PIGMENTATION AND SUNTAN WHAT IS PIGMENTATION? Color of the skin and hair is determined by the presence of melanin, the brown pigment that is produced in the cells called Melanocytes. When an excess of melanin forms in the skin, patches of skin become darker than the normal surrounding skin. This condition is called Hyperpigmentation. It can result in freckles, melasma, sunspots, post inflammatory hyperpigmentation etc.