Most people enjoy being outside in the sun. Whether you are out bathing in the warmth, enjoying outdoor activities, working, or simply basking in the glow before going into a building, the sun is something many look forward to. However, sunspots are something you don’t want or expect.
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What are sunspots?
Sunspots are brown patches that appear on the skin, especially in areas that are subjected to intense, frequent sun exposure. Melanin produces more pigment than necessary when exposed to UV rays, which damages the surface of the skin. The clumping of this protein, which is formed inside melanocytes, will occur in the spots of the skin most affected by the exposure. The face, which is almost always exposed to UV rays, is one of the most commonly affected areas.
Sunspots are generally harmless, but you should have them checked out by a doctor to make sure that no cancerous cells have formed. The cosmetic damage however will likely require you to take action.
There are many ways to hide brown spots on your face, but there are three ways to permanently remove them.
Prescription Lightening Cream
This is exactly what it sounds like. It is a cream, prescribed by your doctor, that will lighten the sunspots. It is commonly referred to as skin bleaching because it will slowly lighten the brown areas by reducing the amount of melanin that the body forces into the damaged areas.
Follow the directions given to you by the doctor and the pharmacist, and the bleaching effect will make the skin color go back to its original color.
When using this option remember that one of the ingredients in this cream is mercury. If you apply too much or use it too often, you can suffer from mercury poisoning.
Prescription Chemical Peels
This is a chemical solution that is applied to your face that removes the top layers of your skin. This process may need to be repeated several times until the color of the face becomes uniform. Once the sunspots are removed from the skin and the color matches throughout your face, the new skin that grows in will be healthier and will give you a younger appearance.
Laser Treatment
The Mayo Clinic defines laser treatment as a procedure that uses laser technology to improve the appearance of the face. No permanent damage is done to the skin. The top layers are repaired, or removed, allowing new cells to grow back. The new cells will appear healthier and make you look years younger.
When it comes to body laser treatments there are two different types of procedures that can be done. Both are safe procedures that are done on an outpatient basis. Within an hour you can be done, with no need for repeat procedures.
Ablative treatments are procedures where a laser is used to remove unwanted areas of skin, such as sunspots. The skin will be heated to the point of melting the skin off, without harming you. This effectively removes the sunspot and allows the skin to grow in with normal color.
Non-ablative treatments are procedures where the skin is heated up to the point of causing the skin to form an abundance of collagen. Collagen is a protein within the body that makes the skin thicker and firmer. This procedure will not be used to remove the sunspots, but it can help fix areas of the face where extensive damage has been done by the UV rays of the sun.
The bottom line
A sunspot is a blemish on your skin caused by overexposure to the sun’s UV rays. Melanin, which is formed by your body, helps the body avoid damage by making your skin darker. You can conceal their appearance by covering them up. By using the three methods above, you can also take a more permanent approach. Laser treatment is the best and easiest way to get rid of sunspots. A single treatment is all you need.
