Sun spots are marks that appear on your skin due to long exposure to sunlight. These are often rounded and ugly that is found on the skin. They are also called liver spots or age spots in some cases. The long exposures to sunlight are the cause of sunspots. It is common with older people but there are cases were younger people who are exposed to sunlight also develop sun spots.
When the skin is unprotected, and it is exposed to sunlight for long periods of time, the skin will try to protect itself. Your body will produce melanocytes to protect your skin from the harmful effects of the sunlight. The melanocytes subsequently produce more melanin on the skin. This results to the dark pigmentation of the skin. When there are too many melanin productions, the sun spots appear. Sun spots most often appear on a person’s face, shoulders, and neck,
If you are looking for more information on what are sunspots on skin, maybe this Q&A will help.
How will I know if I am developing sun spots, are there any symptoms?
Sun Spots have no symptoms. If you are spending too much time under the sun unprotected, then there are high chances that you will get sun spots. There are no symptoms, and you will just see it in your skin.
Are Sun spots dangerous?
Sun spots happen when the skin is trying to protect itself from the sun’s harmful rays. It’s a defense mechanism of the skin. Therefore, it should not be dangerous. If your sun spots are growing bigger, it would be best to consult a doctor immediately.
How big should a sun spot be?
Normal Sun Spots are usually small to about the size of a dime. They are mostly round with rough edges. There are smooth and not rough when touched.
Are sun spots and freckles the same?
No they are not. While they may appear the same, they are actually quite different. Freckles lighten or disappear in the winter seasons. Sunspots on skin do not lighten on winter seasons. It stays dark the whole year round.
With this information, you should know by now that you should not go out in the sunlight for long periods of time without any sun protection. It should also be remembered that people who are older are more susceptible in developing sun spots than those who are younger. Furthermore, dark-skinned people are more resistant top sun spots because by default they already have more melanin in their skin than those people who have lighter skin.
How to Get Rid of Sunspots on Skin
Sunspots are unsightly; no one really wants to have them. It is only natural they would want to get rid of it. Society demands that we always look at our best at any age. Beauty is a status in the society, and if there are any imperfections on our skin, there will be people who will look down on us. Here are top ways on how to get rid of sunspots on skin:
Skin Whiteners
Sunspots on skin treatment will gradually disappear. Depending on what treatment you will use to get rid of it, it could take several weeks or months. The most basic way of treating sunspots is by applying whitening products on the affected area. Since the melanin is responsible for the dark pigmentation of the sunspots, products that are rich in hydrocodone will be very effective. Bleaching creams will also do wonders in removing sunspots. The only thing to remember when using these kinds of products is that, you should apply these products evenly on your skin. Do not just apply them on the areas where there are sunspots; otherwise, the color of your skin will not be balanced or the same.
Chemical Peel
Dermatological treatments are also available for treating sunspots. The treatment using these processes will have quicker results. An example of a dermatological treatment is the chemical peel. This treatment will peel the top-most layer of the skin by using some chemicals. Since the sunspots are just located on the top-most layer of your skin, sunspots will disappear with just few sessions of the chemical peel. It is a non evasive procedure.
One of the common home-made chemical peels is Borax mixture. A Borax mixture is known for its potency in sun spot removal, though it does take some time to clear off the sun spot and rejuvenate the skin, it is a therapy that is effective and come with so side effect unlike many other chemical peels which are sold as over-the-counter medications.
A Borax mixture that will be used for sun spot removal is prepared and left to stand for around 48 hours before usage. Using a q-tip, you can apply the mixture sparingly on your skin twice daily (remember to get the right prescription); you should start to notice the fading of the sun spots in less than 72 hours. Borax mixture for sun spot removal can be made much more effective by the use of Borax, water and Glycerin. This mixture is found to be effective especially in mild sun spot removal techniques. It is ideal for people who are experiencing sun spot for the first time and the mixture is believed to be gentle even on the most sensitive skin.
Laser Resurfacing
Your dermatologist can also do is laser resurfacing. This treatment involves using laser to peel of the top-most layer of the skin. Some call it “laser peel.” Despite using lasers, this treatment does not cause pain on the patient. The laser “burns off’ the area where the sunspots are. It is very precise. The process also promotes new skin to grow because of the heat the laser creates on the skin. After your skin has healed, your skin will be soft and smooth.
Micro Dermabrasion
Micro dermabrasion is another treatment that a dermatologist, or a plastic surgeon. This uses a device that is usually called “diamond tipped wand.” This device will gently peel of your old skin. The micro dermabrasion is very similar to the laser peel treatment. Both use a device to peel of the outer most layer of the skin while heating the skin to promote new skin to grow. After each session, your skin will look a little pinkish, but after the skin is fully healed, it will look younger and become softer.
Other Fading Therapies
Ultra-violet rays are often responsible for the formation of sun spot on the skin, such spots often become reddish in color and may later turn to brown or black colored patches depending on the nature of the skin.
Home Remedies
There are also some home treatments that you can do to treat sunspots. Sunspots on skin treatment with home-made remedies will not be as fast acting than those mentioned above; however, these treatments will cost significantly less. One thing you can do is soak almonds in water for several hours. When the almonds are soft, turn it into a paste, mix with milk, and apply it to the area where there are sunspots. For best results, apply the paste before going to sleep, and then was it in the morning. Do this regularly, and after 15 days, you will notice some effects already.
Using an alternative method, Aloe Vera which is a medicinal plant is one of the best treatments for white sunspots on skin. The leaf has medicinal juices in it so you need to cut it into half and apply it to your troublesome skin condition. The liquid that comes out from the leaf relieves the skin irritation manifested on the person’s integument system and gradually disappears for a period of time.
Aside from this, you can also apply ice compression over the skin to relieve any discomforts or pain.
If these methods do not minimize the aggravating effects of the skin irritation, you should consult your dermatologist first and hear what your dermatologist has to advice. It may not be necessary to undergo any of these treatments, and you could just use whitening products if you sunspot is not too severe. The dermatologist treatments will be a little expensive and depending on how much area will need the treatment, the price may increase.
Conclusion
The best way on how to get rid of sunspots on the skin is to prevent it from developing. If you know that you are going to out in the sunshine for a long time, then you should apply any kind of sun protection. You could wear sunglasses, hats, or hoods to protect your skin from direct sunlight. It is always said that: ”prevention is better than cure.” Sunspots are easy enough to treat these days because of technology. There are many treatments available and are being developed. It is easy to know just by searching the net for answers.
