Pigment spots began to appear on the face. Why pigment spots appear on the skin of the face - how to get rid of them with medications and folk remedies

Pigment spots on the face. Causes and methods of combating pigment spots. Cosmetological and home methods of getting rid of age spots.

A woman at any age wants to be attractive, exclusive and irresistible. But our desires do not always correspond to reality; sometimes they are crossed out by objective reasons, which, alas, we are not always able to influence. For example, dark spots on the face and other parts of the body, which not only spoil our appearance, but also cause mental discomfort. The main thing in this matter is not to give up; our beauty is the result of working on ourselves, perseverance and daily self-care.

We usually associate the appearance of age spots with poor skin care, and therefore we try to get rid of them only with the help of cosmetics. This is a fundamentally erroneous and incorrect opinion; expensive creams and lotions cannot solve this problem. It is generally accepted that excessive skin pigmentation is only a female problem - this is not so, men are no less susceptible to their appearance than the weaker sex.

There are many important aspects of the occurrence of pigment spots; these are not one, not two, or even three key factors. And most of them directly depend on the general state of our health, hormonal levels and the level of the body’s immune defense.

The appearance of pigment spots: causes and prerequisites for this phenomenon

To understand the essence of the problem, it is necessary to understand its origins. Where and why do hyperpigmented areas appear on our faces? Most of us know that there are several epidermal layers of the skin, as well as that a specific substance is produced in the outer and deep layers - melanin. It is its quantity that is responsible for coloring the skin.

Being regularly exposed to various external factors, its content in one or another skin layer can vary sharply from the norm according to color type. These melanin fluctuations provoke the appearance of age spots. If the accumulation of pigment in the epidermal layer is minimal, then the spot on the skin will be small and weakly expressed, most likely it will acquire a light bronze or light beige tint, which will have virtually no effect on our appearance.

Many people have freckles, which are also pigment spots by nature. This category also includes moles (in their benign form - nevi) and lentigines left on the skin by sunburn and excessive tanning.

Freckles are one of the types of pigmentation

In the worst case, the pigment accumulates unevenly and in large quantities in the deep epidermis - that’s when we see dark, coffee-brown spots different sizes. Such neoplasms can significantly affect our reflection in the mirror and cause a lot of troubles associated with the face and our appearance as a whole.

In addition, such pigmented areas may have uneven edges and rise somewhat above general level skin, be covered with cracks and roughness, from which individual coarse hairs can grow.

If dermatological tests have revealed a particular tendency to increased pigmentation, then the owner of such skin needs to find out for herself the reasons for the fluctuations in melanin. Only in this way can we avoid unpleasant tumors and their consequences for the beauty of our face.

Primary factors influencing the increase in melanin levels

So, let’s systematize the reasons for the increase in pigment levels:

Diseases, hormonal imbalances and metabolic disorders

Among such factors, we can note several specific general diseases that provoke increased production of pigment, which causes the appearance of unpleasant-looking neoplasms. First of all, these are physiological damage to the gastrointestinal tract.

Dermatologists and cosmetologists have known about the dependence of skin condition on the health of the digestive system since the time of Avicenna. Those people who have impaired functionality of the large and small intestines are most susceptible to epidermal changes. Failures in their work lead to total slagging and intoxication of the body, and this, in turn, affects the skin.

Hormonal surges due to pelvic diseases, as well as a decrease in the body’s immune defense, can also negatively affect the appearance and condition of the skin. The dermal layers lose their elasticity, dry out and become pigmented.

External toxic factors are no less dangerous - destructive chemical compounds floating in the air around us have an extremely adverse effect on the upper layers of the skin, penetrating inside the pores and making it difficult for waste sebum to escape. The same consequences can be caused by direct contact with household poisons and conditionally hazardous substances. For example, those contained in various cosmetics.

Therefore, abusing cosmetics, as well as going to bed without removing makeup, is not only bad taste, but also direct damage own skin faces. You should also be more careful when using essential and other volatile oils, even if they were obtained by macerate extraction.

Excessive use of cosmetics negatively affects the skin

Another reason for the occurrence of age spots is unprofessional cleansing of the facial skin with hardware and chemicals. If you use cleaning abrasives incorrectly and overly aggressively, an increase in pigmentation is guaranteed to overtake you in 80% of cases.

Diseases of the urinary system lead to stagnation of fluid in the body, which, as you understand, also does not have a beneficial effect on us. Excess moisture in the dermal layers leads to disturbances in the production of melanin.

Harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation

Ultraviolet radiation is the second most likely and most common cause of color changes in our skin, and besides, the face is exactly the part of the body that is almost always exposed to sun rays.

For those for whom sudden activation of the pigment brings trouble every time, it will be useful to know that in this situation, increased melanin is produced due to the desire of our body to protect itself from sunburn. It must be remembered that the main functional responsibility of this pigment is to resist destructive ultraviolet rays. However, despite this fact, each of us loves tanning, both natural and artificial, which is even more dangerous.

It is dangerous for everyone, especially women with thin and pale skin, to sunbathe during the daytime under the direct scorching sun. Because even very strong cosmetic protection is not always a guarantee of safety. The chance of acquiring pigment spots increases when burned. In this situation, the body tries to produce as much melanin as possible - a kind of biological barrier to damage to the upper layers of the skin by ultraviolet radiation.

What is the working principle of the pigment? It turns light areas of the skin dark, this is the natural principle of tanning. But for many reasons, not everyone experiences this coloring evenly. As a result, instead of an even and full tan, unsightly dark spots appear on the skin of the body, and the face in particular.

You can avoid this by using special thermal methods of protection, and you should also try to visit the beach as little as possible during the midday solstice. If your skin is hypersensitive, sunscreen will be useful not only in summer, but also in other seasons. The main thing is not to get carried away, since frequent use of various cosmetics can also lead to the appearance of age spots.

Sunscreen is necessary item personal hygiene, so it would be right if a professional selects this cream for you, taking into account all the needs and problems of your skin. Allergic reactions to cosmetic components are not the best way to combat excessive pigmentation. Dermatologists recommend using whitening products if you begin to suspect the emergence of pigmented tumors on your face.

It is necessary to protect your face from excess sun rays

Do not forget that the headdress plays an important role. It is advisable that its brim completely cover your face from the sun's rays.

Vitamin deficiency and impaired protein synthesis are the cause of hyperpigmentation

Vitamin deficiency is a common cause of age spots in pregnant women and adolescents during puberty. These are the so-called chloazams - dark spots that are distinguished by an uneven surface, torn edges and darken more and more over time. In the spring and summer months, these formations in the fair half of humanity may also include quite obvious freckles, which cannot be gotten rid of by any of the known methods.

Pregnant women are strictly prohibited from using any bleaching agents, chemical or mechanical. After childbirth, all these spots will disappear on their own, leaving behind absolutely no traces.

In adolescents, hyperpigmentation will disappear by the end of the puberty process, as it is caused by metabolic disorders, namely, in the body’s absorption of the required amount of vitamins.

You can understand what caused a particular neoplasm by its appearance. You should pay attention to every detail - size, color, speed of occurrence, edging, condition of the surface of the stain and other details. For a competent dermatologist, each parameter can become an indicator of a particular problem in your body. In addition, each individual area of the face - forehead, cheeks, chin, nose - with the appearance of age spots signals us about malfunctions in the nervous, excretory, immune, metabolic and other systems.

Age criteria for activation of melanin production

The aging process of the body inevitably affects our skin. As a result of prolonged exposure to several of the above factors, melanin not only accumulates in the deep layers of the skin, but is also unevenly distributed.

The facial skin of an aging person first of all acquires a heterogeneous structure and uneven color. By the age of thirty, many women can be diagnosed with the appearance of unsightly, red-brown spots on the face. They do not pose a threat to our health, but at the same time they do not color our appearance at all. Unfortunately, no foundation can hide such skin flaws.

However, each such spot signals the owner about a certain problem in the functioning of internal organs and systems, since, as we remember, melanin formations are, in most cases, external manifestations diseases.

Age spots may appear with age

For women forty to fifty years old, increased pigmentation of the facial skin is a standard problem. This fact is explained by the fact that the body can no longer cope with control over the production of pigments and does not have time to distribute and utilize melanin in a timely manner. This is also facilitated by the hormonal crisis that falls on women during this period.

Ways and methods of relieving hyperpigmentation of facial areas

Not every one of us can come to terms with the presence of pigment spots on our own face, so cosmetologists and doctors have long developed several effective methods for getting rid of these growths. Even 20-30 years ago, removal of hyperpigmented areas of skin caused women a lot of discomfort and was very ineffective.

The methods of direct skin whitening that existed at that time were based on the use of alkaline solutions, and therefore inevitably entailed side troubles. Creams and clay whitening pastes were more of a means of prevention than a radical way to combat age spots.

At this stage of development of cosmetology, they can be removed in almost a couple of sessions, while not even the slightest noticeable scars will remain on the skin of the face. But this is only if they are not caused by diseases of the internal organs. Then a comprehensive and highly competent approach to this problem is required. Only a fully healthy body is the key to good and beautiful facial skin.

Most often, to relieve hyperpigmentation, cosmetologists resort to peelings and scrubs. There are several basic types of these products, but their action is based on the same principle: removing the surface layer of the dermis and stimulating enhanced regeneration. This leads to lightening of the skin, improving its uniformity and elasticity. Let us distinguish three types of such influence:

Ultrasound is a completely effective way to combat age spots, but it is effective only when the pigmentation is quite weak, without pronounced, dark formations. The ultrasound wave is able to affect only the uppermost dermal layer, massaging it, thereby improving blood supply and lymph outflow.

Laser is rightfully considered the most effective and comfortable method. In addition, it is recognized as the safest at the current time. The effectiveness of this effect is 98%. Using a laser beam, the master performs a complete resurfacing of the skin, while causing minimal damage to the skin layers, without irritating or injuring it. The beam evaporates the liquid that stagnates in the skin cells. After such treatment, there is a massive death of old epidermal cells, and in their place new ones, which do not carry excess melanin, are actively regenerated.

Chemical is the most traumatic, dangerous and obsolete method. The essence of this effect is based on the chemical dissolution of the top layer of skin. A specific composition is applied to the face, in which aggressive acids predominate. Simply put, these active components eat away the skin along with age spots.

The procedure is very painful and has a lot of absolute contraindications. As a result of repeated use, such peeling will significantly lighten the skin, but at the same time dry it out, causing early wrinkles and making her hypersensitive. Not recommended for use for any metabolic disorders.

Pigment spots on the skin of the face themselves are harmless, because they are an accumulation of melanin pigment in a small area of skin. But they should not be considered a simple cosmetic defect, since they are often caused by various malfunctions and internal diseases.

Content:

The main types and causes of age spots

Not many people imagine the mechanism of formation of pigment spots. Deep in the epidermis there is a coloring substance called melanin, which is responsible for the pigmentation of the skin. Melanin is obtained from an amino acid contained in melanocytes under the influence of a special enzyme. The influence of certain factors leads to the fact that this substance begins to accumulate (pigmentation), resulting in spots appearing on the skin of the face. The color intensity of age spots depends on the level of melanin accumulation. In addition, by the location and color intensity of the spots, you can determine the cause of their occurrence. For example, the appearance on the forehead of a wide yellowish spot with a rim may indicate possible violations at work nervous system, if barely noticeable spots without clear boundaries appear on the cheeks and neck, there are malfunctions in the liver, and dark brown spots in the area of the mouth and chin may indicate a disruption in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.

Video: What causes pigment spots to appear, methods of treatment.

Freckles, moles, solar lentigines - these also all belong to age spots, but they do not cause us aesthetic discomfort, like dark spots. Brown on the face, indicating the accumulation of melanin in these areas in huge quantities. If you have a tendency to pigmentation, it is important to know the reasons for the increase in the amount of melanin in order to subsequently prevent the appearance of unpleasant consequences on the face.

The main reasons that provoke the appearance of age spots on the face are:

Exposure to direct sunlight. For those who are not prone to pigmentation, melanin is a friend and protects the skin from sunburn by turning light areas of the skin a dark color. This is how a tan appears. It’s just that for some, the skin coloring occurs evenly, while for others, those who are prone to pigmentation, it occurs in spots. Therefore, if you are aware of such a feature of your skin, try to be under less open sun, wear Panama hats or wide-brimmed hats, be sure to use face creams with a high protection factor, and not only in summer. In the latter case, sunscreen cosmetics are not suitable for everyone; sometimes, on the contrary, they provoke an increase in pigmentation. In this case, cosmetologists advise only one thing: if you notice the first signs of pigmentation while applying sunscreen, start using whitening products.
Metabolic changes.
Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, kidneys, liver, gall bladder. During the treatment of these diseases, it is recommended to regularly use protective and bleaching agents to prevent the situation from worsening.
Contacting chemicals, present in cosmetics, perfumes (most often essential oils, abrasive particles of scrubs).
Lack of vitamins and microelements, especially copper and ascorbic acid. When the cause is eliminated, the spots disappear on their own.
Pregnancy period (chloasma spots, freckles). In this case, you don’t need to do anything; age spots will go away on their own approximately 2 months after delivery.
Hereditary factors. In this case, it is possible to remove pigment spots from the skin of the face, but there is a risk of their reoccurrence in another place; you can’t argue with nature.
Hormonal changes (including age-related). Often, pale brown pigment spots appear during menstruation and often go away on their own without outside intervention.
Violation of the integrity of the skin (burns, unsuccessful peeling, microtrauma of the skin, acne, etc. can cause pigmentation).
Taking certain medications (mostly antibiotics).
Nervous system disorders, frequent stress (usually this is indicated by the appearance of pigmentation on the forehead).

Any of the above factors can become a trigger for an increase in the amount of melanin and its uneven distribution in the skin, resulting in light brown to dark brown spots appearing on the skin of the face and body.

Methods for removing age spots from facial skin

Before starting treatment for pigmentation, it is necessary to identify the cause of their occurrence and eliminate it. To do this, you need to visit a specialist or several specialists (general practitioner, gynecologist, endocrinologist and gastroenterologist). Without eliminating the cause, treating the spots will be useless. After the course of treatment of the disease or disorder that caused the appearance of age spots on the face has been completed, the spots will disappear on their own or will become much paler, which will greatly facilitate their further lightening or removal.

To get rid of this unsightly cosmetic defect skin there are quite a few ways: different kinds peelings (determined by the doctor taking into account the intensity of the spot color, its size, individual characteristics skin, the presence of contraindications), whitening procedures, cosmetic and home remedies with a whitening effect, recipes traditional medicine.

Removal of age spots using cosmetic methods

Laser peeling.

The most effective and preferred method. Using laser beams, the skin is gently polished, its top layer is removed, and the renewal process is simultaneously stimulated. As a result, in addition to eliminating the main problem, the skin is additionally rejuvenated and acquires an even tone.

Ultrasonic peeling.

The procedure is effective against light brown, inconspicuous pigment spots on the face, and additionally improves blood circulation in the skin.

Dermabrasion.

Grinding the surface of the facial skin with a special device, the surface layer of pigmented cells is eliminated, new cells are quickly restored, the skin has an even shade.

Phototherapy.

By exposing areas of pigmentation to light waves, cells containing excessive amounts of melanin are destroyed.

Cryotherapy.

Impact low temperatures(liquid nitrogen) on problem areas of the skin, as a result of which they lighten. At the same time, the skin is rejuvenated and its tone is evened out.

Chemical peeling.

Various acids are used for peeling (glycolic peeling, fruit peeling, etc.), due to which the upper layers of the skin are exfoliated, pigmentation is eliminated, and cellular renewal processes are stimulated.

All peels without exception have many contraindications, which is why a specialist, after an individual consultation, chooses the type of peeling and the number of sessions.

Whitening salon procedures.

The procedure itself is painless, but very time-consuming and ineffective. The pigment spots themselves lighten and become less noticeable, but the procedure will not get rid of them completely.

Cosmetics for age spots.

Various creams with a whitening effect against age spots must be used with great caution and under the supervision of a doctor, since improper use can aggravate the situation, increase the number of pigmented areas on the face and the intensity of their color. The doctor will select a whitening cream taking into account contraindications.

Traditional medicine recipes for age spots

Sometimes small areas of pigmentation can be eliminated using folk remedies. The juice of some fruits, vegetables and plants has a lightening effect (grapefruit, lemon, cucumber, sauerkraut, radish). Simply soak a gauze pad in the fresh juice of any of them and apply to the area of age spots for 10 minutes. After the procedure, you just need to wash your face with cool water and lubricate your face with a moisturizer. This method should be used 2 times a day for 10 days. Then you need to take a seven-day break and, if necessary, repeat the course.

Curd whitening mask.

Compound.
Low-fat cottage cheese – 1 tbsp. l.
Ammonia – 10 drops.
Hydrogen peroxide (3%) – 5 drops.

Application.
Combine the components into a homogeneous mass. Apply directly to areas of pigmentation and leave for 15 minutes, rinse with cool water, and after the procedure apply a moisturizing cream to the skin.

Brightening mask with sour cream and clay.

Compound.
Fat sour cream – 1 tsp.
Liquid honey – 1 tsp.
Lemon juice – 1 tsp.
White clay – 1 tsp.

Application.
Mix the components, apply dotted strokes to age spots and leave for 15 minutes. Remove the mask with warm and then cool water. Lubricate the skin with a moisturizing cream.

Cucumber mask.

Compound.
Fresh cucumber – 1 pc.

Application.
Grate the cucumber on a fine grater, lightly squeeze out the juice and apply to the skin of the face. After 15 minutes, wash with water room temperature and apply moisturizer.

Protein mask.

Compound.
Egg white – 1 pc.
Lemon juice – ¼ fruit.
Hydrogen peroxide – 3 drops.

Application.
Mix the ingredients and apply pointwise to brown spots. Keep the mixture on your face for 10 minutes, remove cotton pad, soaked in milk and apply nourishing cream.

It is better to do whitening procedures in the late afternoon, when you are no longer planning to go outside. Pre-test each mask composition for sensitivity.

Preventing the appearance of age spots on the face

Once you get rid of age spots, make sure they don’t appear again. Namely, use sunscreen cosmetics, do not abuse sunbathing(it is better to sunbathe in the morning until about 12.00, in the evening after 16.00), see a doctor, if necessary, correct the underlying disease that caused excessive pigmentation, take vitamins and generally lead a healthy lifestyle.

Pigment spots on the face and body, as well as areas with insufficient skin color or its complete absence are one of the most current problems modern dermatocosmetology.

Such local disorders are associated with a coloring pigment, mainly melanin, as a result of which they are combined into one group of skin pathology by the term “melanosis”. In recent decades, the number of people with hyperpigmentation has increased especially significantly.

Why do age spots appear?

Depending on the excess of melanin (dark spots), lack or absence of pigment (white spots), local melanoses are distinguished as hyper- and hypomelanoses, respectively. They are not just limited cosmetic defects, differing in causes and mechanisms of development and very often seriously traumatic for the psyche, but can be a consequence of both local limited disorders and various diseases body. To have an idea of how to get rid of age spots and in what cases this is possible, it is necessary to understand the causes and mechanisms of their formation.

Melanin is the main pigment that determines the color of the skin. It exists in 2 types, the ratio of which determines the color of the skin:

eumelanin - an insoluble pigment of black or brown color;
pheomelanin is a soluble pigment with various shades ranging from brown to yellow.

Melanin is synthesized and contained in large cells with processes - melanocytes, which are located in the epidermal basal layer between keratinocytes. The main component of melanocytes is the amino acid tyrosine. As a result of a chain of biochemical reactions involving enzymes, the main of which is tyrosinase, tyrosine is oxidized to form pigment from the oxidation products.

Activation of the tyrosinase enzyme occurs only in the presence of oxygen, copper ions and under the influence of ultraviolet rays. Synthesized melanin accumulates in the organelles (melanosomes) formed in melanocytes, which then move along the processes of the former into the keratinocytes of the epidermis and are evenly distributed at different depths in all layers, and the melanosomes are destroyed.

Regulation of biological processes of melanin synthesis and secretion is determined by genes, influence endocrine system with the participation of the middle lobe of the pituitary gland (via melanin-stimulating hormone), ultraviolet radiation from the sun or artificial sources, and a combination of these factors.

In these processes, disturbances in amino acid metabolism, the function of the nervous system, liver and spleen, and deficiency of microelements such as magnesium, copper, sulfur and iron are also of considerable importance. For example, magnesium is involved in the regulation of the secretion of melanin-stimulating hormone, is directly involved in the transmission of signals from hormonal receptors, is able to suppress the action of tyrosinase, and helps maintain the connective tissue structure, due to which the pigment is distributed more evenly.

Thus, the reasons for the appearance of age spots are very numerous. They are capable of causing both a local decrease in the number of melanocytes and a disorder of the briefly described mechanisms, resulting in disturbances in the synthesis and secretion of melanin and its distribution in the skin. The vast majority of patients have limited areas of increased pigmentation on the skin.

Is it possible to remove age spots?

Depending on the causes and mechanisms of occurrence, hypermelanosis is divided into two groups:

Primary ones, which are large group diseases in which focal hyperpigmentation is the leading and, most often, the only clinical sign, although sometimes it can be combined with other manifestations of the disease. Primary hypermelanosis can be acquired, congenital and hereditary, which are inherited, detected immediately after birth or after some time and, often, in combination with symptoms of some other pathology.
Secondary, including limited skin changes, the cause of which were primary morphological elements in the form of rashes of any infectious or inflammatory origin. Hyperpigmentation in these cases develops as a result of the influence of proinflammatory cytokines. It has the character of residual effects of previous dermatosis (eczema, psoriasis, acne vulgaris, various vasculitis, etc.). Such defects, as a rule, do not require any therapy and after some time disappear spontaneously after cure or long-term remission of the underlying pathology.

Acquired hypermelanosis also includes all cases of activation of the synthesis and secretion of melanin, which develop throughout life under the influence of:

Some types of primary hypermelanosis cannot be treated with cosmetic products at all. In these cases, pigment spots can only be removed through therapeutic and sometimes surgical treatment of the underlying pathology.

The most common types of age spots

Lentigo

It is a primary hypermelanosis and usually develops between the ages of 10 and 70 years. The lesions are represented by round or oval spots with a maximum diameter from several millimeters to 1 - 2 cm and various colors - from light to dark brown and even black, which depends on the duration of their existence. Most often, lentigo is localized on the face, neck, upper parts chest and on your hands.

Causes include chronic sun exposure and age. Depending on the latter, juvenile (simple, youthful) and senile lentigo are distinguished. Simple disease can develop on any skin area and even on mucous membranes. In the basal layer, there is an increased content of melanin, but its local distribution is observed.

Already in old age, age spots often appear, which is mainly due to a change (slowdown) in metabolic processes. It is important that lentigo spots are a precancerous pathology. This is confirmed by histological examination - degeneration of collagen fibers is detected in the dermal layer, prone to staining with alkaline dyes, which indicates “solar” elastosis. Therefore, the choice of treatment in elderly patients should be very careful and reasonably justified.

Freckles, or ephelides

They are one of the typical features of the skin of blondes and red-haired people and belong to hereditary primary hypermelanosis. Their number is not associated with an increased number of melanocytic cells, but with a more intense formation and accumulation of melanin in keratinocytes.

Freckles appear in childhood (from 4 to 6 years), and in older age (after 30 years) the number of elements decreases significantly. They look like spots with a diameter of 0.1 to 0.4 mm, localized on the face, on the back and front surface of the chest, as well as on the limbs. The boundaries of the ephelides are clearly defined. Their number and intensity of pigmentation increase significantly in spring and summer under the influence of ultraviolet rays, especially after sunbathing.

In addition, in women (less often in men) after 40-50 years, so-called age-related signs appear on the face, skin of the shoulder girdle, on the upper parts of the back and front surface of the chest, in the lower 1/3 of the forearms and on the back surface of the hands. freckles. With increasing age, their number increases more and more.

The appearance of such age spots is associated with a decrease in the hormonal function of the ovaries and a decrease in the content of estrogen in the blood, with a weakening (in both women and men) defensive reaction to the damaging effects of sunlight and a decrease in the barrier functions of the skin, as a result of which it becomes more susceptible to microdamage.

This melanosis is not a manifestation of a pathological condition and does not require treatment, however, patients quite often turn to cosmetology clinics about this. With a professional approach, in most cases it is possible to implement effective whitening age spots.

Chloasma

This is the most common type of limited primary acquired hypermelonosis, in which melanin accumulates in the epidermal cells of the spinous and basal layers, and the number of melanosomes in the superficial dermal layers increases.

Chloasma appears in age period 20-50 years. They look like spots with irregular outlines of dark yellow or dark brown color. Favorite localization is forehead, cheeks, periorbital area, upper lip and bridge of the nose, zygomatic region, neck. The cause of hyperpigmentation is excessive sun exposure against the background of changes in the blood levels of estrogen, progesterone and luteinizing hormone in women, and in men - decreased levels of testosterone and increased levels of luteinizing hormone.

Especially often, such hormonal changes are associated with the second half of pregnancy, pathological processes in the uterus, ovarian tumors and the use of oral contraceptives. Pigment spots occur during pregnancy in most women (on average 90%). First of all, they appear mainly in “hormone-dependent” areas (areola area, white line of the abdomen and inner surface hips), and then in the above-mentioned areas.

Chloasma, melasma

Melasma

Which is equated by many authors to chloasma. However, melasma is not associated with the reproductive organs, but with the pathology of other organs (liver diseases, etc.) and ultraviolet radiation. It is characterized by a more pronounced aggressiveness of the course, compared to chloasma, and can be transient (in spring and summer, with hormonal surges) and chronic, when hyperpigmentation spots do not completely disappear, but only become paler.

The number of requests from patients with melasma is even significantly higher than those with chloasma. A remedy for pigment spots for melasma is chosen depending on its varieties (epidermal, dermal and mixed), which differ in the depth of location of the excess amount of pigment.

Broca's pigmented perioral dermatosis

Isolated into a separate form of hypermelanosis. It develops predominantly in middle-aged (30-40 years old) women with hormonal ovarian dysfunction or dysfunction of the digestive tract. Lesions with clear boundaries or blurry outlines are localized in the area of the nasolabial triangle. The spots have a yellow-brown color of varying intensity, up to complete disappearance. Removal of age spots on the face with Broca's dermatosis is possible only as a result of complex therapy with primary correction of the underlying pathology.

Treatment of age spots

In order to prevent the appearance of age spots or increase the intensity of color, as well as during their treatment, photoprotective agents containing ultraviolet filters (with SPF factor not less than 50) - sprays, emulsions and creams from various manufacturers.

Methods for getting rid of pigmented skin defects:

Laser removal of age spots.
Whitening, consisting of two stages - mechanical or chemical peeling and direct bleaching effect. The latter is achieved mainly by blocking the enzyme tyrosinase and reducing the production of melanin by melanocytes.

Laser exposure

For the purpose of selective photothermolysis, carbon dioxide, alexandrite, ruby, copper vapor or dye lasers are mainly used. If the principle of action is to evaporate tissues containing melanin, then the lightening effect of other types is to destroy and disperse the pigment into particles (selective photothermolysis), which are then removed by macrophages through the lymphatic system. Laser can be used to remove age spots on the face and other parts of the body.

Each type of laser is designed for certain type and depth of local hypermelanosis. Recently, high-pulse IPL therapy has become very popular. With these treatment methods it is possible to remove defects relatively quickly and achieve excellent results.

However they are very expensive. In addition, laser removal of pigment spots can cause various complications - repeated, even more pronounced hyperpigmentation, hypopigmentation in the form of white spots, scars. In ordinary beauty salons, mechanical (dermabrasion and, much less frequently, cryodestruction) and chemical peelings followed by bleaching are mainly used.

Laser removal of pigment spots

Peeling

Chemical peels carried out using retinol and its derivatives, as well as fruit alpha-hydroxy acids - citric, kojic, malic, tartaric, glycolic, lactic, almond. Fruit acids They also have a regenerating effect.

To achieve a depigmenting effect, drugs are used whose main components are hydroquinone (rarely used due to toxicity), ricinol, arbutin, salicylic, kojic, azelaic acid, ascorbic acid in the form of magnesium ascorbyl-2-phosphate. In addition, these substances have mild exfoliating, and some of them have antioxidant effects. Chemical peeling is often combined with mesotherapy procedures to introduce ascorbic, glycolic acids and other drugs.

The topic of this article: age spots on the face, their causes and treatment. Often, having discovered any imperfections on her face, a woman begins to frantically search for remedies to eliminate them. Creams and lotions are immediately purchased, folk remedies are sought for the next misfortune. This also happens if it appears on the skin.

But before you try to get rid of spots that have appeared on your face with cosmetics, we recommend that you understand the very reasons for the appearance of hyperpigmentation.

These dark spots on our face do not always depend only on the condition of the skin; the reasons often lie in the condition of our body.

What causes pigmentation?

So, most often various kinds spots on the skin appear at the age of 35-40 years, but can appear earlier or later. We know that the epidermis, the surface layer of the skin, contains the pigment melanin, which gives our skin its color. Spots form where this pigment accumulates; it is in such local places that they appear birthmarks and freckles.

They can range from light yellow to brown in color and may fade or fade over time. But sometimes accumulations of melanin form in the deeper layers of the skin, such spots have a dark brown color and larger size, and can also form small elevations on the surface.

Types of pigment spots that experts identify:

moles and birthmarks (congenital and acquired),
lentigo (appears in older people),
chloasma (appears during pregnancy and with diseases of the liver, ovaries, etc.),
freckles (reddish spots that appear in some people in the spring).

What do age spots say about our health?

Causes of production and concentration increased amount There is a lot of coloring pigment in the skin. The spots themselves are usually not scary, but they can be a signal of a possible health problem.
1. Even newborns can have their first moles - this indicates the genetic predisposition of the body.

2. We all know that ultraviolet radiation can seriously damage the skin of the face if you stay under active sun for a long time or often visit a solarium. In pursuit of an even chocolate tan, you can get the opposite effect: it can lie unevenly due to accumulations of melanin and harm your appearance. The skin of the face can be especially sensitive to the sun in spring, and then pronounced pigmentation may appear when the sun is too active and the skin is pale and unprotected.

3. Pigmentation can occur due to various types of injuries: burns, furunculosis and skin rash or become a consequence of unsuccessful skin peeling. Here you can cope by using local treatment, but there are also more serious cases when the skin needs to be treated comprehensively.

4. Diseases of internal organs: liver and gall bladder, intestines and kidneys can lead to hyperpigmentation. If the intestines are not functioning well, red spots may appear on the skin. If there are problems with the liver and bile ducts, brown spots appear. In case of kidney disease - yellow and yellowish-brown. All these symptoms will go away if you establish proper nutrition and treat the underlying disease. And cosmetic masks and lotions will help whiten your skin.

5. Don't good nutrition and lack of vitamins can also cause pigmentation of the facial skin, especially if there is a lack of vitamin C, copper and other trace elements. As soon as the deficiency is replenished, the spots will disappear.

6. Under the influence of stress, nervous overload and the presence of nervous disorders, metabolic processes in the body are disrupted, and this leads to disturbances in the production of melanin and its distribution in the epidermis and dermis. The fight against age spots should not begin with cosmetic procedures, but with the harmonization of your mental state.

7. Taking antibiotics, especially in large doses and long time, may appear on the face in the form of dark spots. Here you need to consult your doctor.

8. Low-quality cosmetics often cause allergies, rashes and blemishes. Therefore, use proven and quality products care, always test it and throw it away immediately if the creams do not suit you. Very frequent skin peelings can also lead to this, since the skin loses its protective layer and is actively exposed to external influences.

7. Spots (chloasma) can be caused by hormonal changes and diseases, for example: menstruation, pregnancy, dysfunction thyroid gland and gynecological diseases. Chloasma is usually irregularly shaped and brown in color. Experts do not advise removing this cosmetic defect on your own; first of all, you need to normalize the hormonal levels themselves and seek help from specialists.
During pregnancy, in order not to harm the fetus, you should not use strong drugs, especially those containing mercury, salicylic acid, green soap, hydrochitone, retinol.

10. Age leads to inevitable aging of the skin, when spots of varying degrees of intensity can appear on the face, neck and hands. Hormonal age-related changes in the body can cause uneven distribution of melanin in the skin. This is aggravated by chronic diseases, which become more and more common with age.

How to protect your skin from pigmentation

It is better to prevent any problem than to solve it in a long and difficult manner. There are a few steps you can take to help prevent dark spots, or at least make them less noticeable.

♦ The first thing that will help is its complete hydration, nutrition and protection. Healthy skin, not experiencing a shortage of nutrients, will properly produce the pigment melanin.
♦ Second, it is a nutritious diet, rich in vitamins. Vitamins C and PP (nicotinic acid) are especially important for the prevention of age spots. In the winter-spring period, include citrus fruits, onions, currants, sweet peppers in your diet and additionally take pharmacy vitamins in courses of 2 weeks 3-4 times a year.
♦ Third, these are proven. Cosmetologists approve of procedures such as washing with sour milk and whey, wiping the face with parsley juice, and homemade whitening masks made from various vegetables and fruits.
♦ Fourth, mandatory. Sunlight makes spots and freckles darker, this is especially noticeable in spring. Spots may appear after heavy summer sunbathing, even if you use protective milk. Everything is very individual, but if you observe such a skin reaction, it is better to avoid prolonged exposure to the sun, use a hat, dark glasses and sunbathe in a shaded place in the morning before 11.00 and in the evening after 16.00.

All year round sunny days you should protect your skin with cosmetics high degree UV protection. On the labels of day creams and some foundations, they put the SPF icon and write a number from 4 to 60 next to it. To find out how many minutes your skin will be protected, multiply this number by 15. If the duration of protection is short, apply the cream several times a day.

How to get rid of age spots effectively

As mentioned above: the main thing in the fight against pigmentation is to eliminate the causes of its occurrence. This may require consultation with a doctor: a gynecologist, endocrinologist or gastroenterologist. If necessary, you need to undergo treatment for the underlying disease, as a result of which the pigmentation will disappear or fade.

Naturally, a cosmetologist or dermatologist will help you deal with the problem of hyperpigmentation. In the arsenal of specialists there are many salon procedures and products that effectively whiten the face and remove blemishes. The selection of these procedures must be strictly individual and take into account contraindications.

1. The most in demand are various types: ultrasound, laser, chemical, cryotherapy and phototherapy. They selectively target areas of increased pigmentation, destroy and remove cells with a high melanin content.
♦ Chemical peeling is carried out through exposure organic acids(fruit, glycolic) on the skin. As a result, the outer layer of the epidermis exfoliates, and the skin is renewed with new cells without pronounced pigmentation.
♦ Ultrasound also helps in cleansing the epidermis; it is quite gentle and suitable for almost any skin type.

♦ The laser method is very effective, but it is traumatic and requires application special means for regeneration. It is carried out mainly in winter time when sun exposure to the skin is minimal.
♦ In phototherapy, areas of hyperpigmentation are exposed to high-intensity light waves, causing the cells in the pigment spots to be destroyed and removed from the surface of the skin.

2. Various whitening cosmetics, mercury, ascorbic acid, creams with licorice extracts, lactic acid, zinc oxide and other components. Not all of these creams are harmless, as they can cause the opposite effect and increase pigmentation. Some of them (for example, with retinol, mercury) are contraindicated during pregnancy and while breastfeeding, some should not be used for certain chronic diseases.

Any bleaching product must be checked for an allergic reaction within 24 hours; to do this, apply the cream to the inner elbow and leave for a day.

Experts recommend using fatty bleaching ointments, since toxic substances from them do not penetrate deep into the skin. When using a bleaching agent, do not wash your face during the first two weeks so as not to irritate the skin; use lotions or spoiled milk. By using a whitening cream with active ingredients such as mercury or retinol at home, you risk harming yourself, so you should consult a cosmetologist or dermatologist. The safest cosmetics for home care for pigmented skin are those containing salicylic alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, perhydrol, lactic and citric acid.

3. Folk recipes for age spots are also widespread. In many cases, when age spots are superficial and are not associated with serious health problems, folk remedies, creams, masks and lotions prepared at home will help. Foods and herbs are most commonly used.

Kefir washes have a wonderful effect on the skin, rubbing into darkened skin in the mornings and evenings castor oil, lubricating stains with lemon juice and dandelion milk. You can prepare a variety of masks from herbs, vegetables and fruits that will not only whiten your skin, but also nourish it. This article provides

Homemade masks for pigmentation

One of the most recognized and effective masks for pigmentation is prepared from fresh cucumber. To this vegetable, if desired, you can add ingredients such as parsley, lemon juice etc. It is good to wipe pigmented areas of the skin with a mixture of cucumber and lemon juice in the morning.

Cucumber – 1 piece

Rinse the cucumber well and grate it on a fine grater. Lightly squeeze out the juice and apply the resulting pulp to your face and neck. Leave for 30 minutes and simply remove the residue with a napkin.

This mask can be used to brighten the entire face or applied to pigmented areas. The mask is not recommended for very dry and sensitive skin, as horseradish is irritating and can cause skin burns.

Horseradish - a small piece of fresh vegetable
Sour milk – ¼ cup
Oatmeal – 1 tablespoon

Peel the horseradish and finely grate it. Grind the oatmeal in a blender. Mix all ingredients and let stand for 2-3 minutes. It is better not to apply the mixture directly to the skin, but to put it between two layers of gauze and hold it on the face for 20 minutes. Wash your face clean water room temperature.

This mask based on onion juice is used only for the skin in the area of age spots. For oily skin, it is better to mix the juice with table vinegar.

Onion – ½ fruit
Honey – ½ teaspoon

Squeeze the onion juice and mix it with honey in a 2:1 ratio. You don't need to prepare a lot of mixture. Apply the mixture to pigmented areas of the skin and leave for 20 minutes. At oily skin mix onion juice with table vinegar in a 1:1 ratio and leave on the stain for 15 minutes. Remove the remaining mask with a damp cotton pad and then blot with a dry cloth.

Many people are bothered by numerous freckles in the spring. Not everyone likes these spring spots. There are many recipes for lightening them. Try making a remedy with parsley, honey and egg yolk. The skin will not only become lighter, but will also receive a lot of useful substances for its health.

Parsley – 1 bunch
Honey – 1 tablespoon
Egg – 1 piece

Prepare a decoction from fresh parsley; to do this, pour ½ cup of boiling water over the greens and let it brew in a water bath for 25-30 minutes. Separate the yolk, stir it and add honey to it, then dilute the mixture with warm parsley infusion. Apply the mixture to the skin for 20 minutes and then rinse off slightly. warm water. After the mask, you can rinse your skin with the remaining parsley infusion. Use the mask up to 3 times a week to get a brightening effect.

In this mask, all the ingredients have one or another whitening effect on the face. It should be used with caution on sensitive and dry skin or applied to the spot. In this case, the dosage should be reduced.

Egg – 1 piece
Lemon – ¼ fruit
Hydrogen peroxide – 3-4 drops

Separate the white from the yolk and beat well. Squeeze fresh lemon juice. Mix the protein and juice and add a few drops of peroxide. Apply this mixture to the skin for no more than 8-10 minutes. Then rinse with water and apply nourishing cream.

After 50, light brown or brown age spots begin to appear on the skin. In themselves, they are most often not dangerous, but they bring aesthetic inconvenience to women. They can be difficult to disguise with makeup, so you should try to make them a little paler. There are many brightening face masks for this purpose, we offer one of them.

Horseradish – 1 teaspoon
Lemon juice – ½ teaspoon
Table vinegar – ½ teaspoon
Rosemary oil – 3 drops

Grate a small piece of horseradish on a fine grater. Squeeze fresh lemon juice. Mix all the ingredients and apply the resulting mixture to dark spots. cotton swab or a cotton swab. You need to do this 1-2 times a day to upper layer peeled off and the stain became lighter. At sensitive skin be careful. Use only table vinegar, with a low percentage acetic acid, otherwise the skin will burn.

Before you remove dark spots on your face yourself, listen to the cosmetologist’s recommendations again in this video:

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Skin pigmentation disorders are a problem considered by cosmetologists and dermatologists in three aspects - psychological, cosmetic and therapeutic. Limited pigmented areas, especially those located on the face, create an unattractive appearance and can be the result and cause of various diseases. Treatment of pigmentation is impossible without understanding the mechanisms of melanin formation, as well as the causes and mechanisms of pathological excess pigmentation (hyperpigmentation).

Reasons for the formation of age spots

In accordance with the existing theory of pathological formation of pigment, predisposing factors are:

Excessive ultraviolet radiation - 52 – 63%.
Disorders of the body's hormonal system without taking into account the number of changes during pregnancy and inflammatory processes - 25 - 26%.
Pregnancy - 18 – 24%.

In 95% of cases, hyperpigmentation (excessive) occurs on the face.

Synthesis and regulation of melanin formation

Melanogenesis, or melanin synthesis, is one of the protective mechanisms of the human body’s adaptation to the influence of the external environment. It is carried out by melanocyte cells located among other cells of the basal layer of the skin. The ends of their processes are in close contact with keratinocytes. This structural and functional union is called the epidermal-melanin unit of the epidermis. On 1 cm 2 of skin there are on average up to 1200 melanocytes, each of which is connected by its processes to 36 keratinocytes.

The body of melanocytes contains special highly organized structures surrounded by a membrane, in which melanin is produced. It is transported along the processes into keratinocytes and plays the role of an optical filter that absorbs ultraviolet radiation.

Biochemistry of synthesis

Synthesis in the body is carried out from the amino acid tyrosine, which is part of almost all animal and plant proteins, catecholamines (norepinephrine, adrenaline) and dioxyphenylalanine. Under the influence of the enzyme tyrosinase, they are oxidized and converted through a series of subsequent biochemical reactions into dark-colored melanin. The latter combines with protein and is found in the human body in the form of a melanoprotein complex.

Process control systems

While the biochemical processes of melanin formation are known, the mechanisms of their regulation and the function of pigment cells have not yet been sufficiently studied. The role of the trigger mechanism belongs to ultraviolet rays, causing irritation of peripheral receptors. In the following, two regulatory pathways are considered:

Impulses enter the brain centers located in the hypothalamus and adenohypophysis, which stimulates the secretion and release of melanin-stimulating hormones (MSH) into the blood. They activate melanin biosynthesis and its transport.
The function of melanocytes in terms of melanin synthesis is suppressed under the influence of the pineal gland hormone melatonin, which is an MSH antagonist.

Because the skin are a hormone-dependent organ, then sex hormones have a significant effect on the processes of cell division of the epidermis, the secretion of the sebaceous glands, the function hair follicles, melanin synthesis. Fluctuations in their levels in women’s bodies (during the ovulatory cycle, pregnancy, menopause, taking oral contraceptives) affect all these processes. For example, 1/3 of women using oral contraceptives have melanosis, that is, the accumulation of melanin in the tissues of internal organs and skin. In addition, the mechanisms of melanin synthesis are also influenced by other hormones, for example, adrenocorticotropic, thyroid-stimulating, somatotropic hormones of the pituitary gland.

Thus, skin pigmentation occurs as a result of a cascade process triggered by ultraviolet radiation, in the development of which the nervous and hormonal systems take part.

There is another theory according to which the excess synthesis of melanin is influenced by free radicals (oxidants), the excess and accumulation of which occur in conditions of a lack of antioxidants - chemical compounds, suppressing oxidative processes. As a result, skin cells with damaged DNA structure appear and areas with increased pigmentation are formed.

Types and types of pathological hyperpigmentation

Treatment of age spots on the face depends on their type and type. In accordance with the conditional classification, three types of hyperpigmentation are distinguished:

Primary - congenital, the occurrence of which does not depend on the influence of external factors, and acquired.
Secondary, or post-infectious.
Generalized (widespread) and local.

Most often, cosmetologists are approached by people with pigment spots acquired as a result of exposure to ultraviolet rays or chemical agents, or the combined effects of these two factors.

Types of excess pigmentation

Melasma- a chronic skin disease that manifests itself as unevenly colored brown and bronze spots on the face and hands. Subsequently, they may appear on closed areas of the body. Sometimes they cause warty formations, comedones, peeling and itching. Melasma can be congenital (rare) and acquired as a result of diseases of the pituitary gland (tumor), taking certain medications quinine or sulfonamide series, amidopyrine, sensitization to ultraviolet rays by various photodynamic substances, most often hydrocarbons (petroleum products, lubricating oils, crude petroleum jelly, organic resins).

Hormonal melasma or melanosis skin - usually occurs in brunette women with skin phototype IV. As in pregnant women, spots of irregular shape are located on the forehead, chin, symmetrically on the cheeks, upper lip and temples. Their occurrence is associated with a change in the ratio of estrogen and progesterone, and their color depends on the total dose of ultraviolet radiation.

Chloasma is acquired limited melanosis. The spots are localized on the forehead, cheeks and are characterized by clearly defined irregular outlines. The disease is acquired, but the appearance of spots is promoted by ultraviolet irradiation and congenital increased sensitivity pigment cells to estrogens.

Pigmentation may appear in girls during puberty, in women with inflammatory gynecological diseases, while taking oral contraceptives. Chloasma often disappears on its own after the first menstruation, first birth, or cessation of contraceptives, but sometimes it can persist for many years.

Hepatic chloasma accompanies chronic hepatitis that occurs with relapses. It appears as spots with a pronounced network of telangiectasia. Pigmentation does not have clear boundaries and is localized on the lateral surface of the cheeks with transition to the neck.

Eyelid hyperpigmentation occurs in women after 25 years of age as a result of excessive ultraviolet radiation due to an imbalance of hormones (diseases of the thyroid gland, ovaries, adrenal glands) and genetic predisposition. Before the specified age, spots can also occur when using oral contraception, certain medications, and cosmetics containing citrus fruit oil.

Secondary hyperpigmentation occurs in areas of rash elements after secondary syphilis, lichen planus, burns, purulent inflammation skin, neurodermatitis.

Senile lentigo- looks like small spots round, oval or irregular shape mainly on the face, neck and hands. The color can range from light to dark brown. Their appearance is explained by a decrease in the total number of melanocytes (by 8% every 10 years after the age of thirty) and a disruption in the transport of pigment to keratinocytes. At the same time, in places exposed to sunlight, the density of pigment cells remains or even increases, which leads to the appearance of a marker of skin photoaging - mottled pigmentation.

Broca's pigmentary dermatosis- symmetrical yellowish-brown spots with unclear boundaries in the chin area, nasolabial folds and around the mouth. The cause may be dysfunction of the ovaries or gastrointestinal tract.

About treatment in video

Treatment and prevention of pigmentation

The answer to the question of how to treat age spots on the face is based on the principles of taking into account the causes and mechanism of their occurrence. The methods and preparations used are aimed at:

Reducing melanin synthesis with the help of phonophoresis (with vitamin preparations, tyrosinase inhibitors, etc.) and depigmenting agents.
The use of exfoliating procedures - chemical, chemical, and.
Selective photothermolysis, including laser (lasers), light pulse, etc.

Also, treatment of pigmentation on the face is carried out with external preparations such as:

inhibiting the effect of tyrosinase - creams and gels with vitamin “E”, kojic acid, arbutin, licorice extract; the main drug hydroquinone, used previously, is currently prohibited in Russia and most foreign countries due to its toxicity;
peelings using inorganic ( , ) and organic ( , ) acids;
others - with ascorbic and retinoic acid, azelanic acid, glycolic acids, soy milk, etc., but their effectiveness is less than hardware methods.

Preventive measures

Prevention consists of preventing long-term chronic exposure ultraviolet rays. In sunny weather in open areas, it is necessary to use creams and gels containing sunscreen filters, avoid using oral contraceptives and visiting places with high solar activity - the sea coast, mountain resorts. Chemical peels are highly effective in combating hyperpigmentation. However, for persons predisposed to it, these procedures can only be used in late autumn and winter with the inclusion of pre-peel preparation with tyrosinase blockers (kojic, ascorbic, azelaic acid, arbutin, etc.) for several weeks.

There are no universal methods for treating and preventing increased pigmentation of the facial skin. It is possible to cope with pigment spots only on the basis of an integrated approach to this problem, taking into account an understanding of the individual mechanisms of its occurrence.