Due to some reasons, melanin production in our body can exceed normal levels and cause irregular and excessive discoloration (hyperpigmentation) on the skin. The causes and factors of the spots on the skin as well as the types of spots can vary from person to person.
These dark spots, which are darker and more pronounced than normal skin color, do not threaten our lives, but cause a number of aesthetic cosmetic problems, and even seriously reduce the quality of life of many people and cause some psychological discomfort in the person. That is why it is necessary and important to treat skin spots.
Types of Skin Spots
We have emphasized that there are many causes of spots on our body, especially on our face. Some of these spots originate from birth, some in adolescence, some with aging, and some due to damage to our skin as a result of sun and external factors.
Sunspots: Especially when it is exposed to the sun for a long time without using sunscreen, the skin becomes thicker in order to protect itself, and melanin pigment production increases, so an increase in the formation of spots on the skin is observed.
Pregnancy Spots (Melasma): Although pregnancy spots are perceived as a type of spot that is seen only in women, it is a form of spotting that can also be seen in men. Hormonal changes during pregnancy, stress, psychological factors, or the hormonal effect of birth control pills used can lead to overproduction of melanin pigment. With the proliferation of melanin, the areas that are most exposed to the sun, sharp cheek, forehead and chin areas, may appear sharp, gestational spots may reappear in later pregnancy with genetic predisposition.
Freckles These spots seen on the cheek, nose, forehead and chin parts that are most exposed to the sun may be lighter or darker brown spots. Freckles that increase in spring and summer months when the weather is generally sunny decrease in the months when the sun shows less burning effect.
Fungal Diseases: Some fungal infections and fungal diseases can cause milky brown spots on the skin. These types of spotting, which develop during birth or early childhood, can sometimes be a symptom of other diseases (eg norofibromatosis).
Allergic Reactions: Some oral medications or some topical (regional) cream-based medications can cause hyperpigmentation. This type of spots, sometimes at the level of mild redness and allergic reaction, may sometimes lead to the formation of local spots.
Applications Used in the Treatment of Skin Spots
- Elimination of sun exposure
If the spots on the body have appeared due to the sun, the most effective method to be used in the treatment of spots is undoubtedly the use of sunscreens and staying out of the sun. However, the sunscreen we use should provide a high level of protection against both UVA and UVB (products with at least 45 protection factors should be preferred). Another point to be considered is the need to use the sunscreen not only on sunny days, but also in all seasons and at all hours of the day.
- Bleaching creams:Cream treatments do not remove all kinds of spots, but they help treatments like laser. There are many bleaching creams used for spot treatment. Instead of damaging melanocytes, these drugs work by reducing the pigment production of melanocytes.
- Chemical Peelings:Another method used in spot treatment is chemical peeling. Chemical peeling is a process for skin renewal, spot treatments, acne scars, and fine wrinkles removal in the face and neck area. The most commonly used substances in chemical peeling are Alpha-hydroxy acids (AHA), Beta-hydroxy acids (BHA), Jessner solution, and low concentration trichloroacetic acid (TCA). While some of these products have an effect on increasing skin peeling, some also stimulate collagen production and accelerate cell regeneration. The stained top layer of the skin that has lost its freshness and brightness is peeled off and a healthier and lively layer appears.
Laser Therapy: Lasers used in spot treatment are effective by peeling or destroying color cells (melanocytes).
Laser treatments can be used for the treatment of many spots. However, laser spot treatment is a process that requires extreme care and professionalism. In laser stain treatments performed by non-specialists, sometimes an increase occurs in stains or spots that reappear in a short time. Especially in fractional lasers, methods that overheat and peel the skin may have an adverse effect and increase the spots. In spot treatments, treatment should be done with as low doses as possible.
Mesotherapy: Injecting small amounts of antioxidant substances such as vitamin C, glutathione, tranexamic acid, pyruvic acid under the skin where the spotted area is in the treatment of stains can lighten the stain. Using mesotherapy in combination with other methods can increase the effectiveness of spot treatment.
PRP and Dermaroller: Any method that repairs the skin in the spot treatment can open the spots. Because the spot areas are actually areas with sun-damaged cells. PRP and dermaroller are two effective methods to repair the skin. These methods increase the effectiveness of spot treatments by applying them alone or in combination with spot lightening creams, laser and chemical peeling methods.
Although it is possible to get rid of the spots in a short time with the rapidly developing methods of the medical aesthetics sector, it is also very important and necessary to protect the skin that is free from spots. In case of direct exposure to the sun, the treated spots are more likely to return. As a result, it is important to protect your skin meticulously against the sun in order to prevent the spots from coming back and the emergence of new spots on your skin in general. For this reason, it is very important for the effectiveness of the treatment that the physician or clinical staff who performs the treatment after the spot treatments inform the people about the protection of their skin against the harmful effects of sunlight and to use the appropriate products in order not to face the spot problem again.