Know the different types of blemish and how to stop them
Some are from birth, others appear during infancy and lots start to emerge beyond a certain age. Blemishes are fairly common on everybody’s skin and can be genetic, appear in the first few years of our lives, or as time goes on.What are they?
Blemishes are the result of an alteration in uniformity of skin colour and can appear lighter, darker or more pink that the surrounding skin. Skin blemishes, which often vary in shape and size, are usually visible, especially on the face and hands which can pose a problem on an aesthetic level. Moreover, according the various international studies, the appearance of blemishes is the women’s second biggest worry amongst about their skin.
From the age of 30, skin blemishes start to become common; as a result we should have a more specific and dedicated skin care routine for our epidermis in order to maintain its firm and uniform appearance.
According to recent studies, changes to our skin pigmentation can be the result of a number of factors:
- Increase or decrease in melanin production from the melanocytes
- Increase or decrease in the number of melanocytes
- Abnormal location of melanin or melanocytes in the dermis.
- Other factors: Sun exposure, pregnancy, taking certain
Types and causes:
As well as ephelides, also known as freckles and nevus, birthmarks, there are various other types of skin blemishes that come with age.
- Lentigo: equivalent to an age spot, common after a certain age, also known as a liver spot or senile freckle if it appears through prolonged sun exposure.
- Melasma or Chloasma faciei. Usually as a result of the hormonal imbalances that arise during pregnancy in the case of Chloasma faciei, or due to the consumption of certain medication. They are the dark, irregular blemishes that almost always appear on the face (most likely the forehead, cheeks, nose, top lip, and chin) and on other parts of the body that are exposed to the sun like our arms.
- Postinflammatory hyperpigmentation As the name suggests, these blemishes appear after an inflammation, such as acne, eczema or burns. As a result, many of these skin pigmentation changes pass, although they are sometimes permanent.
How do I avoid them?
When these blemishes appear, it is important to take note of them in case of any change in colour, size or shape, so as to avoid more serious issues. However prevention is the best option to avoid blemishes, as when they appear, they are difficult to get rid of. These are some handy tips to successfully eliminate them:
- Sun cream: Before exposing yourself to the sun, before even leaving the house, protect yourself with the right level of SPF for your skin and avoid being in the sun from midday until 4 o'clock, the most dangerous hours of the day.
- Depigmentation Treatment. Certain products help to correct skin blemishes by giving them a smoother and more uniform appearance; they can also eliminate hyperpigmentations in the skin over time. The results can be seen after two months of continued treatment (two or three times a day). Amongst the key ingredients of these depigmentation treatments, which usually include SPF, there is salicylic and kojic acid and vitamin C.
Now that we know the origins of the different types of blemishes that appear on our skin, it is important to keep ourselves well protected from the sun and follow a specific daily routine to stop their appearance and to have a healthy face and body free from unattractive tones.m
