Sun spots are dark colored spots generally seen in individuals with darker skin. They are often seen on areas of the face that are exposed to the sun and not protected, such as the forehead, cheeks, upper lip area and nose. It can cause an undesirable situation in terms of appearance.
What causes sun spots?
There may be many factors in the formation of sun spots. Two of the most important factors are genetic predisposition and exposure to ultraviolet rays. Apart from these reasons, the pregnancy process, birth control pills, wrong cosmetic applications, various medications and goiter disease can also cause a predisposition to sunspots. Sun rays can cause spots on the skin as well as cause existing spots to thicken and increase.
Sun spots during pregnancy
If these spots appear during pregnancy, it is called a pregnancy mask. Untreated pigmentation is permanent and does not heal on its own. Those who suffer from pigmentation should seek information from a dermatologist to determine whether these spots are simple sun spots and the causes of their formation.
How are sun spots treated?
The doctor evaluates which layer of the skin the spots are on and the degree of the spot by using a special light, wood light. As a result, treatment options are determined together with the patient. A long-term treatment is usually required.
Treatment during pregnancy and puerperium is limited to sun protection and cream treatments appropriate for this period. As general precautions, the sun should be avoided, cosmetic products and sun-sensitizing medications should be limited. The sunscreen product recommended by your doctor should be a cream with at least 15 factor, with both UV-A and UV-B protection and should be used for 4 seasons.
Among the chemical peelers frequently used for treatment are products containing hydroquinone, tretinoin, azeleic acid and kojic acid. Treatment with these agents can take a long time when a single chemical product is used.
In some cases, chemical peels are also preferable and effective for the treatment of the disease. Because in chemical peeling application, the melanin pigment that causes the stain is gradually lost by peeling the top layer of the skin. However, deep peels are generally not preferred in treatments because they may cause side effects.
Chemical peels can be used in combination with topical chemical peels. Treatment is applied between 3-8 sessions depending on the type of peeling agent. The most common side effects are redness, crusting and skin sensitivity, which regress in 3-10 days.
Patients who have complaints due to sun spots should first see a dermatologist to learn the type and degree of the spot. Self-treatments at home may cause the problem to get worse. Sunspot treatment is a process that can take a long time and requires patience. For this reason, it will be in the best interest of the person to get support from a specialist and proceed with his/her instructions.
