All You Need to Know About Brown Spots

Dark spots, also known as age spots, although not directly related to age, sunspots, or lentigines, are small, variable-sized skin spots that appear in areas exposed to the sun, such as the face, hands, shoulders, or arms and are linked to an excess production of melanin.
The dark spots typically appear in individuals over 40 years old, after years of sun exposure. However, they can also occur in younger individuals due to intense or prolonged sun exposure.
They are generally not harmful to health, but vigilance is necessary because a melanoma can mimic a lentigo, and only a dermatologist can distinguish between the two. While they do not require treatment, it's possible to make them less visible for aesthetic reasons.

Dark spots differ from moles that develop throughout the body, seborrheic keratoses, which are skin lesions resembling dark warts, or melanoma, especially in the form of Dubreuilh, also called malignant lentigo, which can develop on the face and neck in particular. Diagnosis is only made through a biopsy.

Causes: Why Do We Have Skin Spots?

Dark spots are mainly caused by exposure to ultraviolet rays from the sun.
After years of exposure, melanin can concentrate in certain areas of the skin, causing pigmentation. Brown spots often appear in individuals over 40 years old.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is made through a simple observation of the skin by a dermatologist. They may use a painless instrument called a dermoscope, a kind of magnifying glass that allows them to refine their diagnostic impression. A biopsy, involving a skin sample analyzed under a microscope, may be necessary if the doctor has the slightest doubt about the origin of the spots. Monitoring dark spots is necessary. If they seem to evolve (increase in size, change in color, bleeding, enlargement, etc.), it is important to consult a specialist, as these may be symptoms of melanoma development.

Melanocytes and Melanin

Melanin (from Greek melanos = black) is a pigment of dark skin produced by melanocytes. It is mainly genetic, but sun exposure also determines the amount of melanin in the skin, defining its color. This pigment is present in the epidermis, the upper layer of the skin.

The main characteristics of skin spots
• Flat, oval, or round brown spots that appear in sun-exposed areas.
• Brown spots usually appear on the backs of hands, face, or shoulders, i.e., in all areas regularly exposed to the sun.

People at Risk

Some people develop more dark spots than others. Genes play a role in their appearance. These people usually have white skin, although dark spots can also appear on darker skin.

Risk Factors

Prolonged and regular sun exposure significantly increases the risk of developing dark spots. The same goes for sunburns, which are the main factors in the appearance of dark spots, especially on the shoulders. Therefore, it is common to observe the appearance of many brown spots on the shoulders after a severe sunburn.

Prevention

Preventing dark spots requires reasonable sun exposure. It is advisable:
• Avoiding the sun between noon and 4 p.m.
• Seeking shade
• Wearing a hat and clothes
• Applying appropriate sunscreen on unprotected areas every two hours.

Medical Treatments

The choice of technique is made in consultation with the dermatologist and depends on the skin type.


Treatment is not mandatory as dark spots have no health consequences. However, it is necessary to ensure, by consulting a dermatologist, that any spot appearing on the skin is indeed a harmless spot. Some people may find them unsightly; in these cases, treatments can be an option to make them less visible.
There are creams to lighten dark spots.

• Cosmetic creams containing plant extracts are sold over the counter, but it is still unclear whether they are genuinely effective.

• Other prescribed creams are usually based on hydroquinone, a depigmenting agent. This treatment requires the imperative use of full protection every time you are exposed to the sun. It can also cause itching, irritation, or dry skin. This cream, however, provides only modest results. This treatment may also combine with a tretinoin cream and a mild topical steroid like hydrocortisone.


Laser or IPL (intense pulsed light) can be a solution as the photon beam released into the skin destroys melanocytes and melanin, which gradually disappear from the spots. Do not expose yourself to the sun after a laser or IPL session, as the sessions cause redness and crusts that can cause other pigmented spots if exposed to the sun.

Cryotherapy, the same technique used for wart removal, involves applying liquid nitrogen to brown spots to depigment them. This technique is not recommended for dark skin. Sun exposure immediately after treatment is strongly discouraged for the same reason as laser or IPL.

Peeling is also often offered. This technique involves applying an acid to the skin to exfoliate it and remove dark spots.

Novos 'Brown spots and Brightening' à venda

Shiseido Future Solution LX Concentrated Brightening Softener

Descubra o Shiseido Future Solution LX Concentrated Brightening Softener, um produto de cuidados de ..

73.95€ 165.00€

-55%

Lierac Anti-Dark Spots Protocol Serum

Sérum Lierac Anti-Dark Spots Protocol: Solução Avançada para Manchas na Pele Descubra a..

29.95€ 42.32€

-29%

Lierac Anti-Dark Spots Protocol Stick

Descubra o Poder do Lierac Anti-Dark Spots Protocol Stick O Lierac Anti-Dark Spots Protocol Stic..

16.95€ 22.90€

-26%

Clarins Nutri-Lumière SPF15 Creme Revitalizante Anti-Manchas

Clarins Nutri-Lumière SPF15 Creme Revitalizante Anti-Manchas é um produto revolucionário especialmen..

85.95€ 165.00€

-48%

Avène Sunsimed Pigment

Avène Sunsimed Pigment: Proteção Avançada para a Sua Pele O Avène Sunsimed Pigment é a solução idea..

21.95€ 29.31€

-25%

Lancôme Rénergie H.P.N. Uvmune Cream SPF50

Descubra o Poder do Lancôme Rénergie H.P.N. Uvmune Cream SPF50 O Lancôme Rénergie H.P.N. Uvmune C..

81.95€ 139.00€

-41%

Bella Aurora Splendor Vitamin C and Hyaluronic Acid Serum

Sérum Bella Aurora Splendor Vitamina C e Ácido Hialurônico Descubra o segredo para uma pele radia..

18.95€

Patyka Fluide Anti-Taches SPF30

Patyka Fluide Anti-Taches SPF30: Proteção e Luminosidade para a Sua Pele Descubra o Pat..

60.95€

❮ ❯