Help! Skin discoloration on back and torso?

[jessicaf]

Hello,

I've had a strange discoloration on my back and chest area for a couple years now. I know that I didn't used to have it but am not quite sure when it started developing. I believe sometime around mid-high school? (I am now on my last stretch of college.) It pretty much looks like my upper back is a lighter color, blots out to a darker color, and then returns to the lighter color on my lower back. I have the same problem with my chest area being the lighter color and blotting out to a dark tone on my stomach.

It's never caused any physical problems for me other then being aesthetically unappealing, so I have never sought out a probable cause, diagnosis, or treatment for it. Now living in a beach town, I'd like to rid of it if possible. Any thoughts? Thanks in advance!

Photo of back in regular lighting:
Photo on 2012-08-16 at 13.12.jpg

Photo of back with higher contrast for easier viewing:
Photo on 2012-08-16 at 13.12a.jpg

[withavision]

Do you use tanning beds?

Pending this is not some sort of yeast or fungal problem, and is in fact a pigmentation issue then it certainly is in a tough spot for you to treat.

I would suggest looking into a few bath soak recipes that work to even out your skin tone. This will be the easiest way to deal with the affected area, I believe. It will take some patience, but gradually with time should begin to even out.