Spots and discolored patches on the skin may be the result of many things, including sun exposure or irritation. If a cosmetic conditionis associated with ultraviolet radiation, it is often referred to as an “age spot.” If the cause is hormone fluctuations, however, there’s a good chance itcould be melasma. Palm Beach’s Carroll Dermatology offers both diagnosis and treatment of hyperpigmentation, which may develop as a concentrated area of darker coloration or appear as diffuse redness. There is even a condition,known as vitiligo, that causes the development of unpigmented patches.
Since hyperpigmentation and related issues have multiple possible causes, choosing an experienced medical professional for treatment is important. A skin-focused doctor can identify everything from melasma to vitiligo and recommend the most effective treatments to help patients enjoy clearer-looking skin.
Often called “the mask of pregnancy,” melasma is a pigmentary disorder that can develop in times of significant hormone shifts—such as in the months leading up to birth.
The discolored patches common to melasma may be a brownish-gray color or a brown that is darker than the surrounding skin, as well as a more “silvery” bluish-gray. These melasma patches may be small and flat, like freckles, or cover larger areas. Although melasma most commonly appears on the face, it can also form on the neck, the arms, and other features. Melasma patches also tend to be symmetrical, with a “mirrored”appearance.
Pregnancy is a very common trigger for melasma, but any time of dramatic hormone shifts—such as menopause or when taking birth control pills—can cause a flare-up. The cosmetic problem can be made worse by sun exposure,
Melasma may resolve on its own as hormone levels come back into balance over time, but it may also last for years—or even for the rest of a person’s life. For this reason, many melasma patients seek help so they can enjoy more even-looking skin once again.
Unlike melasma, small dots of hyperpigmentation known as old age spots, sun spots, or so-called liver spots do not have a hormonal component. Instead, sun exposure can cause pigment-producing cells known as melanocytes to go into “overdrive.” The result is a high concentration of darker coloration. The likelihood of developing these spots or brown splotches on the skin increases with age, since older skin produces more melanin over time.
Any ultraviolet radiation exposure—including tanning beds—can cause spots to appear. While age spots themselves are benign, be aware that sun damage can also damage certain cells’ DNA, causing the development of rough, pre-cancerous lesions known as actinic keratoses—or even skin cancer itself. For this reason, it is important to have new, growing, large, or otherwise unusual spots examined by a doctor, as well as to schedule regular full-body skin checks.
Everyone flushes or blushes at some point, whether due to exertion, heat, or embarrassment. For most people, the resulting redness comes and goes, but for those with a medical condition known as rosacea, the redness is persistent.Everything from exercise to stress to spicy foods can trigger a flare-up of this chronic condition. Rosacea can be treated with certain lasers and topical creams.
Sun exposure and age can also team up to cause visible vessels to form on the nose, cheeks, and elsewhere on the face. These webs of thin veins may appear as fine lines that crisscross the area, general redness,or brown blood vessels.
While most pigmentation problems—such as melasma—involve darker patches or dark spots on the skin, vitiligo is the reverse. This condition is marked by growing patches of a lighter color. Patients dealing with this disease may have an immune system that attacks and kills pigment-producing cells
Every patient who comes to Carroll Dermatology will work with a team devoted to delivering the most appropriate treatments for beautiful results. The specific treatment for a patient depends on the condition that patient has—from melasma to general sun damage—as well as their unique characteristics.
Many dark spots on the face and elsewhere may be treated with light. A melasma treatment may involve Fraxel laser skin rejuvenation, CoolPeel CO2 resurfacing,or RF microneedling with PRP, which uses a patient’s own platelets to boost healing and repairs. Fraxel and CoolPeel rapidly heat the treatment area to kill the pigmented cells, which collect more of the heat than the surrounding tissue. Light can also collapse broken or dilated blood vessels, safely reducing redness. Specifically, intense pulsed light (IPL) is ideal for targeting both redness and sun damage.
Chemical peels are another cosmetic dermatology option for lightening spots. Employing solutions of specific strengths, peels remove outer layers of skin, which can help spots to appear less noticeable.
Patients dealing with loss of pigment may try any of a number of topical treatments, as well as light therapy to encourage darkening of specific patches.
Patients who want their skin to look as clear and smooth as possible likely want to tackle more than just spots. Exion RF microneedling uses collagen induction to reduce textural irregularities and give the skin a fuller look and feel.
Women dealing with melasma may also find that acne breakouts increase in relation to hormone fluctuations. Lasers and other personalized treatments can help address both lesions and future flare-ups.
Ready to learn more about how to improve the texture, tone, and clarity of your skin? Contact Carroll Dermatology to set up a consultation.
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