Hyperpigmentation - Those Ugly Brown Spots!
What causes these skin discolorations and more importantly, what gets rid of the ugly brown spots that make us look old?
The brown spots we get on our skin happen from an irregular distribution of melanin. Either this can result in melasma, which is an uneven production of melanocytes causing light brown spots; or in lentigos (age spots) which are an uneven accumulation of melanocytes in the epidermis resulting in brown spots.
The melanocyte cells are located in the basal cell skin layer. These cells control the making of melanin, which gives each person their coloring. The rate of melanin production differs between each person being greater in dark skinned individuals.
Outside factors also affect the production of melanin, which may cause brown spots:
- Sun exposure
- Certain medications & chemicals
- Hormones – pregnancy, menopause, birth control pills
- Underlying health problems – nervous disorders
- Acne
Melasma produces irregular, pale brown blotches that usually appear on the nose, cheeks, forehead, and upper chest. On darker skin, the blotches show up lighter than the surrounding skin.
Melasma is common during pregnancy, menopause and in woman taking oral contraceptives. Sun exposure will make the brown spots worse.
Lentigos, also known as age or liver 
spots, are flat, light reddish-brown spots that appear on the face, throat, chest, back of hands, upper back and shoulders. Lentigos typically show up on skin, which is repeatedly exposed to sunlight. The ultraviolet sunlight causes overstimulation of the melanocyte cells in the skin. The cells clump together and show up as age spots.
Lentigos spots can vary in size from small to a couple of inches in width. They happen more often on light-skinned people and can start to be noticeable as early as the age of 30.
Even though both of these melanin-produced spots are harmless, they are unattractive to most people. So what gets rid of them?
The treatment options for erasing brown spots are-
Over the counter products include:
Bleaching (depigmenting) products which include-
Hydroquinone (use only on fair to light skin tones – possibly irritating)
Kojic Acid (an alternative for darker skin tones)
Azelaic Acid
Arbutin
Ellagic Acid
Retinoids (Retinoic Acid)
Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)
Alpha Hydroxy Acids
Other ingredients with skin lightening effects:
Bearberry Extract
Licorice Extract
Mulberry Extract
Treatments available through a professional:
Laser Treatments (less damaging to skin)
Chemical Face Peels (irritating but faster than over the counter products)
Freezing the area with liquid nitrogen (may cause white spots)
Bleaching products work by inhibiting the production of the enzyme tyrosinase, which in turn reduces melanin. Using a bleaching product will fade brown spots. Depending on how strong the active ingredient is, it can take from 6 weeks to 6 months to fade out the spots.
Since these products are not really bleaching your skin, but stopping the over production of melanin; bleaching products will not lighten skin beyond its’ own natural color. So do not worry about losing your natural skin color.
Retinoids, Vitamin C, and Alpha Hydroxy Acids can slowly fade brown spots on their own. However, they are best used in conjunction with bleaching products since they will boost the overall effectiveness of the treatment.
So if you do not wish to seek professional help, here is what you need to do to fade your brown spots:
fair to light/medium skin can use hydroquinone
medium/ darker skin should use kojic acid, arbutin, azeliac acid, ellegic acid
sensitive skin should use hydroquinone with caution - test skin first
2) If you wish, you may speed up results by adding an AHA or BHA to your regime. This will help exfoliate the pigmented skin cells fading the spot quicker.
3) Adding Vitamin C and a retinoid product will also hasten your results, BUT all these products used together may cause skin irritation. Consider starting with a bleaching product for a week, then start to add in the other products week by week. This will allow your skin to adjust and cause less irritation.
4) Apply products in this order:
Vitamin C serum (apply morning and night)
Bleaching Product (apply morning and night - make sure to cover the area completely)
AHA or BHA (apply morning only)
Retinoid (apply night only)
Sunscreen (apply morning and as needed)
If you are not using all these products, just leave out what you are not using and apply the rest as shown.
Always use adequate sun protection when using any of these ingredients.
Your skin will be extra sensitive to the sun. In addition, if you are using a hydroquinone product, it will be rendered useless if you do not use sunscreen.
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2 comments:
this is really very fine post. and more knowledge providing than the last one for which I commented recently Thanks for writing such beautiful and valuable post. Overall all the post in this blog are best source about the skin care. Spots on the skin are either white or brown in all the condition melanocytes cells are the key player because these are the cells which are responsibe for the skin coloration. Because I recently read about the skin condition causing white spots, in all the these skin disease the envolvement of these cells are clear.
A good diet with rich of proteins and vitamins is also essential for skin care. So, always include fresh fruits, green leafy vegetables in your diet. dermatology laser
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