Facial pigmentation: an aesthetic defect or a signal of danger?

Why excessive pigmentation appears on the face and how to deal with it are questions that concern many women. Such a problem can overshadow a person's life at almost any age. Hyperpigmentation ranks first among skin defects and can easily spoil the mood and even create conditions for complexes in young girls and older women.

Brown spots on the cheeks can be difficult to get rid of. In some cases, the fight against them requires serious treatment, in others they go away on their own. This is due to the reasons for their occurrence.

What is facial pigmentation?

The cells responsible for skin pigment are called melanocytes. The number of melanocytes is responsible for skin color: the more melanocytes, the darker the skin. The color pigment depends on genetic characteristics, which provide for a different combination of brown, yellow, red and blue coloring cells.

Melanin - a brown pigment - is produced under the action of sunlight and ultraviolet radiation and is a natural skin protection factor that prevents the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation on it. It is as a result of excessive formation and deposition of melanin that hyperpigmentation occurs, that is, the appearance of dark areas of the skin.

Manifestations of pigmentation are more noticeable in people with fair skin. They can be expressed in the form of spots, freckles and moles. If the melanin lies deep in the skin, the spots look especially bright, if closer to the surface, they have a pale brown tint.

Doctors distinguish between internal and external causes of the problem.

When the reason is inside

Internal causes of hyperpigmentation include :

• Lack of vitamins. Vitamin B12 deficiency causes darkening of the skin. It regulates pigment synthesis, thereby preventing the formation of new age spots. Vitamin A discolors the dark shade. Vitamin E in sufficient quantity reduces the risk of skin damage resulting from intense exposure to sunlight.
• Poor blood circulation. In case of stagnation, the blood is not able to completely get rid of toxins and decay products. They appear on the skin in the form of age spots.
• Intestinal slagging. Improper functioning of this organ interferes with metabolic processes in the body, resulting in darkening of the skin.
• Diseases of the cardiovascular and nervous systems, especially over the age of 40 years.
• Violation of the hormonal balance in the body during pregnancy and childbirth, due to gynecological diseases and problems with the thyroid gland.
• Kidney diseases. The appearance of yellowish-brown age spots often indicate problems with the functioning of the kidneys.
• Long-term use of certain medications. As a result of such treatment, the skin may acquire a dark shade in places.
• Stress. If you are under stress for a long period, you may encounter the occurrence of pigmentation. In such a situation, you need to bring your psychological state back to normal.

The causes of spots can be determined by their appearance. Red formations occur if the intestines do not work well. Brown age spots on the face often indicate liver and gallbladder disease.

Dangers outside

External causes of age spots include:

• Active sun rays. They not only cause burns, but also stimulate excess melanin synthesis in the deep layers of the skin. Similarly, the body may respond to a visit to the solarium. Pigmentation is especially noticeable in spring, because after winter frosts, the skin loses melanin, and under the intense influence of ultraviolet radiation, the pigment is formed unevenly.
• The appearance of acne. When squeezing out abscesses and applying a thick layer of masking cream, there is a risk of getting residual effects in the form of scars and spots.
• age pigmentation. After reaching the age of forty and fifty, many women develop large brown spots on their face and hands. This is clearly seen when viewing photos of women before and after 50 years. By themselves, they are not dangerous, but spoil the appearance. Such a phenomenon is treated only with the help of the achievements of cosmetology .
• Allergy to cosmetics or food. If you do not get rid of inflammation, peeling and rashes in time, dark marks can remain for a long time.

If you are prone to excessive pigmentation, during the period of active sun (in the morning and afternoon), it is necessary to hide the face, arms and shoulders.

Types of pigmentation on the face

There are many types of pigmentation on the face. In order to eliminate this problem as efficiently as possible, you must first determine the cause of its occurrence.

Freckles are tiny yellowish discolorations that show up more when exposed to sunlight. Their number usually decreases with age. Beauticians recommend using sunscreen to protect yourself from the appearance of new freckles.

Chloasma - pigmented formations that appear against the background of hormonal changes due to pregnancy, gynecological diseases, endocrine system dysfunction - usually in adults, requires treatment.

A birthmark is a miniature benign neoplasm. If desired, it can be removed by laser or cryotherapy.

Lentigo - dark brown spots that appear as a result of exposure to ultraviolet radiation. Usually found in old age.

Vitiligo is white patches that occur due to a violation of the formation of melanin. The tendency to the disease is hereditary.

Treatment of age spots on the face will directly depend on the causes of their occurrence. If the appearance of spots is not associated with other serious diseases, then in this case special cosmetic procedures for skin whitening can be prescribed.

There are many methods for treating age spots, including cosmetic procedures: whitening masks, acid peels, pharmaceuticals, and the like. But the leader among all these methods in terms of efficiency is the light and laser effect on the pigment.

To choose the safest and most effective method, you need to contact a qualified specialist - a dermatologist, who will professionally and correctly determine the cause of pigmentation and select the best option to deal with it.