanning process.
2. Dye Deposition:
Sometimes, dye deposition occurs on the forehead while coloring your hair. This kind of tanning can be confused with sunburn but it disappears in a few days without any specific treatment.
3. Overweight:
There are times when your skin folds like underarms, inner thighs or groin, neck, and forehead become dark. It can be associated with a sedentary lifestyle and overweight. This can be a sign of some underlying disease.
Both show skin darkening as a common after-effect, but there are some existent differences between tanning & hyperpigmentation.
Cause: Hyperpigmentation has several causes including hormonal changes, genetics, poor diet, or an injury to the skin. However, tanning is mainly caused by sun exposure.
Clinical feature: Hyperpigmentation results in making your skin look patchy with uneven tone. However, tanning appears on a particular sun-exposed area only.
Conclusion:
Forehead tans do not always occur due to sun exposure. There are various other factors that are associated with forehead tans. Tans are often confused with hyperpigmentation, but the two are quite different.
References:
1. https://mamaearth.in/blog/what-is-tan-on-skin/
2. https://www.healthline.com/health/discolored-skin-patches
4. https://www.clearskin.in/guide/skin-tan/
MSM