Acquired hyperpigmentation is always difficult to diagnose and more difficult to treat satisfactorily. There are many conditions which need to be considered before making a diagnosis of acquired macular hyperpigmentation like erythema dyschromicum perstans, lichen planus pigmentosus, macular amyloidosis, tar and frictional melanosis, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, Berloque dermatitis, Riehl's melanosis and drugs and chemicals.