Sunscreen on the skin

La cultura al sol y a la relación con la felicidad y salud, el culto por el bronceado, lleva a que se produzcan las manchas solares, que en principio solo es un problema estético pero sino se controlan pueden degenerar en lesiones más peligrosas y malignas.

Dark skin spots are called lentigos, it is simply a hyper-production of cells called melanocytes (melanin producers) somewhere in the skin, this is usually due to sun exposure.

Sunscreen in general are directly related to skin aging.

Sometimes apart from the sun there are other factors that can make these spots appear such as hormonal change, such as during pregnancy, pharmacological treatments such as contraceptives, some antibiotics, anti -cenéic, diuretics, the list is very long, so I recommendWhen taking a drug, the prospect is read carefully looking at the possible photosensitivity that can produce or consult with the pharmacist.

It should differentiate what is a lentigo (where the number of melanocytes) increases to melasma (the amount of melanin produced) increases, the melasma produces more generalized spots.

Melanin is secreted in melanocytes, from an amino acid called tyrosine (which is why tan stimulating products usually contain this).

The main function of this is to protect the skin of the sun (of ultraviolet rays).

Solar lentigos, what are they?

They are the skin spots, brown, flat and irregular, such as flat plates.

They can appear throughout the body although as they appear due to ame of sun, it is more frequent in the face, neckline and hands.

They can be confused with freckles, but these are usually larger and in the form of a flat plate and in a timely manner in older people, due to excess sun.The freckles appear in a generalized way, they are usually smaller and there is a genetic predisposition to suffer from them.

If these injuries want to be treated, the correct diagnosis is important for the doctor since they are treated differently.

The lentigos are accumulation of epidermal melanocytes in the part of the skin in which they appear.

Different types of lentigo?

Simple lentigos

It is usually a congenital or acquired stain.

They do not have to be related to sun exposure.

They are simply spots that appear punctual in areas that do not have to have had sun exposure.

Solar lentigos

They are as I have defined previously, they appear gradually although more frequently from the age of 60, so it is also called Senile lentigo.

The contour of them are irregular, brown, they can be seen perfectly even if they are clear.

They are also called liver spots, although they are not related to the liver.

White leather people have a hard time tan or who have more tendency to suffer solar burns are more likely to suffer from these sunscrew, unlike people who tend to tan easily.

These spots do not disappear alone, to eliminate them, medical treatment is essential, usually laser.

Malignant lentigos

Melanomas can lead to malignant lentigos, just like the lots appear in the same areas exposed to the sun.

Generally this defect in the production of melanocytes is due to a repetitive accumulation of solar radiation, although it is believed that there are other factors that can also affect their formation.

The malignant lentigo begins equal to the plot although its growth begins internally, as well as on the outside, vertical nodules, redness, itching and even papules, the contours are often irregular.

How is a solar lentigo about?

They can be several ways although medical procedures are faster and faster.

Topical treatments: in which action is not very effective, hydroquinone -based creams or other depigmenting ones, although they are effective when melasmas trafficking.

Peelings: They are more effective than creams, it is generally more convenient to combine both treatments.

Cryotherapy: It is about freezing the lentigo so that it goes down and falls as if it were a wart, although more than one application is necessary.

Laser: The laser treatment does not have inflammation of it, the Erbio-Yag, Alexandrite or Q-Switched laserThis, the stain changes and a scab occ.

The darkest lentigos are easier to eliminate than the clearest, since the amount of melanin is greater and the energy of the laser.

How can we prevent lentigos?

When knowing why they appear it seems easy to avoid their appearance and it is to reduce sun exposure.

And always use a high protection solar filter, applying it several times during sun exposure.

We can use self -concentrating products that will help you get a tan tone without the danger that lentigos appears.

And, on spots in general or melasmas? How can we treat them and prevent them?

Melasmas are another different type of skin spots, in which there is an increase in melanin production in some area exposed to the sun.

They can appear at any age and are closely related to hormonal, pharmacological factors, or contact with products that produce photosensitivity such as perfumes with the sun.

There are several types of melasmas, superficial or epidermal, deeper or more dermal and mixed.

Dermal type melasmas are the most difficult to eliminate, for this it is necessary.

The treatment of the same can also be thanks to the lasera unique in this case the Fraxel type laser is used, which will progressively eliminate the skin of the skin, although with results not as fast or effective such as the elimination of solar lentigos.

The use of topical creams are very effective, in which the repetition of its use is very important, the older these spots costs more to eliminate them.

Or in combination of several treatments.

Generally the ideal topical treatment is to use a peeling, or creams with glycolic acids, together with depigmentant.

As drugs, hydroquinone at 3 or 5%.

Phytic acid is also very effective.

It is essential to use a solar filter with total screen (although the sun is not being taken) when these products are being used, since having the most sensitized and fine skin, it could be more easily burned.

I recommend doing a treatment to eliminate melasmas -type spots, during the months of less solar intensity, during winter.

Very typical is the melasma of pregnancy (chloasma) that appears around the lips (mustache ...), cheeks and central part of the forehead.

Some medications such as diuretics and antibiotics can easily cause this type of sun spots.

Equally oral contraceptives.

Assets to eliminate melasma

Hydroquinone is one of the most active components to eliminate these spots, although considered as a drug it can only be prescribed by a doctor.

It is used at 4% or 2%.

The Neostrata laboratory elaborates these two concentrations in its lycofort and lycostrata creams.

Kojic acid: This is one of the mostly used components in Japanese cosmetics, an audience in which one of the main objectives looking for in a cream is the white power.

This component is extracted from the mushrooms of Japan although it is currently extracted by sugar fermentation such as sucrose or xylose.

This acid acts inhibiting tyrosinase, the enzyme that helps the transformation of tyrosine into melanin.

Phytic acid, it is an acid containing phosphorus, it is naturally found in the cereal, nuts and some legumes.

This acts blocking the absorption of iron and copper when producing melanin.

This component together with the previous.

It is generally used in proportions of 2 or 4%.

Ferulic acid is an antioxidant of plant origin derived from hydroxycinamic acid is usually included in depigmenting cosmetics, together with kojic or phytic acid.

Citric acid, it is also included in the compositions of depigmenting cosmetics.

L-Arbutin, it is a component that is extracted from gayuba or Ursi grapes, specifically its leaves.

This component produces hydroxiquinone, a natural derivative such as hydroquinone, but with less irritating action, hydroxiquinone acts equally inhibiting the production of tyrosinase, the enzyme responsible for the production of melanin from the amino acid tyrosine.

Glycirretic acid, extract of the licorice, also called an enoxolone.

In turn, it also acts inhibiting tyrosinase, thus also has a bleaching action.

Azelaic acid also called nonanodioic acid, which is naturally found in wheat, rye and barley.It is used to reduce melasmas, since it causes a decrease in epidermal melanogenesis, by inhibiting active melanocytes.