How to remove skin blemishes

How to remove skin blemishes

How to remove skin blemishes

Most people, to a greater or lesser extent, suffer or have suffered skin blemishes, especially women. The face is an area highly exposed to external factors that can damage the skin and, in addition It is the most visible area of ​​the body, which is why many people with facial blemishes want solutions that help to eliminate them completely or, at least, mitigate and disguise them. The good news is that they can be completely eliminated, but for this it is essential to know the type of stain and the most appropriate treatment in each case.How to remove skin blemishes

As explained by Miguel Sánchez Viera, director of the Institute of Integral Dermatology, there are basically two types of spots: "vascular and pigmented."

Vascular ones "come in shades ranging from red to pink and are due to a vascularization problem in the skin," says the dermatologist. “They can appear in the first years of life, as is the case with hemangiomas (reddish, bulging and strawberry-shaped), which, although they can grow over time, only 20% of people suffer from them in Adulthood".

Telangiectasias, “popularly known as spider veins”, are also found in this type of skin lesions. These spots "are dilations of the superficial capillaries of the skin, which appear to a large extent on the legs, although they can also appear on the face, neck and décolleté", explains the dermatologist. When the telangiectasias are very extensive in these last areas, "they are called couperosis".

Rosacea is also found in the group of reddish spots, although, as the expert points out, "it is still a disease unknown to the general public." This problem can appear in the form of "telangiectasias, pimples similar to those of acne and with sudden redness (flushing or blush)".

As Sánchez Viera states, "an exact cause of the appearance of this type of spots on the skin is unknown, but there are factors that contribute to their development." Among the main ones are "genetic inheritance, having diseases such as rosacea and dermatitis, sudden changes in temperature (especially cold), smoking, stress, alcohol, stimulating drinks such as coffee, food that require a long digestion, the use of some medicines that contain corticosteroids and the arrival of menopause in women”.

Another subtype of this type of reddish spots are nevus or ruby ​​spots, which "look similar to moles, but red in color." Among the main causes of the appearance of this type of spots are "age, overexposure to the sun and genetics".

Regarding pigmented spots, as indicated by Vicente Alonso Usero, a dermatologist in Valencia and member of the Spanish Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, "they are the result of the different distribution of melanin and the cells that produce it, the melanocytes . Melanin is the pigment that allows us to protect ourselves from the sun's rays, therefore, when exposing ourselves to the sun, the melanocytes secrete more melanin."

The most common, says Sánchez Viera, are "moles, which can be from birth or that can appear over time." Most of them "do not present any problem, but it is advisable to monitor them in case they present changes, since this symptom may mean that malignancy is taking place."

Another type of pigmented spots are “solar lentigines, which appear in areas where there has been overexposure to the sun, such as the face, neckline and hands”. Lentils differ from other types of spots because "they can grow and have a rough appearance."

How to remove skin blemishes

Finally, we must mention "melasma, which is an increase in facial pigmentation due to hormonal causes and that darkens especially in summer with sun exposure."

Many people believe that because they have a darker skin tone or are more tanned they will not suffer from skin blemishes, but the reality is that they can appear on any skin type. It is true that there are skins that are more predisposed to suffering from them, such as "white skins, which are the ones that usually present more spots, both pigmented and vascular." This is so because "they are more likely to be affected by ultraviolet radiation", since solar radiation is one of the main causes of the appearance of spots on the skin.

The same thing happens with “people who have abused the sun throughout their lives, as well as those who have circulation problems,” adds Sánchez-Viera. Although we must not forget other factors such as "heredity and genetic predisposition".

Prevention before treatment

The first piece of advice to prevent spots is, without a doubt, to avoid overexposure to the sun. To do this, "it is essential to use photoprotectors throughout the year," not only in summer, "and apply it to all exposed areas, including the hands," says the dermatologist.

Another advice from the expert is to “take nutritional supplements to prepare the skin for the arrival of good weather and avoid the use of tanning booths”. This "will also prevent the development of any type of skin cancer."

In the event that the person takes a photosensitizing drug, it is important to take extreme precautions since its use itself "can cause spots on the skin when exposed to the sun."

In the case of spider veins in the lower extremities, "it is advisable not to stand or sit for long hours, to promote blood circulation."

Treatments for all blemishes

The good news regarding blemishes is that "they can all be treated and completely eliminated," says Sánchez Viera. "It is true that depending on each case, the treatment may take longer than another and may also require continuous maintenance by the patient and the dermatologist, but all can be treated and eliminated," he qualifies.How to remove skin blemishes

Among the most frequent demands that come to the dermatologist's office about skin spots are those related to the elimination of solar lentigines and the treatment of melasma, according to José Manuel Miralles, from the Miralles Dermatology Center in Palma de Mallorca and member of the AEDV.

As he indicates, "some of these problems are difficult to manage, for this reason it is important to explain to the patient that they should not throw in the towel and that, in many cases, such as melasma, they should run away from magical treatments." As Sánchez Viera warns, before resorting to any type of treatment for the elimination of stains, whatever they may be, "you must go to a dermatologist to make an assessment of the problem and prescribe the most appropriate treatment in each case" . It is necessary to know that not everything is always valid for everyone and that "if a person uses a product that has worked for them, it does not mean that it is the right one for another, in fact, there are patients who end up going to dermatological consultations when a product It has caused a bigger problem than it initially had due to self-medication”, he warns.

Vicente M. Leis, a member of the AEDV, shares the same opinion. As he indicates, "the treatment of pigmented lesions must be individualized and, always after a correct dermatological diagnosis, ruling out that they are malignant lesions."

The expert insists that "it is necessary to clarify with the patient their expectations regarding the results since we have multiple tools available to treat pigmented lesions but not all of these options are valid for all patients."

With this concept clarified, Sánchez Viera lists the different options for each type of stain.

In the case of vascular ones, it indicates that "the most effective treatment is lasers". In this specific case we must talk about PDL (Pulsed Dye Laser), IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) and KTP. “Its action is based on the reddish pigment of the blood, in such a way that it cauterizes the reddish capillaries or reddish pigmented spots, which are naturally absorbed by the bloodstream, but without affecting the skin areas around them. ”, he describes.

These lasers "have the advantage of being able to treat several vascular lesions in the same session, with the guarantee that they do not leave scars and that they will not appear again," he says.

In the case of rosacea, "biophoton therapy has proven to be very effective," he says. This technique “consists of the application of a gel on the affected area that, when exposed to a light source (laser or LED), produces a fluorescence. The gel acts as a transmitter, eliminating the symptoms of rosacea without damaging the skin as it is not invasive”. This characteristic "allows biophoton therapy to be used at any time of the year."

It is important to remember that "you can also use vasoconstrictors, cosmetics for sensitive and red skin, in addition to making some changes in your lifestyle, such as quitting smoking, avoiding sun exposure and always using sunscreen and , in the event of a sudden and acute change in the reddish spots, see a dermatologist to do a study and prescribe a treatment with antibiotics if a bacterial infection has occurred.

As for pigmented spots, each treatment will depend on the problem to be addressed. In the case of moles, "it is not necessary to do anything with them except to check them to prevent them from undergoing changes, which can be a symptom of malignancy," recalls the dermatologist, although in some cases and for aesthetic reasons they can be removed.

Treatment for solar lentigines “is the same as for unsightly moles. In this case, Q-Swith or fractional Erbium lasers can be used, which "are aimed directly at the area affected by pigment accumulation and do not damage the surrounding skin." Lasers "cause a rupture of pigment accumulations, which are eliminated by the body naturally," he details. To avoid possible scars, "it is advisable to do these treatments in the autumn and winter months and always use a sunscreen with a total screen so that the small scars that may appear are pigmented by the action of UV rays."

Melasma is one of the “most difficult to remove pigmented spots and requires ongoing maintenance treatment,” he warns. "This treatment is microdermabrasion and the application of depigmenting active ingredients immediately after (medical peels)."

Things to take into account

As indicated by M. Leis, "all these treatments require rigorous photoprotection both before and after performing the procedures."

It is also advisable, especially in patients with brown skin, "to use depigmenting products, before and after these treatments, to prevent the appearance of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation."

Another important point is "to inform patients of their recovery time, what the skin will look like immediately after, and the expected evolution." This is important because "many procedures will make it possible to resume daily activities immediately, but others, on the other hand, will require a more or less prolonged recovery period" that must be taken into account, explains M. Leis.

In addition, before beginning, "patients should always report their previous pathologies and their usual medication, since some could contraindicate certain treatments," he adds.

At Home Treatments

A home maintenance treatment for sun spots is another option. This "consists of the use of depigmenting creams, whose ingredients act by inhibiting the production of melanin," explains Sánchez-Viera.

The main active ingredients used to treat dark spots can be classified into several groups based on their mechanism of action, according to Vicente M. Leis:

  1. Tyrosinase inhibitors: hydroquinone, arbutin, azelaic acid.
  2. Copper pathway inhibitors: kojic acid, vitamin C.
  3. Exfoliating agents: glycolic acid, trichloroacetic acid, mandelic acid, phenol, etc; Although it is not an exfoliant in the strict sense, we could also add retinol, which promotes cell renewal in the epidermis.
  4. Tranexamic acid: one of the main novelties in this field; it works by inhibiting plasmin, which has a melanogenic action; we can administer it topically and even orally.

These products, properly formulated, "can be very effective in treating blemishes, as long as we label them for their proper indication."

Other products such as retinol, which accelerates skin renewal, or vitamin C, with high antioxidant power, are also used to reduce sun spots.

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