Sun Damage or Brown Spots

Sun damage builds over time. You may walk away from the beach with a suntan, but that’s not all you’re getting. Excessive sun exposure is responsible for most of the sun damage associated with aging skin. This sun damage accumulates slowly over time and starts at an early age. While some of the sun damage is merely cosmetic, other effects, such as skin cancer, are more serious.

Uneven pigmentation

To protect itself from the damaging effects of the sun, your skin increases its production of melanocytes. These cells produce the dark brown pigment called melanin. The extra melanin makes your skin look darker or suntanned. In some cases, the sun causes an uneven increase in melanin production or in the number of melanocytes, which produces irregular coloring or pigmentation of the skin — dyschromia. The sun can also cause a permanent stretching (dilation) of small blood vessels, giving your skin a mottled, reddish appearance.

Solar lentigines

Solar lentigines, also referred to as liver spots or age spots, are flat spots of increased pigmentation — usually brown, black or gray. They vary in size and usually appear on the face, hands, arms and upper back — areas most exposed to the sun. Though common in older people, solar lentigines also occur in younger adults and even in children who spend too much time in the sun.

Textural Irregularities

Ultraviolet radiation breaks down the skin’s connective tissue — collagen and elastin fibers — which lie in the deeper layer of skin (dermis). Without the supportive connective tissue, the skin loses its strength and flexibility. This condition, known as solar elastosis, is characterized by vertical creases, deep wrinkles, and loose or sagging skin causing it to appear rough dry & wrinkled.

Melasma

Also referred to as chloasma or “mask of pregnancy,” Melasma is a brown darkening of facial skin. Melasma likely occurs from a combination of factors, including exposure to sunlight and an increase in the female hormones estrogen and progesterone. Melasma often affects women with dark skin and those who take oral contraceptives or hormone therapy, or who are pregnant. The dark patches usually occur on the cheeks, forehead, nose and chin. They may or may not resolve after discontinuing the contraceptives or hormone therapy or at the end of the pregnancy.

Poikiloderma

Irregular areas of reddish-brown pigmentation characterize poikiloderma. This condition, which occurs most often in middle-aged and elderly women, is likely caused by chronic sun exposure in combination with sun-sensitive chemicals in cosmetics or perfume. Most often, poikiloderma appears on the side of the neck or on the cheeks.

Actinic keratoses

Also known as solar keratoses, actinic keratoses appear as rough, scaly raised patches that range in color from flesh colored to dark pink or brown. They’re commonly found on the face, ears, lower arms and hands of fair-skinned people whose skin has been damaged by the sun. If left untreated, actinic keratoses may progress to a type of skin cancer known as squamous cell carcinoma.

There are many treatment options so a detailed consultation will give you all the choices. Please call the clinic and help us take care of your needs.