Cotesensing

Frequently asked questions about skin discoloration answered

Everybody wants to be beautiful. And having a healthy skin is one of the requirements for being labeled as beautiful. To acquire one, many of us practice a strict regimen ; cleansing twice a day, frequent moisturizing, applying toner, getting regular facials, and gulping down liters of H20. Yet, even after all that, people will tell you that they’re still plagued with dark spots - pockets of discolored skin that remain even after pimples or skin bumps have disappeared.

So, in order for us to be enlightened, here are the frequently asked skin questions that might help us not just beautiful but look and live healthier.

What are all those brown spots that appear on the face and sun-exposed areas?

There is a whole spectrum of answers to this question. Most frequently encountered brown spots are freckles, moles, lentigo, and lentigines, melasma, and hyperpigmentation (skin darkening) brought by inflammatory healing - when the skin is recovering from another skin disorder such as an allergic reaction to a topically applied product.

Are these spots age-related?

Many of them are, such as lentigo (liver spot) which appears on the face,arms, and sun-exposed areas of elderly persons. The older people, however, also have a greater tendency to use cosmetic products on the face that may give rise to hyperpigmented patches. The cumulative effect of age, a lifetime of prolonged exposure, and the tendency to use this products may cause allergic and irritant reactions.

Can brown spots be prevented and treated?

The most effective way is to avoid these brown spots, no matter their nature and cause, is to use a reliable sunscreen that offers protection for all wavelengths of the ultraviolet spectrum that reach the earth, that is, a sunscreen that protects both UVA and UVB.

What about white discolorations? What causes them?

There are as many types of white spots as there of brown spots. Probably the most commonly encountered are: tinea versicolor, pityriasis alba, vitiligo and post-inflammatory hypopigmentation.

Is there a specific treatment for whitish discolorations?

Yes, there is. Leave it to your dermatologist to make the correct diagnosis and do refrain from self-medication. Tinea versicolor is treated with antifungals for a sufficient amount of time. Vitiligo is usually managed with topical photosensitizer to induce browning of the skin. Responses to treatment depend on the nature of the disease its extent and duration, as well as patient factors that may adversely or favorably affect the outcome.

It is a common mistake to buy skin care products based on age. Treating older or younger skin with products supposedly aimed with dealing with specific age ranges does not make sense because not everyone with older or younger skin has the same needs. Yet, it’s a trap many women fall into.