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Sometimes small brown spots appear on our hands or arms, caused by the sun. What should we do with that? And should we be worried?
The summer sun is tempting to expose our skin to the sun. But sometimes, over time, we discover little brown spots that we haven’t seen before. If it’s nothing more than innocent skin blemishes, we don’t have to worry, but…
How do you recognize skin spots?
They are small, light brown spots without relief. They are only a few millimeters in size, but can grow to several centimeters. They appear on parts of the body exposed to sunlight, such as the face, neckline, backs of hands, arms.
How are they formed?
Sun exposure causes hyperpigmentation and changes in the epidermis. The spots usually appear around the age of 30 to 35 (sometimes earlier), depending on the degree of sun exposure and the skin type of the person (pale skin, matte skin…). If you often walk in the sun, you are therefore more likely to experience it. The younger you are, the more visible the stain.
A relationship with age?
Skin spots and old age go hand in hand: their number increases with age. On the other hand, the sun also causes an aging of the skin, on top of the natural aging (without the influence of the sun). The skin loses its elasticity, becomes drier and finer, and wrinkles appear.
How should you protect yourself?
Proper protection is absolutely necessary, and this from childhood, from the first day of our lives! You have no doubt heard about solar capital: this is the amount of resistance a person has to the sun. It is important that we do not exhaust this capital too quickly. The ideal protection consists of not exposing yourself to the sun during the hottest hours of the day, wearing protective clothing and if you do go out in the sun, apply sun cream (at least factor 30) that you apply every two hours sufficiently thick. It is well known that people with pale skin are even more sensitive than people with darker skin.
Are they dangerous?
Not in most cases. You should keep an eye on them, in case any changes should occur. In rare cases, the skin spot can become cancerous: a so-called actinic keratosis (a precancerous lesion) forms, which can evolve into a skin carcinoma. This is a cancer with a high chance of a cure, at least if treated in time.
Do you need to have stains removed?
You can indeed have them removed, for aesthetic reasons or because your doctor fears that the spots could degenerate into actinic keratosis. This is usually done by cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen (or with dry ice). This will lighten the stain and/or make it disappear completely. The treatment only takes a few seconds, but sometimes several treatments are needed.
It is important that you know that the spots can change in the days following the procedure. They then take on a peculiar shape and turn black. Some people worry about this, but after about nine days you will notice that a layer of skin comes off, as if the spots are peeling. Underneath, the skin is a bit pink and fragile. It is therefore better to have this treatment carried out in the winter, when you are not exposed to the sun. Sometimes it happens that the stain returns after a few years. Treatment with creams is also possible, but of course always on prescription from the dermatologist. Brown spots are usually not dangerous, but in rare cases the spot can develop into cancer.
Other ways to protect the skin?
The best way is to avoid exposure to the sun. Dietary supplements are also sometimes prescribed.
And summer freckles?
The typical summer freckles are also activated when exposed to the sun, but, unlike brown skin spots, they are not associated with skin aging. In fact, their presence simply teaches us that that person’s skin is very sensitive to the sun. So proper protection is doubly necessary here!
Sources):
- Plus Magazine