Treating Brown Spots

One of the most common visible skin conditions we associate with aging is the appearance of dark spots. These spots can appear seemingly out of nowhere and a common question is, “How do I get rid of these?” Understanding why these spots appear is the first step in diminishing their appearance.

Sunlight has many variations of light wavelengths. One of these wavelengths is called ultraviolet, or UV, which causes damage to our skin. When these wavelengths damage pigment cells, it causes them to produce brown pigment called melanin in an uncontrolled fashion.

Certain areas of the skin may see more damage to the pigment cells, causing them to make more melanin, which stays confined to a certain spot. The result of this damage is darker pigmented areas called sunspots or age spots. A variant of this pigment aberration is melasma. Melasma is a dark pigmentation of skin that is not confined to a certain spot. Unlike sunspots, melasma appears in uneven areas of the facial skin. Neither of these are cancerous, but can be very difficult to conceal with makeup.

While increased melanin production can be a nuisance to those who experience it, the good news is age spots and melasma can be treated. Chemical peels can remove the dark pigment by exfoliating those dark spot areas, but are only half of the treatment. The next step is to decrease the rate of pigment production in the melanocyte cells. In most cases, exfoliating and using a topical melanin-suppressing agent for 12 weeks can accomplish this.

Theraderm Enlighten Skin Brightener is specifically designed for suppressing melanin. Its formula combines two powerful melanin-suppressing, natural ingredients; Kojic Acid and L-Arbutin. Both of these ingredients block different steps in the melanin synthesis. These ingredients are more effective and safer to use than other commonly used ingredients such as Hydroquinone.

While these spots can be treated, prevention is always better than cure. Having minimal sun exposure and using sunscreen daily can prevent the production of brown spots. The Theraderm Platinum Protection Facial Sunscreen provides good broad spectrum protection, shielding the skin from both UVA and UVB rays.