Jump to navigation

You are currently browsing all posts tagged with 'age spots'

How To Choose A Sunscreen For People With Age Spots & Pigmentation

  • Posted on December 27, 2010 at 5:57 pm

Sunlight can cause sun spots and hyperpigmentation. This is in a way that extended exposure to the sun can aggravate the effects of age spots and pigmentation of the skin.   This happens when the skin absorbs too much ultraviolet rays. Ultraviolet rays are needed by the body in stimulating vitamin D. Too much ultraviolet rays causes skin injury and aging.

An effective answer against the sun’s harmful rays is using sunscreen. Sunscreens work by reflecting or absorbing the extra UV rays that the body doesn’t need. There are two types of ultraviolet rays that sunscreens inhibit, UVA and UVB. UVA causes melanoma while UVB is responsible for sunburn. The problem with some sunscreens is the fact that most does not absorb UVA which is more harmful than UVB, and UVB is blocked by some sunscreens. In choosing the best sunscreen, especially for people who already have age spots and hyperpigmentation, what should be put in mind?

The first thing to do is to identify what your skin type is. There are 6 skin types according to Fitzpatrick (1975).
Type I         (1-5 von Luschan scale) very light (celtic/Nordic)
Type II    (6-10 von Luschan scale) light
Type III    (11-15 von Luschan scale) light intermediate, dark skinned European
Type IV    (16-21 von Luschan scale) dark intermediate, Mediterranean
Type V        (22-28 von Luschan scale) dark/ brown type
Type IV    (29-36 von Luschan scale) very dark/black

Then, take note of the activities you’ll be doing while wearing sunscreen, be it walking, jogging, swimming or sun bathing. After that, you can decide on what brand or type of sunscreen you will buy or use.   But you also have to look at its Sun Protection Factor. The higher the SPF, the better the protection it gives to the user.   SPF levels can go up to SPF 50. The effectiveness of sunscreens also depend on its components so look for avobenzone, ecamsule and zinc oxide on the ingredients list of your sunscreen.

Sunscreens come in a variety of lotions or creams. Most whitening lotions have SPF, so they qualify in the sunscreen category. But it is best to use plain sunscreen for optimal protection. It is up to you to find what would be the best sunscreen suited for you, your skin and your lifestyle.

Also remember, sunscreens are not the cure for age spots and pigmentation. The only thing that sunscreens can offer to people with age spots or hyperpigmentation is preventing it from getting worse. It is suggested to see a dermatologist when it comes to age spot removal.

Dark Spots: Should They Be Treated At Your Local Laser Center?

  • Posted on August 6, 2010 at 12:23 am

Age Spot Removal

Could Your Age Spots Be Treated At A Local Medspa?

Probably the most frequent subjects medical spas get asked about is brown spots on the skin.

Brown spots in most cases become an issue after 40 years old, on sections on the skin subjected to the most sun.  They’re not a worry in your teens or twenties, since layers of our skin are naturally renewing themselves every several weeks, however, if that process will start slowing down, dark spots undoubtedly are harmless side effect.

To reduce, and perhaps end the look of dark spots, most med spas offer you lactic acid chemical peels, and also an HQ  chemical peel.  The peels work by encouraging collagen under the dermis, and when used accurately, are as safe as having over-priced procedures from an aesthetician.

These types of products and solutions stimulate the skin into producing skin quicker than your actual age would commonly dictate, via an exfoliation technique.  Each and every application works to eliminate sun-damaged layers of skin, and over time, our body restores them with fresh layers that are your real skin color.

For most patients who are just getting introduced to lactic acid chemical peels, a fiftyper cent strength product is prescribed.

To get a much less aggressive approach with less down-time, one more choice is a HQ  deep chemical peel product.  Gentler than the lactic acid peels, it uses hydroquinone, lactic, and salicylic acids to to get deep into the layers of the skin, and there’s not any down-time related to it.  Having said that, it will frequently entail extra treatments as it is far less stringent than other peels.

It is always extremely important obtain comprehensive instructions on how to prepare your skin for treatments, the way to apply them, and how to  safeguard your skin afterwords.

Shortly after the 1st treatment of lactic acid, patients will notice a “glow”, or improvement in skin tone and texture.  Improvements in the age spot are small, with best benefits probably being noticed after six months of use.  With each and every treatment and removing the product, one or two layers of skin are removed, and then regenerated, with a few more benefits each and every time.

The doctor or med spa must find a balance of acid strength, what amount they apply, time-span of treatment, and a post-treatment cleanser that actually works for them.  A very important suggestion for lasting results is to protect the skin from exposure to the sun, especially after treatments, since the skin will in the short term have fewer layers to shield itself.

Top