Some parts of the skin can become darker than others due to the accumulation of melanin, the pigment that gives color. When it is excessively created or unevenly developed, the consequences are: irregular skin color, brown spots, dark areas that look like a mask...
As many as a third of women are at risk of developing hyperpigmentation, which is essentially harmless, but makes the skin unattractive. Its appearance is influenced by genetics, age and hormones, and above all - exposure to the sun. Solar radiation (UVA and UVB rays) and visible light cause the accumulation of excess melanin in the skin and the appearance of dark spots, so good sun protection is the best way to protect the skin from pigmentation problems.
Excess melanin accumulates in the layers of the skin and leads to uneven skin tone, discoloration and dark spots. Although they may look similar, these sunspots, as they are sometimes called, fall into several categories depending on the cause:
* Gradual hyperpigmentation - The red mark from the pimple you squeezed last week is finally gone, but a dark spot has formed in that place and it won't go away. It is likely that this reminder of a pimple is gradual pigmentation that occurs when trauma or inflammation (like acne) causes excess melanin to form in a localized area. This "pimple" darkens under the influence of UV rays. Both postoperative scars and other sources of skin inflammation can lead to hyperpigmentation if those areas are not protected from the sun.
* Age spots - Sunbathing on the beach and too many lunches on restaurant terraces took its toll and as a result left dark spots or uneven skin color. These unwelcome reminders of summer days, known as solar lentigo or age spots, usually occur after years of frequent and prolonged sun exposure. They are a warning sign that your solar capital has reached its limit and that you can no longer adequately defend yourself against the harmful effects of UV rays.
* Freckles - Ephelides or freckles are a form of hyperpigmentation that is most often seen in fair-skinned people, especially redheads, although it can also occur in other skin types. They are usually genetically determined and are more pronounced during the winter months.
* Pregnancy mask or melasma is a phenomenon that occurs when the secretion of estrogen increases as a reaction to the fact that a new being is growing inside you. It usually occurs in the fourth month of pregnancy, although it can also be caused by a drug that affects the level of hormones (for example, contraceptive pills). This rush of hormones triggers a huge increase in melanin synthesis, which causes brown or grey-brown spots, most often on the forehead, cheeks and the area above the upper lip. Since people with medium to dark skin naturally have more pigmented skin, there is a greater risk of hyperpigmentation, but even people with light hair and eyes can get melasma, which can sometimes look like a mask. Even when it's cloudy, there are enough UV rays to stimulate the production of melanin and melasma. Therefore, it is important to put a protective agent on the skin every day.
HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF?
Applying a sunscreen should become a mandatory part of your daily skin care routine. Use it in the spring and summer every morning, and during bad weather and rainy days, apply a product with a protective factor. If your skin is prone to hyperpigmentation, choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen with high or very high protection SPF 50+, which protects against UVA and UVB rays, preferably with high-coverage pigments that also protect against visible light. Remember to apply it every two hours if you are exposed to the sun. And if you are pregnant or think that contraception has made you prone to melasma, it is necessary to wear a cotton hat and clothes that protect your arms, legs and upper body, reports Novosti.
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