This summer may be the first time you've noticed them summer sunspots. They're not a welcome reminder of sun exposure, but are they serious? Will they go away? Hale Cosmeceuticals help you understand what sunspots are and how to treat them.
Sunspots, also called age spots or solar lentigines, are caused by sun damage to the skin. They appear as flat spots that are black, brown or gray on areas more often exposed to sunlight, usually:
Sunspots appear when the sun's UVA and UVB rays penetrate the skin and stimulate melanocyte cells, which begin to (over)produce melanin, the skin's natural pigment. The result is spots of irregular color, or sunspots. Unlike indicators of malignant skin damage, sun spots are flat and evenly round either circular or ovate. If you see areas of hyperpigmentation that have raised edged, have variated color and/or have no defined shape, those spots should be examined by a doctor. Sunspots develop over long periods of repeated sun exposure. The best defense is sun protection. However, if you already see sunspots, there are treatments you can use that don't require you to see a doctor or aesthetician.
Other harmless spots can also be confused with sunspots, including cherry hemangiomas, which are small red dots caused by an overgrowth of blood vessels near the skin, and seborrheic keratoses, which are flat or raised light brown to black spots with a wart-like appearance. These are benign, but because some skin cancers can look similar to common dark spots, it is important to pay attention to changes in appearance over time.
In general, benign sunspots and age spots develop gradually with years of sun exposure and tend to be evenly colored and uniform in texture. A spot that seems to appear suddenly, looks much darker than your natural skin tone, varies in color from one area to another, or has an irregular surface may warrant a medical evaluation.
One of the best ways to treat summer sunspots is through exfoliation, which helps the skin renew itself and slough away the (hyper)pigmented area. Other ways to help treat sunspots include application of lighteners. Natural skin brighteners include:
Hale Cosmeceuticals offers several products to help treat sunspots. We have moisturizers with AHA and retinol to help with exfoliation and cell turnover. Our skin brightening powerhouse, though, is SB-7 Skin Brightener, which combines seven powerful lightening agents that are both safe and nourishing. Because sunspots are areas of hyperpigmentation, they often respond to lightening treatments. If a dark spot does not respond as expected, or you are unsure whether it is truly a sunspot, it is best to have it checked by your primary care provider or dermatologist.
If you want help finding the sunspot treatment best suited to your skin, contact us.Our customer service team is here to answer all of your questions.