Call them age spots, liver spots, dark spots or sun spots. Regardless of their name, these patches are often signs of skin damage. Find out what you need to know about dark spots and what happens to your skin when hyperpigmentation occurs, why it happens and what skin care solutions you should consider.
What causes dark spots? | How to prevent dark spots
What causes dark spots?
Whether your skin tone is dark or light, your skin contains a pigment called melanin. It is produced by cells called melanocytes, melanin acts as a form of protection for the skin. However, when hyperpigmentation occurs, your skin produces excess melanin that forms deposits, creating spots and patches that are darker in color than the surrounding skin. Although hyperpigmentation affects people of all skin colors, tends to affect darker skin types more often. Here are three reasons why you might be suffering from blackheads:
Exposure to the sun
The number one cause of dark spots is sun damage. When stimulated by harmful UV rays, melanocytes react by releasing melanin which acts as a natural sunscreen. Melanin is useful because absorbs energy from UV rays and redistributes it. However, the sun can cause too much melanin to be produced, causing dark spots and blemishes on the skin.
The sun is not only the root problem for sun spots, it also causes the dark marks we call age spots or liver spots. This guy hyperpigmentation it is also caused by sun damage, accumulated over many years of exposure. “As you grow,” according to Harvard Health Publishing, “the years in the sun are starting to add up.” Most common in adults over the age of 55, these black, brown or black spots tend to stain the areas most exposed to the sun: face, arms, back, legs and shoulders. Aging can also intensify the appearance of hyperpigmentation for two reasons. First, as we age, melanocytes decrease in number but increase in size and pigment production. Second, aging skin tends to appear thinner, paler, and more translucent, emphasizing the appearance of dark spots.
hormones
When hormone levels zigzag, one of the most common side effects is a change in pigmentation called melasma. Often seen during pregnancy, hormone treatments, or even birth control changes, the increase in hormones stimulates melanin production. Pregnant women often develop dark spots on the nose, cheeks, jawline, forehead or chin, creating a pattern called the “mask of pregnancy” or “chloasma.” This type of hyperpigmentation usually lasts until the pregnancy ends or hormone levels return to balance.
Sun and heat exposure can worsen the appearance of this hormone-induced hyperpigmentation. If you suffer from melasma and hope to relax in a sauna or hot yoga session, you may want to rethink your relaxation plans. A high temperature environment can affect hyperpigmentation and dark spots, helping the dark patches to enlarge and spread.
Inflammation
Sometimes dark spots may develop afterwards inflammation or skin injury, especially for those with acne, eczema, allergic reactions or other skin conditions. Called post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, this type of discoloration is the skin’s natural response to inflammation. After a wound occurs, the skin becomes inflamed, and as it heals, the skin naturally produces excess melanin that darkens the skin.
Hyperpigmentation due to inflammation is especially common after flare-ups. As the irritated skin heals from the acne, a dark spot is left behind, ranging in color from pink to red, purple, brown or black. The worse the inflammation, the bigger and darker the spot can be. Also, there’s a reason why experts warn you to avoid picking your acne. Popping these pimples can increase the chance of an inflamed pimple or dark spot.
How to prevent dark spots (hyperpigmentation)
Protecting your skin from further damage is just as important as reducing existing hyperpigmentation. Here are our top tips for preventing further dark spots on the skin:
Protect yourself from the sun
Since sun damage is one of the main causes of dark spots — including age spots — Preventing exposure to UV rays is essential to prevent hyperpigmentation. This means staying out of the sun, wearing a hat outdoors and using sunscreen. Avoiding or blocking UV rays that stimulate melanin production, avoiding the sun is one of the best ways to prevent dark spots.
Avoid heat
UV rays are not the only factors that cause melanin production. Heat sources it can also stimulate melanocytes to produce more pigment. Avoid activity with high heat exposure and keep skin cool to reduce this potential problem for dark spots.
Stop the Inflammation
Because inflammation is another major reason for hyperpigmentation, you’ll want to stop any bad habits that injure or inflame the skin. Picking pimples is a no-no, as is any other activity that aggravates your skin.
Use vitamin C regularly
Experts advise that a topical antioxidant such as a Vitamin C serum helps in the appearance of dark spots when applied on a regular basis. Because vitamin C interferes with melanin production (and provides so many other skin benefits!), keeping a bottle of this antioxidant-rich skin care product is another important step in preventing hyperpigmentation.
This article was originally written in June 2017.
