Dark spots on the skin, a risk throughout the year that you should start preventing now

Although spring has not yet arrived, the temperatures these days have begun to be more pleasant. Sunny days have invited many, after so many gray days, to expose themselves to the sun with the idea of ​​tanning or for the simple fact of enjoying it. Convinced that at this time of year we can sunbathe without taking precautions because we believe that its incidence is not as harmful as in summer, we have exposed our skin without thinking about the negative effects.

Although summer is the season in which we are exposed to the sun the most, and in which UV radiation is most intense, it should not be the only time of the year when you need to protect yourself from the sun. Ultraviolet radiation is present throughout the year, and is the main risk factor for the appearance of spots on the skin of the face, premature aging, skin cancer and other skin diseases. That means that you also have to protect yourself from the sun in winter, even on cloudy days. Despite the existence of treatments to remove and rejuvenate the skin by removing stains, it is preferable to avoid their appearance.

Summer is the time when you have to be more careful with your skin. Solar radiation can create a wide range of damage from mild irritation to skin cancer, as well as leaving behind unsightly blemishes. In fact, according to a recent study carried out by Nivea, four out of ten Spanish women (41%) between 35 and 75 years old declare that they suffer from age spots, uneven skin or that they are prone to blemishes, twice as many, for example, than the Germans (20%) and somewhat more than the Brazilians (30%).

Although the sun can be one of the great enemies of our skin, it is not the only one responsible for the appearance of dark pigmentation spots. These appear when melanin, the pigment that gives skin its color, is produced and/or distributed irregularly. To find out the reasons why melanin overstimulation can occur, we talked to Dr. María Agustina Segurado, an expert adviser at Nivea, who also gives us the keys to preventing the appearance of dark spots.

"Spots are one of the most unsightly skin problems and one of the most important to monitor and take care of. Preventing them is the most important step, both with balanced and safe sun protection filters, and with specific depigmenting products, whether cosmetic for daily use or prescribed by doctors for use in more resistant cases. And, of course, not only in summer", explains Dr. María Agustina Segurado.

Now in winter, even with masks, solar radiation reaches the areas that are exposed: the forehead, the nose, the cheeks... Both dermatologists and brands, such as Nivea, remember that you have to take care of the skin and prevent stains all year round. "In addition, maintaining a good facial routine with the right products and leading a healthy life are key to preventing, clarifying and reducing the intensity of the spots that have already appeared", recommends Dr. María Agustina Segurado,

Greater exposure to the sun generates more melanin

Melanin is essential to protect us from the sun's ultraviolet rays; therefore, when exposing the skin to the sun, the melanocytes (melanin cells) secrete a greater amount of this ingredient, as this is our body's natural self-protection mechanism against the sun.

Genetic predisposition or phototype as accelerators of the appearance of dark spots

There are people or ethnic groups that, due to their quantity and quality of melanin, have a different skin color and a tendency to tan or burn after exposure to the sun. This makes them more prone to hyperpigmentation. In these cases, preventive care is essential to delay its appearance as much as possible and reduce its intensity.

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Age, a key factor for the appearance of spots

Aging also influences melanin. Over the years, the production and distribution of this pigment becomes less precise, so it tends to accumulate and create age spots.

The impact of hormonal changes on the skin

Hormonal changes have a very important impact on the skin. During pregnancy or menopause, two periods of great hormonal changes in the female body, the production of melanin is altered. This hormonal alteration, in practice, leads to its accumulation in the form of dark spots.

A skin inflammation can also cause spots

After a skin alteration that produces inflammation, a small mark or mark may remain. This is what happens, for example, with acne, burns, dermatitis outbreaks... The lesions (the pimples or the burn) disappear, but they leave stains that can persist for months or years.

Types of skin spots and their characteristics

The most important step to avoid the appearance of spots is prevention. To do this, Dr. María Agustina Segurado, Nivea's expert advisor, has compiled some simple tips to care for the skin, prevent these hyperpigmentations from arising and reduce those that already exist.

Use protection factor all year

Ultraviolet radiation is present in sunlight, at any time of the year. Sunscreen should be an essential step in any facial care routine. Likewise, it is very important to reapply the product frequently and, in summer, avoid sun exposure during the hottest hours of the day.

Protection factor for UVA and UVB rays

Ultraviolet radiation can be of two types: UVA rays and UVB rays. Both are very harmful, as they accelerate aging, produce burns, alter cellular DNA, influence skin cancer... Therefore, the sunscreen used must include filters for UVA and UVB rays, not just for one from them.

Use depigmenting anti-spot products

Whether the spots have already appeared or if you want to prevent them, it is important to incorporate into your facial routine a product designed to combat them that contains active ingredients with scientifically proven action against the excessive production of melanin that blurs the spots and evens out skin tone .

It can be a serum or a moisturizing cream with an anti-stain treatment, or better yet, a combination of both for greater effectiveness. In addition, in this case, the day cream incorporates a sun protection factor SPF 50, so they allow you to save that step in the daily anti-spot routine.

To eat a balanced diet

Having a varied and balanced diet and maintaining an active lifestyle is essential to have healthy skin in which all its processes work in a balanced way.

If necessary, see a dermatologist

When an alteration in the skin is detected, it is best to consult a specialist. Because when in doubt, it is best to avoid the risk that a small stain is actually something more serious that needs to be treated urgently. In addition, there are certain treatments that should only be performed by dermatologists. This is the case, for example, of depigmenting peels and new lasers.

These treatments can be very effective in the case of very persistent and pronounced stains, but applying them incorrectly can aggravate the stains and even generate new ones. In any case, it should always be a specialist who recommends these treatments.