Brown spots on the skin: Discovering their causes, impressions and solutions
The appearance of brown spots on the skin can be a cause of aesthetic concern for many people. However, the most important thing to treat them effectively is to obtain a correct diagnosis from a dermatologist since there are many types of brown spots and each of them has a different treatment. In this article, we delve into the world of brown spots, exploring the most common ones, their causes and the most effective ways to treat them. Always remembering that a proper diagnosis should always be the first step in fighting them, and the safest because most brown spots are not a cause for concern but diseases that require medical treatment must be ruled out.
What are brown spots on the face?
The most common brown spots are solar lentigines (age spots caused by the sun or liver spots) and melasma (hormonal spots). They differ in that the former are small circular areas of the skin with a higher concentration of pigment, known like melanin, which appear in men and women. Their color can vary from lighter shades to a dark brown, and their size and shape can also vary. And the second is more extensive and has poorly defined edges. They appear mainly in young women, often during pregnancy, while taking contraceptives or during menopause, and the most common areas are the cheekbones, forehead and lip area. superior.
These spots have in common that one of their causes is sun exposure and they are more common in areas of the skin that are exposed to the sun, such as the face, hands and arms.
What are the types of brown spots?
The most common are solar lentigines and melasma, but they can also be simply freckles, moles, café-au-lait spots, post-acne marks or post-inflammatory pigmentation, infections, fungi, skin cancer, etc.
For what reasons do brown spots appear on the skin?
Brown spots on the skin can be caused by a variety of factors, including:
-
Sun exposure: The most common cause shared by many types of brown spots on the skin is exposure to solar radiation. The sun's rays stimulate the production of melanin in the skin, which can lead to the appearance of different types of brown spots.
-
Aging: As we age, melanin production in our skin can become more irregular, which can result in brown spots. This is particularly common in people over 40 or 50 years old.
-
Genetics: Some people may have a genetic predisposition to developing brown spots on their skin.
-
Hormonal changes: Mainly in women, hormonal changes such as those that occur during pregnancy, menopause, or as a result of taking oral contraceptives, can cause an increase in melanin production, giving rise to brown spots.
- Pollution: Pollution deteriorates the skin barrier, its microbiota and causes oxidative stress, which causes the appearance of spots, wrinkles, sagging and inflammatory skin diseases.
How to prevent the appearance of brown spots?
Prevention is a crucial component in managing brown spots. Here are some tips to prevent the appearance of these stains:
-
Solar protection: The most effective way to prevent brown spots is to limit sun exposure and use broad-spectrum sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30. Remember to reapply it every two hours and after swimming or sweating. In this factor, parents have an important mission. The spots are usually from the sun we have taken 30 years ago. If we want to prevent stains on our children, we must protect them from the sun effectively.
-
Skin care: Keep your skin hydrated and nourished. Use products that contain antioxidant ingredients such as vitamin C , E and niacinamide, which can help protect the skin from damage caused by free radicals. Also treatments with Retinol , kojic and glycolic acid are very effective in lightening brown spots and achieving a more even skin tone.
- Dermatological treatments: There are countless laser treatments and powerful depigmentants that can go further and resolve each and every brown spot. Although the treatment is different depending on the diagnosis, there is a solution for each type of stain. If you are concerned about brown spots, in addition to maintaining a cosmetic routine, we encourage you to consult with a dermatologist.
How do you remove brown spots from your face?
With cosmetic treatments we manage to minimize them and maintain a more uniform tone throughout the face. But if you want to eliminate it completely and rule out possible skin diseases, our advice is to consult a dermatologist. And of course, insist on forum protection, which is essential to improve the appearance of brown spots.
During any treatment to eliminate or tone down brown spots, it is essential to insist on photoprotection because the skin has memory and if it cannot be protected from the sun, the spots will reappear after treatment.
Conclusion
Although brown spots are generally harmless, it is always advisable to consult a dermatologist. According to the advice of the dermatologist, and taking into account the type of stain, the treatments to resolve it range from:
At Method R, we believe in the slow-aging concept for skin care. We do not promise to stop the passage of time, but we do promise to help you achieve the best version of your skin. Through proven cosmetic active ingredients and technological advances in drug-delivery, we offer you an honest and effective skin care routine that can help you achieve healthy, luminous and even-toned skin. But our priority is health and for that reason, we advise from humility and insist on a skin diagnosis by a dermatologist when dealing with consultations that influence health issues.
Welcome to the era of slow aging!