Whitening skin. Color of skin. Chloasma( Melasma ). Freckles. Lentigos. Pigmentation and its treatment
Pigmentation of skin. Whitening skin.
Freckles and pigmentation can annoy some people as much as spots and wrinkles or even cause embarrassment. Why do they occur or start to arise? Sometimes a change in skin pigmentation may be the result of the fact that skin starts to defend itself and protect the skin from the sun, but it also may be a sign that a person is suffering from of a condition in the body. Diseases and skin conditions , in which there is hyperpigmentation are many and quite varied. Here we will only look at the most common reasons for turning to a beautician for help.
Color of skin
Noticeable skin colouration is as a result of genetic factors (ie, inherited from parents), as well as by external factors. Skin color depends on the number and distribution of the pigment and the thickness of the layer of the skin called the epidermis. Another factor is the number and location of blood vessels, as well as the contour of the skin. The cause of pigmentation in the skin is the pigment known as melanin, which is a substance produced in the skin itself. We also have to consider the difference between the melanin produced by pigment cells, and “melanoidin ", which is a by- product brought about by the destruction of melanin and is noticed mainly in the skin of the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet.
Freckles
The predominance of a particular pigment defines racial, national and regional differences in skin color of people. This is easily observed and is the gift of nature depending on where we are born and who our parents are. Freckles, known scientifically as efelidy, most often occur in fair-haired people and are especially numerous amongst people with reddish hair and blue eyes. The reason for the appearance of freckles is heredity. In spring and summer,freckles darken with exposure to the sun and their number increases. Freckles appear for the first time from the age of 3-5 years and are particularly numerous during the period of puberty. They usually arise in the visible areas of the body, especially the skin of the nose, the cheeks, temples, forearms and hands, although sometimes freckles can also be seen on parts of the body not normally open to view.
Chloasma (Melasma)
Chloasma. That kind of hyper pigmentation is characterized by the emergence on the skin of symmetrically arranged spots with clearly defined boundaries. They can have a wide range of colours from dark yellow to dark brown. Most chloasma appear on the forehead, the bridge of the nose, the temples, upper lip and also on the chin. In addition plot such hyper pigmentation may occur around the nipples , the midline abdomen as well as in genital areas , and in places which have close contact with clothing. In the summer the severity of chloasmas increases with greater exposure to the ultra violet rays of the sun and decreases in winter to complete disappearance. The most common type is chloasma during pregnancy, occurring usually in the first months of pregnancy with the chloasma disappearing shortly after birth, although sometimes they may continue to be present for a longer period. The appearance of chloasma may be associated with various diseases of a sexual nature or with conditions affecting the liver, the gall bladder or the gastrointestinal tract, as well as when following a course of hormonal contraceptives.
Lentigo
There is also a kind of hyperpigmentation known as lentigo, which appearance is round, flat or slightly raised above the surface of the skin ,with areas ranging in size from several millimetres to three centimetres in diameter. Their color varies from light beige to dark brown. Lentigo occurs very rarely in young people and is usually combined with congenital diseases of internal organs. On the other hand lentigo occurs more frequently in the middle-aged and elderly sectors of the population especially on parts of the body that are exposed to sunlight. Also hyperpigmentation may occur after injury to the skin, contact with chemicals or as a result of taking certain drugs for diseases of the internal organs when the body's metabolism is affected adversely.
Treatment of pigmentation
Is it possible to fight hyperpigmentation and, most importantly can the fight be won ? It is possible, but the result of any bleaching technique will depend primarily on the type of pigmentation, its causes and its origin, especially for colouration due to racial origin. Finding a solution to the problem ,if that is how you view it, does not make sense, if the cause is not removed. Sometimes unwanted pigmentation is gone after the elimination of the cause. In other cases only minor peeling is required to deal with it. Whitening can be quite a waste of time and money in the cases of colouration due to diseases of the internal organs and can also lead to the development of serious complications. Therefore, before buying whitening cosmetics or going through the whitening procedure, you need to consult a specialist. Among the bleaching agents there are are variety of strengths some can cause undesirable side effects such as possible allergic reaction, dermatitis or pigmentation disorders. There are also safer mild versions which work but not quite so quickly and effectively.
All hyperpigmentations, regardless of their type, are brought about by the increased production of melanin pigment in a particular area of the skin. Therefore, a prerequisite for all whitening procedures is reliable protection from the ultraviolet rays of the sun. Ultraviolet rays spectra A and B significantly increase the occurrence of melanin, and to prevent the emergence and growth of pigment spots it is necessary to use a sunscreen with broad spectrum (sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 25). This should be used on a daily basis. It should be noted quite carefully that maximum protection can only be achieved with the application of special creams. It is also crucial to remember that those skin products used for decorative purposes claiming to have photo filters, are not sufficiently effective. They lack the filtering factor present in generic sunscreen products.