Who doesn’t love spending time outside on a bright day – Soaking in warmth and much-needed goodness from the sun? Just be careful, prolonged exposure may lead to a series of skin problems, including sunspots.
What are sunspots, you ask? Also known as Solar Lentigines, these flat, darkened spots on your skin appear due to sun exposure which worsens every time you come in contact with even the slightest trace of Ultraviolet (UV) rays.
Here’s how you and your dermatologist can work towards getting rid of them:
1. Vitamin E Capsules
Apply vitamin E directly from the capsule, it helps fade the spots.
2. Over the counter products
OTC creams and products containing Tretinoin, Azelaic Acid and Renova aid in fading as well.
3. Laser resurfacing
The procedure is expensive but effective. It removes thin layers of the skin and takes a few weeks to heal fully.
4. Cryotherapy
The dermatologist uses liquid nitrogen to ‘freeze’ the spots which eventually peel off. It is inexpensive but may cause permanent side effects like red/brown marks.
5. Microdermabrasion
It involves controlled exfoliation of the skin wherein the dead skin cells are suctioned off. Additionally, Microdermabrasion lends your skin a bright, youthful glow.
6. Chemical Peels
A chemical peeling agent is applied to the skin for about 10 minutes and then removed. The skin sheds, leading to reddening of the area for about 1-3 weeks, which is when you must avoid sun exposure.
In order to recognize the issue at hand, make sure you visit a dermatologist, for, there’s barely any difference between a sunspot, a mole, and a melanoma for a layperson.
With a range of remedies at hand, watch those sunspots vanish and say hello to sunshine again!
