You may have acne and oily skin under control in your skin care routine, only to find that you are developing dark spots. These are frustrating and can cause self-consciousness if they are in a visible place on your body. Dark spots are areas that have extra pigmentation and are also known as age spots. This nickname is misleading since age has little to do with developing these spots.
Causes
It is important to understand why you have dark spots in the first place. It is important to rule out skin cancer with your medical provider. Beyond that, some medications, skin diseases or hormonal changes like pregnancy can cause dark spots to develop. One of the most common causes is too much exposure to ultraviolet rays from the sun.
Prevention
If you have a medical condition that is causing your dark spots, talk to your medical provider about it. However, you can use a quality sunscreen to prevent dark spots from the sun. Eating a healthy diet and drinking plenty of water are also great strategies for reducing all kinds of skin problems.
Home Remedies
Juice from a lemon can fade some dark spots. Simply dip a cotton ball in lemon juice and apply. Adding some anti-aging creams to your skin care routine can help fade the blemishes as well. Look for hydroquinone in the ingredients list. If you use a hydroquinone cream, be sure to avoid use of any other topical medications. Let your doctor know if the spots have not faded within three months of using the cream twice a day.
Seeking Professional Help
If your dark spots do not respond to any of the above treatments, you may want to talk to your doctor about laser treatment. It uses a healing light to do away with the dark spots and help the skin heal itself. Depending on the number of spots being treated, your session may only last twenty minutes.
Make sure you are always protected when out in the sun so you will be less likely to develop dark spots in the future. For those spots you already have, consider whether at home or professional treatment is right for you. You will soon find the spots part of your past.
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