Sun, hormonal changes and age, causing spots on the skin

Year after year, with the arrival of summer, we see annoying and unsightly spots appear more frequently on the skin. But what exactly are they?

These spots are also known as cutaneous dyschromias and indicate a variation as well as an alteration of the normal color of the skin. They are usually caused by many factors, for this reason, it is always important to perform an analysis to assess the type of personal problem that this skin discoloration can cause. In general, the deeper the spots are compared to the surface layer of the skin, the more care will be required for the skin.

 

Causes of skin blemishes and hyperpigmentation

• The causes can be many, the simplest and most common being prolonged exposure to the sun , which can lead to the appearance of freckles or dark , lenticular spots , which can be caused by sunburn.
• Another cause that is quite common is melasma gravidarum , that is, the appearance of spots during pregnancy or breastfeeding . The main cause is hormonal, since melanocytes (cells that produce melanin) are induced to change during pregnancy, just as the woman’s body changes during the nine months. They are usually located on the forehead and cheeks or around the lips.
• Even the use of medications , such as antibiotics or birth control pills, can sensitize the skin, increasing the possibility of sun spots. In addition, the small dark spots on the skin can also appear with age.

 

How to prevent them?

It is important to use adequate protection before sun exposure, taking into account the type of each skin (SPF 30 protection is recommended for everyone). Another practical help is provided by nature, with antioxidant products that prevent damage induced by oxidative stress and exhibit excellent anti-inflammatory properties. The main elements available to us to help combat this reaction are: Vitamin E (a vitamin found in many vegetable oils, such as olive oil and wheat germ oil, or coconut oil), vitamin C, derived from green tea and alpha lipoic acid (which we can find in some foods such as spinach, broccoli, peas, bran and meat).

 

How to remove them?

For most spots the most common solution is the Q-switched laser : it is a type of laser that is also used to remove tattoos. This laser emits very short pulses of light, what this light will do is selectively attack the accumulation of melanin on the surface, without damaging the rest of the epidermis. It is very useful for removing stains on the back of the hands, for example, although it is not indicated for the treatment of melasma. Other types of lasers are:

• The non-ablative fractional laser : This laser uses a different mechanism than the previous one (Palomar 1540). Helps eliminate melasma gravidarum formations. Without damaging the superficial layer of the epidermis, the laser light creates some micro-cylinders in the skin that generate a stimulus through a very intense renewal process, which alters the accumulation of melanin that forms the spot.
• The light pulsed high intensity : helps to work the upper layers of melanin that causes melasma. Its use is also ideal for removing stains caused by the sun. The system that uses this technique is the Emax-Syneron .
• Fractional Radiofrequency : It is used to treat not only blemishes, but also skin imperfections, it produces a slight superficial exfoliation and an improvement in appearance (Matrix-RF-Syneron).
• Another method used to treat this problem is chemical peeling , performed with the help of scrubs applied in several sessions. Depending on the type of stain or skin, there are different treatments :
  • Trichloroacetic acid for medium or high level stains.
  • Glycolic acid for superficial spots or freckles.
  • Jessner’s solution for mixed, medium or superficial melasma.
  • Mandelic acid to brighten facial skin tone (can also be used in the summer season).