Final answer:
Dark blotches on the skin caused by sun exposure or hormonal imbalances are known as hyperpigmentation. Conditions such as Addison's disease, pregnancy-related chloasma, or liver disease can also affect skin color. Excessive sun exposure can cause skin damage, leading to wrinkles and increasing the risk of skin cancer.
Step-by-step explanation:
What are Dark Blotches on the Skin?
Dark blotches on the skin caused by sun exposure or hormonal imbalances are commonly referred to as hyperpigmentation.
This uneven skin coloration can result from various conditions, such as the presence of freckles and moles, which are caused by the irregular accumulation of melanocytes.
Conditions like Addison's disease and liver disease can also cause changes in skin pigmentation.
Moreover, during pregnancy, many women experience chloasma, also known as the "mask of pregnancy," which presents as blotchy brown patches on the face due to hormonal changes.
Prolonged or excessive sun exposure can damage skin cells and lead to premature wrinkling, DNA damage, and an increased risk of skin cancer.
Moles, although mostly benign, ought to be monitored for cancerous changes.
In other cases, the change in skin coloration might indicate other systemic diseases, such as liver disease leading to jaundice or pituitary gland tumors causing skin darkening due to increased melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH) secretion.