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Dark spots

Dark spots

People who have medium to darkly colored skin get dark spots and patches because their skin is triggered to make extra melanin, the substance that gives skin its color.

Most of Dark spots on the skin are not a cause for concern and do not need treatment. Treatment speeds up fading of these dark spots so people always seek to remove them for cosmetic reasons.

Dark spots on the skin can range from light brown to dark brown. The color of dark spots may depend on the tone of a person’s skin. They vary in size and several spots can group together and form larger areas of darkened skin.

Dark spots can develop on any part of the body but are most likely to appear on areas often exposed to the sun like; face, shoulders and back of hands.

For any skin color changes when paired with bleeding, these lesions are suspicious and need biopsy or total excision. It is always advised to visit your dermatologist annually for a skin checkup.

Most common causes of dark spots are:

  • Sun spots
  • Melasma
  • Post Acne marks
  • Medications
  • Pregnancy

Sun Spots
Sunspots are harmless spots that develop over time with prolonged exposure to sunlight. Melanin, which gives the skin its color, becomes clumped in the skin or is produced in high concentrations.

Sunspots mostly appear in adults aged 50 or above. They are flat light to dark brown spots. They typically occur in areas that are most often exposed to the sun, including the face, back of the hands and shoulders.

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Applying a sunscreen and avoiding direct exposure to the sun is always beneficial. Sunspots don’t need to be treated but if you don’t like the way they look on your skin. We have different modalities to get rid of them.

Melasma
Also known as chloasma, It is a skin condition that commonly affects people with darker skin tones, women during pregnancy, and those taking certain medications.

The main symptom of melasma is dark patches in the skin. Most often in areas exposed to sunlight. Areas most commonly affected include; Cheeks, Forehead, area above the upper lip, Chin.

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For Melasma patients, it is important to apply a sunscreen with a high SPF, and avoid direct exposure to the sun.

Post Acne Marks
Dark spots can develop after skin inflammation on the skin. Those dark marks or spots left behind after acne heals or flare subsides. Although it is the skin’s natural response to inflammation, this can be even more distressing than pimples themselves.

It is recommended to treat acne as early as possible to avoid having post acne pigmentation or scarring. Once acne is resolved, a skin care routine is followed to avoid recurrence of acne flare.

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Treatment is often sought for cosmetic reasons. Various treatment options are available according to severity of case, skin color & size of dark spots.

Treatment options include; Lightening creams, procedures, including micro needling, laser or light-based procedure and chemical peels.

• Prescription Lightening creams.
Topical creams work gradually to speed up fading of dark spots. Ingredients like Retinol, Vitamin C, Azelaic acid lighten the spots, Also, Arbutin, Kojic acid and Hydroquinone brightens the skin by inhibiting melanin formation.

• Laser and intense pulsed light therapies.
Different types of lasers/light therapies are available which work in different mechanisms to targets melanin and break up the dark discolouration.

• Microneedling collagen induction therapy.
This procedure creates micro channels in the skin that promotes new collagen growth and facilitates absorption of skin products as well.

• Chemical peels.
A chemical peel involves applying a solution to the skin, which exfoliates the surface, leading to new skin growth. It will gradually fade dark spots on the skin.

Get your consultation with our expert Dermatologists at The Klinic.
The Klinic 002 – 01004005465 or 002 – 01149918851
(Daily from 10 am – 4 pm except Fridays & Sundays)