If You Have Fair Skin, Watch Out Doubly for Skin Blemishes

Skin spots, which frequently appear on the face, back and hands, rank among the most common complaints. Sun spots, acne scars or freckles create an appearance that affects people's psychology. Smoking, sun rays and cosmetic products containing harmful substances can cause color fluctuations and spot formation on the skin. Age, genetic predisposition and medications used for past illnesses are among the other factors that negatively affect the skin. Specialist Dr. Ayça Alan Atalay from the Memorial Wellness Cosmetic Dermatology Department provided information about the causes and treatment methods of skin spots.

UV Rays Among the Main Factors Behind Skin Spots

Tone differences that occur in the homogeneous color tone of the skin are referred to as skin spots. Conditions leading to tone differences can be grouped under melasma, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, solar lentigo (sun spots) and dark under-eye circles. Melasma is frequently encountered in women of childbearing age. It appears as irregular-shaped, sharply demarcated, dark or light brown spots on the upper lip, nose, cheeks, chin and forehead. It is more commonly observed in pregnant women and those using birth control pills. Although many factors contribute to the formation of skin spots, the most significant ones are UV rays and estrogen hormone. It is also related to genetic predisposition and skin type. Some medications used in epilepsy treatment can also lead to melasma spots. In one-third of melasma cases, no underlying cause can be found. It is thought that heat, particularly following hot wax applications on the lips, can trigger the formation of melasma spots. Melasma may regress with the end of pregnancy or discontinuation of birth control pill use, although in some people this process can take up to 5 years.

The Face Area is Most Commonly Affected

Small freckles called ephelides and sun spots defined as lentigo can be difficult to distinguish from each other. While lentigo sun spots are more common in older men, ephelides are more frequently encountered in young women with fair skin, hair and eye color. 90% of elderly people have one or more lentigo. Solar lentigo is the most important factor in formation. The face, hands and back areas are most commonly affected. Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation is more common in people with dark skin. It can occur in areas following acne, eczema, allergic reactions or burns or in areas with surgical scars. It can also occur following chemical peeling and laser treatments. It is the darkening of the skin in those areas due to increased melanin pigment. Dark under-eye circles are a problem encountered in both men and women. They can make people appear older and more tired than they are. While the cause is not entirely clear, it is thought to be related to the more prominent display of blood vessel structures in the thin skin around the eyes.