Sun spots: how to reduce their appearance

Sunspots on skin are also called solar lentigines or lentigos. They’re a form of hyperpigmentation that gives you dark spots on the face, just like freckles. But the two skin conditions are different. Unlike freckles, lentigines don’t fade during winter and usually affect middle-aged people and above. For that reason, you’ll often hear them called age spots.

Sometimes, it might be easy to confuse the different types of hyperpigmentation that exist. Therefore, seeking a proper diagnosis from a skincare expert is essential. Below are the symptoms to help you identify solar lentigines.

When addressing sunspots on the face, distinguishing between hyperpigmentation and melasma is crucial, as each condition may require different treatment approaches.

The first sign of sunspots is uneven skin tone. Your normal skin appears light, while the hyperpigmented areas appear darker. As you get more sun exposure, the spots can get bigger and larger, making them more noticeable. However, the surface isn’t painful when touched so treating them is usually optional. People seek treatment for aesthetic rather than medical reasons.

Sunspots on face come from spending too much time in the sun. They can appear when you participate in outdoor sports, work outside, or use the sun to get a tan. UV rays from the sun trigger an increase in melanin production. When melanin is over stimulated, your skin gets darker.

Uneven skin tone comes when melanin clumps together, leading to uneven distribution of this colour pigment. Light skinned adults over 40 years are more likely to get these spots. That’s because most adults have absorbed plenty of UV rays by middle age.

Sunspots appear on skin areas exposed to the sun. These areas include the face, neck, upper back, shoulders, forearms, and feet. Usually, these spots vary in size, from freckle size to almost an inch. Additionally, they’re smooth, meaning they tend to feel the same as the rest of the skin.

Their colour can range from light brown to dark brown, and their shape can be oval or circular, with sharp borders. Even though they’re common in middle-aged adults, these spots can appear earlier, depending on one’s exposure to the sun. So, when they appear sooner, it’s best to get a diagnosis instead of making assumptions. Caudalie offers diagnosis using a scanner to identify the spots before providing treatment.

Here are ways to help you prevent solar spots.

● Wear sun Sunscreen. Always wear broad-spectrum sunscreen and face sunscreen before going outside – even when it’s cloudy. Choose a sunscreen with high SPF, such as Caudalie’s High Protection Cream with 50 SPF. Apply it after your day cream and face serum.

● Avoid sun exposure. Avoid exposing yourself to the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when it’s hottest as this is when the UV rays are most strong.

● Wear protective clothing. Wear protective clothing such as a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, and a long-sleeve shirt. Also, look for clothes specifically made to block out UV rays.

You can eliminate dark marks due to sunburn by using the Vinoperfect Serum or seeking medical treatment from a dermatologist.

Reduce Your Sun Spots With Vinoperfect

Sunspot correction is possible when you have clinically-tested serums, especially the Anti-Dark Spot Serum. This product contains ViniferineTM, which is an alternative to Vitamin C. No doubt vitamin C can lighten the skin by inhibiting the production of melanin, but it can also irritate sensitive skin. On the other hand, viniferine doesn’t irritate, and it’s 62 times more effective than vitamin C.

Another product that can help is the Concentrated Brightening Glycolic Essence. It contains glycolic acid that helps to exfoliate the skin. Once the skin is free from dead cells, it absorbs the Anti-Dark Spot Serum more easily, making the serum twice as effective. So, start by applying the Concentrated Brightening Glycolic Essence. Then after a few minutes, apply the Anti-Dark Spot Serum for better results.

Medical Treatment

Solar lentigos are treated using different methods, such as;

• Laser treatment. It uses focused beams of light to destroy the pigmented cells.

• Chemical peels. It uses a chemical solution, such as Vinoperfect Glycolic Peel Mask, to remove the skin’s outer layer along with its imperfections.

• Dermabrasion. It uses a revolving brush or a diamond-tipped instrument to gently buff away the outer skin. Doing so helps to remove imperfections and encourage the growth of healthy skin.

• Intense pulsed light. It uses light waves to target and destroy blemished cells on the skin. The destroyed cells are gradually replaced by new healthy skin.

Are Sun Spots Cancerous

Solar spots are benign cells, which means they don’t spread. So they’re not cancerous and can’t turn into skin cancer. Cancer cells are malignant, meaning they spread on the skin. Unless your spots are spreading, painful, and changing colour, you shouldn’t be worried. Nevertheless, we strongly advise you should get diagnosed to rule out the possibility of cancer. Solar lentigos are harmless and don’t pose any medical threat.