What is Sun Damage?
The term “sun damage” can be used to describe any condition of the skin caused by exposure to the sun. This encompasses anything from wrinkles, fine lines, freckles, discoloration, and even pre-cancerous and cancerous growths.
What are Age Spots?
Age/Brown spots develop when the skin loses its ability to regulate melanin production. Melanin is the natural pigment produced by the body that gives the skin and hair its color. The functional purpose of this color is to protect the body from the harmful effects of the sun’s UV rays.
When a person is exposed to the sun for an extended period of time, melanin production begins to increase in order to help keep the skin protected. This can cause small brown patches of discoloration, or brown spots, to appear on the skin.
While brown spots are sometimes a form of sun damage, they can also be caused by other factors. Fluctuations in hormone levels, such as those experienced during pregnancy or menopause, can also trigger the overproduction of melanin that leads to the development of brown spots.
Hyperpigmentation is a very common condition that many people suffer from, at all ages. This discoloration of the face gives patients an uneven skin tone, leaving many patients frustrated and self-conscious about their appearance. It is most commonly caused by overexposure to the sun, but can also be caused by almost any disruption to the skin, such as acne or a rash. Hyperpigmentation can be difficult to treat with at-home or over the counter remedies, especially for patients with stubborn and extensive situations. However, the appearance of hyperpigmentation can often be greatly reduced by treatments available at our Clinic.
Hyperpigmentation is defined as discoloration of certain areas of the skin, leading to dark spots and uneven skin tone. This is due to an overproduction of melanin, the natural pigment found in skin which determines everyone’s eye, hair, and skin color. There are many contributing factors to a patients’ likelihood of hyperpigmentation. The most common cause is sun exposure, but other common contributors are hormonal changes, such as pregnancy, acne, allergies, and other trauma to the skin. People with darker skin tones are more prone to hyperpigmentation.