Mar 14, 2020 Dr. Preeti Talwar Skincare
It’s everyone’s dream to have flawless and blemish-free skin. Some women and men develop dark spots or discolored patches on the skin’s surface due to factors like sunburn, pregnancy, or stress. These dark spots or sun spots are prominent than freckles and are scattered all over the skin. It could also be a sign of an underlying disease that a doctor needs to analyze.
Formation of Dark Spots
- Melanin pigment gives color to our skin and also prevents the skin from harmful UVA/UVB rays. But sometimes overproduction of this melanin pigment due to acne, post-acne blemishes, insulin resistance, genetics, menopause, sun exposure, hormonal changes during pregnancy, stress, or frequent use of birth control pills and hair dyes may result in hyperpigmentation.
- Hyperpigmentation or dark, discolored patches become difficult to treat if the root cause remains unknown. Women are more prone to it than men. They may affect the face, arms, and legs and will get worse if not treated in time.
It is common for people with dark skin types to be more prone to post-traumatic hyperpigmentation.
Finding The Root Cause
If one fails to find the root cause, then treatment becomes ineffective. Whether it is the sun, a trauma, or hormones that are causing these problems, the approach of treatment would be different in each case.
Prevention of Dark Spots
- Avoid sun exposure– Use a sunblock having at least 30 SPF or higher twice (between 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.) daily to protect the skin against sun damage.
- Use broad-spectrum sunscreen– Apply an SPF containing strong UVA/UVB filters. The sunscreen should be applied 15 minutes before going out in the sun and reapplied after every 2 hours. This should be a part of the daily skin care regimen to prevent sun damage.
- Avoid touching the face too much– Don’t try to pop those irritating zits. If they are touched or squeezed, they can leave deep scars or blemishes on the skin. Also, avoid touching the face with hands or a handphone so that bacteria doesn’t spread over the face.
Types of Dark Spots
- Age spots– These are brown, tan, or black spots that appear on the skin due to sun overexposure. They appear commonly on hands, face, and sun-exposed regions of the body.
- Melasma or chloasma– These are large patches of darkened skin, occurring on the forehead, face, and stomach. It occurs in pregnant women or women who are on birth control pills or oral contraceptives.
- Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation– They occur in spots or patches after any inflammatory skin condition like acne or eczema. It appears on the face or neck and occurs mostly in people who have had an injury or inflammatory skin condition.
Treatment for Dark Spots
- Topical creams– Use topical creams that contain Hydroxy Quinone, Tretinoin, topical steroids, Alpha Hydroxy acid creams, azelaic acid, or Kojic acid during night and day along with a sunscreen. Antioxidants if given orally, can help in getting rid of dark spots.
- Chemical peels- If topical creams don’t work, use chemical peels, microdermabrasion, or fractional lasers in curing dark spots. This process is tedious and requires a large number of sittings but can prove to be more effective than OTC creams.
- Sunscreen– The best way to avoid dark spots is by applying sunscreen regularly to block UVA/UVB radiations. Moisturizers containing niacinamide are useful in treating sun overexposure, and Vitamin C serums help in treating hyperpigmentation.
Home Remedies
- Applying avocado juice on pigmented skin can help fade dark spots naturally
- Massaging cocoa butter on the affected skin twice a day for three weeks shows good results
- Evenly apply a mixture of honey with a few drops of lemon on the affected area. Keep for 10 minutes and rinse
- Raw potato juice gives your brighter skin tone in an instant
- Weekly application of green tea extract helps to lighten dark spots
- Aloe Vera gel extracted directly from the plant leaf reduces dark spots and acne scarring
Pimples or spots on your skin don’t define you. The moon has craters on it and is still admired by all. So love yourself and chill as nothing is as attractive as a big and heart-warming smile.