“Youth is the gift of nature, but age is a work of art.”
Stanislaw Lec
With the passage of time, creases and bigger, darker spots start appearing in the face. It is the time when it literally takes lots of work to maintain that once-bestowed-gift-of-nature. The age spots (as the darker spots are called) reflected on our skin casts a tired and old look. Hence, many want to remove them for aesthetic reasons. But do you know the best way to remove age spots? Stay tuned with us and you will discover all the basics on age spots and their eradication treatments.
Spotting, A mark of Time or More Than That?
Age spots having the alias name of liver spots also, are brown or black flat marks that appear on various parts of the body. They appear frequently in the face, neck and back of the hands, whereas, in some people, they also appear on the shoulders, back and feet. Likewise, they can be of different sizes. These spots can be observed after 50 years but in some patients, they make an early debut. They are related to excessive exposure to UV rays and although in most cases they are harmless, it is necessary to perform a medical examination to rule out the cancer cells.
Certainly, discolouration on the face, neck or hands is very common, especially in the middle-aged women. To understand this phenomenon, we must talk about melanin, the pigment that gives colour to the skin. When melanin is in contact with the sun, its production is increased to a greater extent. This in order to protect the inner layers of the skin from the harmful UV rays, thus, generating age spots in the process. The same happens when lamps or tanning beds are used for a long time.
Other factors that might contribute to the appearance of spots are chronic diseases, ageing and inadequate or deficient nutrition.
A list of the number of factors that cause hyperpigmentation:
- Certain unsuitable medications.
- Sequelae of infections.
- Sudden trauma.
- Inflammatory diseases such as acne.
- Waxing or shaving.
- Hyper allergy.
- The genetic predisposition.
- Autoimmune and endocrine diseases.
- The dermabrasions or peels done without taking the necessary precautions.
- Cosmetics, like perfumes.
The causes mentioned are exacerbated by the incidence of the sun.
Understanding the Origin of Age Spots:
- Individuals with darker skins are more prone to staining than the light-skinned people, especially if they have excess sun exposure.
- With the passage of time, more spots appear, and the existing ones are accentuated, making it increasingly difficult to erase.
- Hyperpigmentation appears more frequently in the areas that are more exposed to the sun like face, hands and neckline. More spots are seen in the areas where there was excess sun once such as, on the shoulders or back. These are places where there may have been some kind of burn and over the years, age spots cover that area.
- The regions that are commonly bare to the sun have a melanocyte density (dark pigment called melanin producing tendency) up to twice as high.
- Melanocytes are also found in the dermis (second layer of the skin), a difficult place to reach with peelings and depigmenting creams.
- All the procedures to eliminate hyperpigmentation can begin in the fall and should end at the latest in the month of October.
- After all the procedures to remove stains, from the softest to the most aggressive, you should use at least a factor of sun protection SPF 50+ and replace it several times a day and of course, shelter yourself from the direct exposure to the sun.
Available Cosmetic Treatments:
Sun protection:
It is the number one treatment against age spots. A broad-spectrum sunscreen should be applied every day of the year, even when it is cloudy because the rays have the ability to pierce the skin.
Application of products with key active ingredients:
The most trusted and effective treatment against age spots or hyperpigmentation are hydroquinone and retinoic acid. But mixtures made with glycolic or mandelic acids are also used in such skin treatments. Other depigmenting agents that can be used are kojic acid, azelaic acid, ascorbic acid (vitamin C) or phytic acid. These acids are formulated in creams that can be used in the home, but only after consulting a licenced practitioner.
Peelings:
Skin peels really help in undermining this skin condition. It consists of the use of different chemical substances: mandelic, glycolic and retinoic acids, among others. With chemical skin peels, the upper pigmented layer is retrieved to reveal a fresh and even-toned skin beneath.
Microdermabrasion with a diamond tip:
Microdermabrasion is a very effective means to get rid of hyperpigmentation. In Microdermabrasion, an exfoliation is carried out through microcrystals of aluminium oxide along with a microdermabrasion wand and vacuum suction. This extracts the most superficial dead cells of the skin to display a smooth, rejuvenated skin. Microdermabrasion improves tone, texture and promotes cell regeneration.
Fractional Laser:
To treat the skins with clear spots or with melasma, the Fraxel laser treatment is a very expedient and effective one. It consists of a laser beam that fragments the pigment into much smaller particles, allowing it to be removed naturally. The method is very active and achieves remarkable results in 4 or 6 sessions of the treatment.
All the mentioned procedures must be carried out when the radiation from the sun is not high and most importantly, the person should be protected with sunscreens, at least 50+ after the treatment procedures are done. Even after all the spots and stains are erased, they can return to some extent with sun exposure. For this reason, it is so important to carry out the correct treatments and to shield oneself properly from the sun and unbearable heat.
To know further about the treatment procedures for age spot removal, contact us at admin@nitai.com.au.
