On the Internet you will find many articles on how to lighten age spots at home, advertisements for countless whitening products and tips on social networks.
However, it is unlikely that you will get an answer to two key questions - what do we whiten with the help of cosmetics and are these products really effective? Letidora expert, Sofya Igorevna Avanesyants, cosmetologist, dermatovenereologist at the SM-Cosmetology clinic (@sm_krasota), will help you figure out whether home cosmetics can really whiten age spots and how it works.
Sofya Igorevna Avanesyants, cosmetologist, dermatovenerologist at the SM-Cosmetology clinic
Before we talk about whitening cosmetics, it is important to understand how skin spots occur.
Pigment spot - what is it?
Skin color is a completely natural quality, and it occurs thanks to a special substance called melanin. Depending on many factors, it may be more or less, and it serves to protect the skin from direct exposure to ultraviolet rays. When light hits the surface, it is captured by special molecules and transported to the upper layers of the dermis, absorbing excess radiation and preventing its further penetration.
Sometimes this well-functioning and complex system malfunctions, and then melanin synthesis is disrupted. Unsightly defects appear in the form of darkening (hyper) or highlighting (hypo). In the world, this problem is indeed widespread, because more than half of the inhabitants of our planet note the presence of such phenomena. Is it possible to fight pigmentation and how to quickly get rid of age spots from the sun on the face and not only?
Contrary to popular belief, defects must always be kept under control, for which purpose it is first necessary to find out the reasons for their occurrence. They can seriously spoil the appearance, but this is not the main problem. With unfavorable development, an unsightly darkening can degenerate into a malignant neoplasm called melanoma. Then long and painful treatment procedures cannot be avoided.
Determining the nature of the formation usually requires clarification of certain factors:
- The presence of an inflammatory process.
- Depth.
- Color intensity.
- Extent of distribution.
Only a competent and experienced dermatologist with the proper level of knowledge and appropriate equipment can find out all these points. Therefore, before you figure out what to do and what helps with severe pigmentation on the face from the sun, even surgical removal, you must do all the research, take tests and tests.
How do retinoids work?
Retinoids are a group of vitamin A derivative substances used by dermatologists and cosmetologists for a number of indications. Due to its physiological effect on the skin, it effectively rejuvenates, eliminates acne and brightens the skin.
- Inhibit tyrosinase
- They inhibit the transport of pigment in the skin - the process of transferring melanin into the pigment cells of melanocytes
- Normalize cellular renewal and stimulate timely exfoliation of pigmented horny scales from the surface of the skin.
- Activate keratogenesis - the appearance on the surface of the skin of cells with a normal, genetically programmed amount of pigment, i.e. normally colored.
- They work as conductors for other active ingredients, ensuring their deep penetration.
Knowing the principles of operation and rules of application, you can achieve a true correction of existing skin problems.
Kinds
There are several different types of violations that are worth discussing in a little more detail.
Freckles (ephelids)
They can be exclusively a defect located on the cheeks, forehead and nose, and also cover the entire body. These are small limited spots, mostly brownish, yellow or brownish-brown, usually round in shape. Most often found in boys and girls with blond or red hair. It is easy to recognize such formations by the following signs:
- They first appear from about 3 to 6-7 years of age, and by maturity they can disappear completely.
- In summer and spring they are very noticeable, and in cold weather they become much paler.
- They become darker in color from exposure to the sun.
- They concentrate on open areas of the body, but can also occur under clothing.
They pose absolutely no threat to health, and are sometimes considered not even a flaw, but an advantage, a highlight of appearance.
Super thin injection needles Nanoneedle
Curacen Essence (20 fl x 2 ml)
Nanoneedles with ultra-thin walls 30G
Nanoneedles with ultra-thin walls 33G
Nanoneedles with ultra-thin walls 34G
Chloasma
They are much larger and irregular in shape, located in the face and neck area. They have a light golden, yellow, brown or brown tint. They do not have additional volume, that is, they do not rise above the surface of the dermis. Mostly they are placed separately, but sometimes they merge into one larger spot. They can occur both at a young and at a more mature age.
Some believe that this type of pigmentation appears exclusively during pregnancy, but this is only one of many reasons. Chloasma can also be diagnosed from taking oral contraceptives, from hormonal imbalances of any etiology, from cosmetic procedures or certain medications, from the sun, or inherited.
Nevi
Such formations are mostly benign, and the common people usually affectionately call them moles. They can be congenital or appear over time. Colors range from light yellow or beige (flesh) to dark brown, almost black. Sometimes they change color over the years, and the sizes are also different. The surface of nevi can be smooth or rough, and hair can also grow on it.
In the vast majority of cases, no removal is implied, but sometimes there are objective reasons for this. If nevi constantly get in the way, rub against clothes, stand out unattractively in the most visible place, then many people think about how to cure and remove such age spots on the forehead, cheek, nose and neck, or other parts of the body.
Rules of application
To remove age spots and keep the skin clean and even for a long time, you need to know how to use the product correctly.
Methods of cleansing with castor oil:
- Masks. They are made from natural ingredients that have a whitening effect and are applied to pigmented skin for a specified period of time.
- Compress. In this case, the point method of influence is used. A small piece of gauze or cotton wool is soaked in oil and applied to the stain, fixed with a band-aid. Keep it overnight. To avoid irritation, we recommend using a surgical tape.
- Wiping. You can remove pigmentation by regularly rubbing, 3-5 times a day, with warm oil. There is no need to remove excess. To enhance the effect, it is recommended to place a warm towel on top and hold until it cools down. Heat will promote deep penetration of beneficial substances.
- Lightening on sensitive skin cannot be done exclusively with castor extract. It is optimal to combine sea buckthorn oil in equal parts.
- Noticeable changes appear after 1-2 months.
- After the procedure, you should not go out into the sun for several hours. The hand or face will begin to become more pigmented.
- Course treatment is best carried out in autumn or winter.
Age requirements
The most popular reason for the appearance of unsightly dark or light areas is age. The dermis becomes less elastic, pliable, it becomes thinner, loses its natural elasticity, and becomes covered with unwanted formations that have different “dislocations”:
- face;
- breast;
- neck;
- neckline;
- hands;
- legs;
- back.
Neither the shape, nor the quantity, nor the color of such manifestations depend in any way on skin tone or exposure to ultraviolet radiation. In women, pigments often appear after menopause, when the body undergoes powerful hormonal changes. In such cases, a good solution would be the active drug Curacen, which not only prevents the development of both small and large wrinkles, smoothes and cleanses, and eliminates age-related darkening.
Main reasons
If age spots from the sun appear on the face, many are interested in what helps, what to treat and what to do, but first of all you should find out what caused them.
I Heredity
This is the most common option. Even our distant ancestors often found their relatives based on similar characteristics. Information is recorded in the DNA code and passed from parents to children.
II Disorders due to hormonal changes
The dermis is not only the largest organ of the human body, but also completely dependent on hormones. Primarily sex hormones - estrogen and testosterone, as well as those produced by the pituitary gland - adrenocorticotropin, thyrotropin and somatotropin. When exposed to ultraviolet rays, they initiate a chain reaction, resulting in an unsightly dark area.
What makes the problem worse
- Taking a variety of drugs that affect hormones, including contraceptives.
- Processes during menopause.
- Pregnancy and lactation.
- Phases of the ovulation cycle in women.
- Teenage "hormonal storm".
III Diseases
Often, our epidermis becomes an indicator of health, which many simply do not pay attention to, and then think about how to remove and how to quickly remove age spots from the face, and what kind of cleansing is more suitable. Diseases that have prerequisites for the appearance of spots:
- Bacterial as well as viral infections.
- Endocrine pathologies (hypothyroidism, diabetes of any type, etc.).
- Kidney failure.
- Fungi.
- Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and liver.
- Hypovitaminosis, hypervitaminosis.
- Violation of metabolic processes.
- Parasites.
- Sexually transmitted diseases and AIDS.
IV Peeling and other cosmetic procedures
Sometimes some manipulations for “beauty enhancement” can also affect the appearance of pigments. There are several prerequisites for this: injury or stimulation of inflammation. Therefore, it is extremely important to first diagnose the nature of the spots and only then contact a cosmetologist.
V Acne
Experts say that even the slightest mechanical damage can cause the development of pigmentation. If you squeeze out a pimple, the stratum corneum will inevitably be damaged. If you do not protect it with anything and do not use restorative agents, then it is likely that a small brown area will remain there.
general information
Castor bean is an evergreen plant with poisonous juices, from which healing castor oil is obtained. But during processing, the poisonous juices are neutralized, and the healing properties increase significantly, which makes castor oil a universal cosmetic product. This product is famous for its successful fight against fungi and bacteria, which often affect the human skin and subsequently provoke the development of infection or inflammation. It is believed that castor oil, extracted through cold pressing, retains maximum nutrients.
The success of the oil in the beauty industry is due to the fact that the plant contains ricinoleic acid, which produces an amazing softening effect.
Beneficial features
Nature has endowed castor beans with a rich chemical composition:
- ricinoleic fatty acid (85% of the total composition);
- palmitic acid;
- oleic acid;
- linoleic acid;
- vitamins of groups B, E, C, A.
Castor oil enriches the skin with substances and promotes gentle cleansing.
The product is perfectly absorbed into the skin, but does not clog pores or form oil films. After use, it is noticeable that the treated area becomes soft, toned and healthier in appearance. Other cosmetic properties of the plant:
- discoloration of age spots;
- protection from the negative effects of frost, wind and sunlight;
- maintaining moisture in cells;
- softening, nutrition and anti-inflammatory effect;
- increased collagen production;
- general regeneration of the skin.
Considering the listed characteristics, using plant oil you can:
- remove age spots, warts, nevi, fresh scars and stretch marks;
- nourish hair and eyelashes;
- treat scalp and seborrhea;
- minimize the presence of facial and age wrinkles;
- speed up recovery from colds;
- improve the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.
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In men
The stronger sex may also well suffer from such a common problem, but its prerequisites are somewhat different:
- Sensitive and excessively thin dermis.
- Genetics.
- Neuroses, constant stress.
- Excess estrogen.
- Lack of minerals and vitamins.
- Age over 45 years.
- Smoking, drinking alcohol, hazardous work conditions.
Some of the reasons naturally overlap with “female” ones.
Diagnostics
There is a huge variety of modern equipment that can be used to diagnose the nature of dark areas. In any case, you will have to pass all the necessary tests. What may be required:
- blood test (general and biochemistry);
- biopsy;
- Wood's lamp examination;
- scraping
Sometimes, after preliminary tests, the dermatologist or therapist refers you to other specialists. You should worry if the color suddenly changes, the darkening increases, itching, burning, bleeding appears, the boundaries become fuzzy and blurred. It is especially important to carry out all the research if you intend to get rid of age spots on the face that are flaking, because this may indicate an inflammatory process or transformation.
Why retinoids
To effectively lighten the skin from age spots, the same three groups of products are needed: lightening substances - reduce the production of melanin, antioxidants - reduce the number of free radicals that provoke melanin hyperproduction and exfoliating substances - accelerate cellular renewal and remove colored cells from the surface of the skin.
Retinoids cope with all three tasks simultaneously, which reduces the number of products used to one.
IMPORTANT! Retinoids are involved in the activation of genes responsible for suppressing tumor growth.
Therefore, some retinoids are used as a local auxiliary drug in the treatment of skin manifestations of cancer. Thus, the use of retinoids is the prevention of degeneration of age-related neoplasms.
Read about how important retinoids are in correcting age spots remaining on the skin after acne - post-acne here .
Removing dark areas: face control
There are many techniques and methods that will help get rid of unwanted darkening forever.
Peeling
This procedure is aimed not only at elimination, but also at correction and prevention. It can even out tone and improve skin quality. Chloasma and freckles after it become very pale, and sometimes disappear completely.
Chemical
This is the most effective peeling possible, which helps eliminate such defects. For the surface layers, regular almond, retinoic, glycolic, salicylic or milk are suitable. However, if the depth is high, you will have to use something more powerful.
Mechanical
The impact is carried out using abrasive substances that “grind” the surface. Coffee and coral peelings have proven themselves well. There is also dermabrasion, when grinding is carried out using devices with rotating elements. This method is very traumatic. Those who have very sensitive and thin skin should view the procedure with caution.
Hardware
The laser option is considered the most promising in cosmetology. It can not only eliminate pigmentation, but also wrinkles, creases, scars, scars and other irregularities. There are many contraindications to such treatment, so you should first be examined by a doctor.
Mesotherapy and biorevitalization
They are the best method to deliver antioxidants, anti-inflammatory and anti-aging substances not only to the superficial, but also to the deep layers. Both techniques are injection techniques, which use a variety of “cocktails” with the addition of ingredients that can eliminate unwanted coloring.
Phototherapy (IPL therapy)
Involves influencing particles using light. It is painless and safe, and has a small list of contraindications.
PRP therapy or autologous cellular rejuvenation
The essence of the technique is to administer to a person his own plasma, but already enriched with platelets. It can not only remove defects, but also prevent their occurrence.
Cosmetic programs for prevention and correction
Complexes of this kind will help completely eliminate the problem, having a very beneficial effect. They nourish, moisturize, whiten and even rejuvenate the skin. Usually 6-8 sessions are recommended, one or two per week.
"Kurasen"
It is very important to choose the right drug for amino acid replacement therapy for patients. CURACEN contains histidine, and its L-configuration determines the greatest bioavailability.
On the other hand, in the practice of an aesthetic medicine specialist, it is not always possible to use injection techniques - administering the drug is either impossible, or has an increased unjustified risk of an adverse reaction or complication. For example, thin and hypersensitive skin with a damaged epidermal barrier, a long period of regeneration after invasive procedures.
In such situations, it is recommended to use the biological product CURACEN Essence, which is designed for administration using non-invasive methods. The amino acid composition acts as a skin reductant. Thanks to the restoration of the protein composition of the epidermis against the background of the main therapy, the water-lipid mantle and the epidermal barrier are strengthened, which not only promotes a moisturizing effect, but also soothes the skin by reducing its sensitivity and relieving inflammatory reactions.
Clinical results show that Curasen protects cells from UV-induced damage.
Anti-age drugs
Bb Laboratories – Hyaluron-elastin-collagen extract
Laennec – solution for injection
Curacen Essence (20 fl x 2 ml)
Two-phase placental serum concentrate
How to remove pigment on the face: combating pigmentation with laser techniques
There are precedents when no method works. Then the laser comes to the rescue. At the same time, the rays do not damage the epidermis, have no side effects, act exclusively on melanin and do not affect the cells surrounding it, and after treatment the body quickly returns to normal.
The mechanism of action is not very complicated. It breaks the dyed fabric into tiny fractions, and then “knocks” them out onto the surface. Some is excreted naturally through lymph circulation, and the rest can be easily removed in any other way.
Cryotherapy
The affected areas are exposed to extreme cold using liquid nitrogen. Most often this is done using a special point sprayer, but sometimes even a cotton swab is used. The treated area is frozen, and after a few days it is completely peeled off.
Ozone therapy
The active oxygen isomer “can” significantly reduce and even eliminate the effect of fungi and viruses, accelerates metabolic processes, and has a positive effect on the regeneration of integuments and their rejuvenation. It is also used to eliminate various types of skin defects.
How to remove pigmentation on the face at home using cosmetics
If the spots are not intense and do not occupy large areas, you can make them lighter yourself. Pharmaceutical products and skincare products are suitable for this:
- Hydroquinone, lavender oil, hydrogen peroxide, and resorcinol have an exfoliating and keratolytic effect.
- Weak fruit acids, which can be used at home, work well to whiten stains. This is citric, ascorbic, and lactic acid of low concentration. These products are also suitable for preparing for salon chemical peels.
- Lightening cosmetic compositions marked Anti-Pigment. Creams, lotions and serums containing azelaine, kojic acid, vitamin C.
Any product can be used only after testing for possible allergies. If the body accepts the composition calmly, without a negative reaction, you can begin the procedures according to the instructions for the drug.
Prevention
The first and main preventive measure is proper protection from the harmful effects of direct sunlight. It is worth remembering that you can safely stay under ultraviolet light for no more than 10-15 minutes, after which the risk of getting a burn increases significantly. You should always apply sunscreen to prevent problems.
The second thing that should not be forgotten is regular health checks. Don’t be afraid to visit a doctor, get tested and find out your current condition. After all, it is much easier to prevent a problem than to deal with it later. It won’t hurt to change your clothes to natural ones, throw out chafing and tight things, and lead a healthy lifestyle.
