Sunspots: what is the right treatment for sunburn on the face and body?
There is really no doubt about this: even, blemish-free skin is younger and more beautiful skin! Find out all about sunspots and learn the importance of prevention: when you expose yourself to the sun, always use a good sunscreen to avoid the appearance of new spots. And if you want to fight aging, take advice, indeed 7! Watch the video and discover the best anti-aging strategies to rediscover yourself younger!
Sunspots: the causes of this imperfection
These patches are not regular in shape; range from a few millimeters to a few centimeters. These imperfections, very annoying for women above all, appear in the areas that have been most exposed to sunlight since their youth, face, neckline, shoulders, back of the hands forearms, especially when not so frequent use of protective creams was made broad spectrum like today. Ultraviolet rays act on melanogenesis, which stimulates the production of melanin and the manifestation of solar lentigos, especially in people over 60, both men and women. But they can also appear on the skin of the forties, especially after many sun burns. Sunspots are therefore mainly due to the action of ultraviolet rays. It is an alteration of the skin's pigments, a discoloration that is mainly concentrated on the skin of the face. One of the causes is the malfunction of the melanin-producing cells, called melanocytes. Melanin protects the skin from ultraviolet rays and when its production is homogeneous, it makes us tan evenly. If, when the tan goes away, brown or dark imperfections remain, it means that the melanocytes are not working as they should. In addition to the sun's rays, other genetic and hormonal causes also affect the appearance of sunspots. These lentigos are also called senile, as they increase over the years due to skin photo-aging.
Melasma and seborrheic keratosis: difference with solar lentigos
Melasma is a "hyperpigmentation that occurs mainly in women of childbearing age. While solar lentigos are limited, melasma (or mask of pregnancy) diffuses the central part of the face, forehead, nose, upper lip, chin with irregular patches. , cheeks, ears. The causes of this phenomenon are not well known, but it is often found in the case of pregnancy, when estrogen is used, when taking birth control pills, due to the action of hormones on the increase of melanin, which it is the pigment that colors the skin. After 50/60 years of age, 'seborrheic keratoses' are more common, which are raised like warts and not flat like solar lentigos. However, they can also arise as lentigo and then become scab-like Their color is varied, from flesh to brown in various shades.These are benign hyperplasias that can occur on the trunk or face.
They are rather unsightly dyschromias and those who suffer from them try to get rid of them with various treatments.
Sunspots on the face: lightening creams and peeling to eliminate them
The treatments against sunspots are varied. They depend on the type of stain and its depth and therefore only a trusted dermatologist will be able to suggest the best technique depending on the case. It is possible to intervene to eliminate solar lentigos, melasma and seborrheic keratoses with depigmenting or lightening products, but if they are too deep it is necessary to resort to chemical peels, cryotherapy, laser therapy, dermabrasion, diathermocoagulation. There are anti-blemish creams and correctors based on B-Resorcinol with concentrates designed to even out the complexion or with Acid and Glycyrrhetin, which repairs damage caused by ultraviolet rays. With this treatment positive improvements are noticed already after the first 15 days, although it is good to continue the treatment for a few months, to obtain more significant results. There are also other substances such as hydroquinone, which require a medical prescription. Among the natural remedies there are also substances that lighten the skin without chemical components, lactic acid and citric acid (which, however, is more aggressive). To carry out the peeling (from to peel: peel), chemical agents are applied for a few minutes to remove the surface layer of the skin, to regenerate it. The most used peels for the treatment of solar lentigo are those based on glycolic or retinoic acid, which are applied only on the lentigo and not on the surrounding skin. The application can cause burning and redness, but only for a few days. If the skin is inflamed or if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, you do not need to perform the peeling.
Furthermore, you must not expose yourself to the sun or UV lamps for the duration of the treatment. Peeling must be done by a skilled specialist, otherwise you run the risk of worsening the situation with residual scars or making the stain even more noticeable.
Sunspots: cryotherapy and laser therapy
For cryotherapy, liquid nitrogen at -196 ° is used, which causes a cold burn on the lentigo area. Immediately a little redness appears, then a bubble and then a crust, which disappears together with the sunspot after about ten days. With this treatment, even seborrheic keratoses are easily eliminated. To eliminate sun spots and seborrheic keratoses, the high-power Q-Switched laser can be used, but for a short period of time, and the CO2 laser that vaporizes the water content of the cells. Both do not damage the tissue surrounding the stain. Often it takes several sessions, if the spot is large, and usually occurs within the next day edema, redness and scabs which disappear fairly quickly.
Diathermocoagulation is used to remove sun spots and seborrheic keratoses through an electric scalpel. Also in this case, as for cryotherapy, it is normal for redness, swelling and scabs to appear in the next 24 hours, however completely reversible effects. The diathermocoagulator is an electric scalpel used for the removal of solar lentigos and seborrheic keratoses. The scalpel generates radio waves that burn the stain, causing the water molecules contained in the cells to vibrate. Local anesthesia is needed for this treatment. Sensations of pain, dermatitis and scabs may occur in the treated area, which are eliminated autonomously within 7 days. Dermabrasion is the mechanical removal of the first layer of the skin, in order to make it smooth and homogeneous. It is usually used for acne scars or superficial wrinkles. It can also be used for solar lentigos, although specialists usually prefer to use other treatments.
