Sun Damage, Age Spots & Dark Spots

The sun is the number one cause of signs of aging, wrinkles, brown spots, dull skin and cancer. Over 90% of all visible changes to the skin typically attributed to aging are actually caused by sun exposure.

A major source dark spots, often called age spots, are caused from sun exposure not as a direct result of age. To make matters worse, sun damage is cumulative. The older you get, the more sun damage you accumulate. Sun damage can manifest on the skin 20-30 years down the line.

We all know that excessive sun exposure is bad for your health - the 'healthy glow' people seek every summer contributes to the long-term damage of your skin. However, studies have proven that sun exposure also makes you look older.  A 2006 study conducted  by Proctor & Gamble showed that skin tone can affect a person's perceived age by as much as 20 years. Sun exposure causes photo-aging, the deterioration of the skin from harmful UV rays.

Sun exposure causes photo-aging, the deterioration of the skin from harmful UV rays. The effects of sun damage include:

• Dark Spots or a blotchy, mottled complexion
• Premature Lines and Wrinkles
• Telangiectasias, the dilation of blood vessels under the skin, or broken capillaries
• Elastosis, the deterioration of collagen and elastin that causes the skin to sag
• Thinning Skin and Changes in Skin Texture
• Pre-cancerous and cancerous skin lesions

These dark spots, sometimes called age spots, liver spots, sun spots, lentigines or solar lentigio, can vary in size and color; Often freckle to quarter-sized, and a light tan to dark brown in color. Dark spots are most common on the face, hands, chest and shoulders, but they can occur anywhere that is exposed to UV light.

When skin is exposed to UV light, melanin is produced by specialized cells called melanocytes. The production of melanin is the body's defense against sun damage - melanin is able to disperse about 99.9% of absorbed UV radiation.  In some areas of the skin, the concentration of cells may vary - dense amounts of cells can create melanin “deposits,” causing dark spots. As we age, our cells become less diffuse and this defense mechanism becomes less effective, so dark spots become a more frequent occurrence.

Thankfully, there are ways to counteract the signs of aging caused by sun damage. Lightening creams, advanced skin care and Med Spa services such as IPL photo facials, microdermabrasion, chemical peels and high frequency treatments can help rejuvenate the skin.

Next, will discuss these treatments in depth and explain how they can help sun damaged skin.  Until then, don't forget to wear your sun screen!

How to Treat Melasma

 Melasma is a difficult form of hyperpigmentation treat. The factors that trigger melasma, such as hormones, sun exposure and genetics, are a part of life and as such, difficult to control. Once melasma is triggered, the smallest amount of UV exposure or hormonal change is enough to cause melasma to darken, or even return after successful treatment.

Due to it's stubborn nature, Melasma is treated slightly differently than hyperpigmentation from sun damage or post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. The three types of melasma (dermal, epidermal and mixed) all respond to treatment differently.

The three factors in treating all melasma cases are:

• The right professional treatment option, ie: laser, Ipl Photofacial 

                                                    •Skin Lightening Creams

                                                    •Sun Protection

                                                    •Time 

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Skin Lightening Creams - The most effective treatments for melasma are lightening, or bleaching creams.  Lightening creams, or bleaching creams work to increase cell turnover and inhibit melanin production. When using lightening creams, the skin will peel and start to slough of the dead skin for a brighter, more even skin tone. One of the most effective lightening agents is hydroquinone, a bleaching agent that is available at concentrations up to 2% over the counter and concentrations much higher with prescription. Hydroquinone doesn't actually bleach the skin, but slows down or stops the overproduction of melanin. Other effective lightening agents are Azelaic acid, Kojic Acid, Alpha Hydroxy Acids, and Tretinoin. For more information on Skin Lightening Creams & Treatment visit here.

Other treatment options include exfoliation. Both physical and chemical exfoliation can help reduce the appearance of melasma. Microdermabrasion and chemical peels both exfoliate the skin to increase cell turnover and speed the transit of dark pigmentation out of the skin. Chemical peels initiate the process of removing the first few layers of skin - improving overall texture and skin clarity while helping lift dark patches in the skin. Exfoliation also helps prep the skin for skin lightening treatments and allows products to absorb better. Microdermabrasion and chemical peels must be performed by a professional. If the skin reacts poorly to treatment, the melasma could darken.

Sun Protection - As with all skin lightening treatments, diligent sun protection use is a must. Sun exposure will cause melasma to worsen and cause faded cases of melasma to return. This is because melanocytes, the cells responsible for pigmentation, are stimulated by even the smallest amount of UV exposure. This is why melasma often gets worse during the summer, and why people tend to have recurring cases of melasma. Skin lighteners can also increase skin sensitivity and cause it to burn more easily. Sun protection is necessary to start the fading process and to keep the melasma from returning.

Time - Melasma treatment requires commitment. Sun protection and lightening products need to be used faithfully to see results. Melasma pigmentation forms gradually and it fades as such, so it may take months to completely fade. It's important not to over-treat melasma or cause unnecessary irritation, as inflammation can stimulate melanin production and worsen the existing melasma.

Melasma can be difficult to treat because the discoloration is generally caused by a underlying hormonal imbalance. Without treating the imbalance, the pigmentation will keep returning. In some cases, melasma will fade on its own - generally after the hormonal imbalance has been restored. For example, pregnancy induced melasma generally clears up several months after delivery.

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What causes Melasma, Hyperpigmentation or Dark Spots?

Hyperpigmentation, or dark spots, can be triggered by several different factors. While sun exposure is a major cause, other issues like hormonal changes and acne can lead to hyperpigmentation.

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Melasma is a type of hyperpigmentation that is linked to hormonal changes. Melasma is characterized by dark, irregular discoloration ranging in size from freckles to large patches. These dark spots are usually found on the upper cheeks, upper lip, forehead and nose. Melasma very common in pregnant women, in fact its often called ‘the mask of pregnancy.”

Hormone shifts triggered by birth control pills, pregnancy, thyroid conditions and menopause are the most common causes of melasma. Hormonal changes can cause melanin production to spike. Melasma is thought to occur when melanocytes, the cells that produce melanin, are stimulated by female hormones such as estrogen and progesterone. This hormonal stimulation causes melanin to produce more pigments when exposed to sunlight. 

Both men and women can develop melasma, however its much more common in women.  Some people may be genetically predisposed to developing melasma. People with darker skin such as African, African American, Asian, Indian, Latin/Hispanic, Mediterranean and Middle Eastern descent are more prone to hyperpigmentation and melasma. This is because the melanocytes are more active in darker skin tones. 

There are three types of melasma:

• Epidermal melasma
• occurs in superficial layers of the skin
• well-defined borders
• typically dark brown in color
• responds very well to treatment
• Dermal melasma 
• occurs in deeper layers of the skin
• undefined borders
• light brown or blueish in color
• Mixed melasma 
• a combination of epidermal and dermal melasma
• most common type of melasma
• mix of light brown, dark brown and blueish in color 

All cases of melasma start out in the epidermis, the outermost layer of skin. Dermal melasma occurs when the affected cells are inflamed or over irritated. Inflammation can cause a temporary split between the dermis and epidermis allowing cells from melasma drop from the epidermis into the dermis. Once in the dermis, melasma is very difficult to treat because the cells become resistant to topical treatments.

 

What is hyperpigmentation or Dark Spots?

Hyperpigmentation is a condition where small patches of skin become darker in tone than the rest of the body. Hyper pigmentation is caused by excess production of melanin - the natural pigment that gives our skin, hair and eyes pigmentation.

Melanin is produced by specialized cells called melanocytes and is stimulated by UV light. When skin is exposed to sunlight, melanin is able to disperse over 99.9% of the absorbed UV radiation causing the skin to tan and protecting the skin cells from damage. In some areas of the skin, the concentration of cells may vary - dense amounts of cells can create melanin “deposits,” causing dark spots. As we age, our cells become less diffuse and our skin becomes more susceptible to dark spots.

The biggest defense against hyper pigmentation is sunscreen. Because dark spots are generally caused by a reaction to the sun, sunscreen is going to help minimize that stimulation of melanocytes - preventing new spots and inhibiting existing dark spots from getting darker.