See Sun Spot, Run!

What are they?
 Solar lentigines, more commonly referred to as sunspots, age spots or liver spots, are lasting patches of discolored skin. These usually appear on the skin as brown or gray splotches and vary in size and shape. Sunspots tend to show up on parts of the body that are exposed to the sun most often, such as the face, hands, shoulders and chest. They are usually accompanied by other signs of sun damage, such as wrinkles and dry, thinning skin. Although sunspots usually develop on older people after years of sun exposure, young people can get them as well. With the rising trend of tanning beds, the early exposure to UV rays can sometimes cause skin to spot prematurely.

What causes them?

• Overexposure to UV rays from sunlight or tanning beds is the most common cause of sunspots. Fair-colored skin is more susceptible to sunspots than darker skin tones. UV rays cause the skin to increase melanin production, which is the pigment in hair, skin and eyes.
• Excessive melanin production can cause certain areas of the skin to become darker than the surrounding areas. Melanin is the tan color in the skin associated with sunbathing. The true purpose of melanin is to consume UV radiation and protect new cells in deeper layers of the skin, not to create an “attractive” appearance. Older skin is more prone to sunspots because it has a harder time clearing melanin from the system.
• Sun allergies may cause white spots to appear after sun exposure. These spots can be caused by sun, but may also develop due to exposure to other outdoor elements that agitate skin, such as fungus. Be mindful of these fungal infections that can cause these white spots, as they will likely spread to other parts of the body.
• Severe sunburns can also cause white spots to develop after the burn heals. The spots appear because the burn damaged the skin’s pigmentation.

 Should I be worried?

Except for the inherent cosmetic issue, sunspots are relatively harmless and are not a direct indication that you will get (or already have) skin cancer. However, having sunspots is an indication that the skin has been sufficiently damaged by the sun, which puts you at a greater risk for developing skin cancer. See your dermatologist yearly for a spot check to make sure your spots aren’t actually moles that can change into a cancerous lesion.

Treatments and remedies

• Applying aloe vera gel on affected areas twice daily can help heal sun-damaged skin. For best results, apply sooner rather than later.
• Medical creams containing corticosteroids may also help return the skin to its original state.
• Apply a slice of fresh lemon or lime directly onto the sunspots for 10-15 minutes daily. The acid helps in lightening the spots and removing dead skin cells. Results are usually seen after daily use for two or more weeks.
• Squeeze a used green tea bag onto a cotton ball and rub it over the spots. The tea contains antioxidants that can help skin repair itself.
• Break open a vitamin E capsule and apply the gel directly to the sunspots. The same vitamin E properties that can help fade scars will also help fade sunspots.
• Professional options are also available, such as laser resurfacing, chemical peels and cryotherapy.

Prevention

Protect your skin from the sun and UV damage by avoiding indoor tanning, staying out of direct sunlight as much as possible and wearing a hat or light-colored clothing outdoors.

If you have to be in the sun, use a broad-spectrum SPF 30 sunscreen.

Have any more questions? Leave them in the comments below or make an appointment  with Advanced Dermatology.

Skin of Many Colors

The skin is your body’s largest organ. For that reason, it’s usually fairly obvious when something is wrong with it. The color of the skin is particularly noticeable, as most people with healthy skin also have a healthy, even tone.

Skin discoloration can be caused by a variety of factors, but this post will address a few common ones, as well as when to see a doctor.

1.    How does the skin get its color?

The outer layer of skin, called the epidermis, has what is called melanocytes. Everyone has different levels of melanocytes, which determine how dark your skin will be. Darker skin has more active melanocytes.

When exposed to the sun, melanocytes produce a pigment called melanin. The melanin works to protect your skin against the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays, often resulting in your skin darkening. While many people consider the resulting tan as an advantage, remember that any change in the color of your skin means that it has been damaged in some way.

2.    Common causes of discoloration

Discoloration can be temporary, but rarely just happens. It’s almost always associated with some other (sometimes preventable) cause. Common causes for skin discoloration include:

• Side effects from medication
• Signs of aging
• Sun exposure/sunspots
• Genetics (birthmarks, melanocyte deficiency/albinism)
• Scars
• Stretch marks
• Skin growths (moles, skin tags)

Some of these causes – like sun exposure – are preventable. If you wear sunscreen of at least 30 SPF every day, you’ll be less likely to experience sunspots or other discolorations associated with ultraviolet rays.

3.    Types of discoloration

As mentioned above, discoloration can results from preventable factors or from genetic or other medical causes. There are a few common medical terms related to discoloration that you should know:

• Hyperpigmentation – This is when the skin is darker than normal. It usually results from an injury or scarring in darker-skinned people. Some people even get it as a result of blemishes. This is why it is important to take care of breakouts properly, as explained in a previous post.
• Hypopigmentation – This is when the skin is lighter than normal.
• Melasma – This is a term for skin discoloration that is often related to hormonal changes. It is sometimes called “the mask of pregnancy” due to the mask-like discoloration on the face that often occurs during the rapid hormone changes during pregnancy.
• Albinism – This is a medical term for a person without any melanin in their skin. It is a genetic condition resulting in very light skin, white or pale yellow hair and light eyes.
• Vitiligo – This is a disorder that creates smooth white spots with no pigment on the skin.

4.    Treating skin discoloration

How you should treat your skin discoloration depends on why you have it. There is no cure for albinism, for example, but some temporary discolorations can be treated.

• If the discoloration is recent and only in the top layers of skin, exfoliation may help.
• First, try a cleanser with glycolic or lactic acid. These types of cleansers are not abrasive, but will exfoliate gently.
• If you decide to try something beaded that will help remove layers of dead skin cells that may be discolored, be aware that if it’s too abrasive it could make the discoloration worse.
• Make sure to follow the tips in our blog post on exfoliation.
• If the discoloration is a result of medication, talk to your doctor about stopping or changing medication to something without skin discoloration side effects.
•  If the discoloration is a result of sunspots or other sun exposure, prevent it in the future by covering your skin and wearing sunscreen of at least 30 SPF every day.
• If it’s simple and involves something like freckles, just use a good makeup to cover what you don’t like.
• Our blog post on the best anti-aging makeup may help.  
• If the discoloration is long-term and deep in the skin, talk to a dermatologist about laser treatments. These are often minimally invasive and can correct discoloration related to hormones, aging, birthmarks or other causes.
• If you have a strange mole, remember the ABCDE of melanoma, and get it checked out by a doctor if it starts to concern you.

Have questions about skin discoloration that I didn’t address here? Ask them in the comments and we can discuss them there.