Dark spots: how to prevent them and get rid of them
Whether they are related to age, (too much) sun exposure, hormonal changes during pregnancy, or are a consequence of acne, dark spots result from localized hyperpigmentation caused by a disruption in the production of melanin pigments by melanocytes. Although very common, they are nonetheless bothersome, especially when they appear on the face.
Why do dark spots appear on the skin?
The main cause of dark spots is the sun. When exposed, the skin activates its natural defense systems, including the production of melanin responsible for tanning. But when exposure is intense and repeated, without protection or with insufficient protection, this production can become disrupted and cause clusters of melanin to appear that persist after tanning fades. These are sunspots, also known as solar lentigines.
With age, these disruptions become more frequent and dark spots multiply: they are then referred to as age spots or senile spots. This proliferation is all the more significant if you have had a great deal of sun exposure before the age of 50.
Another form of pigmentation spots, well known to new mothers as the pregnancy mask, is melasma. It is also caused by an overproduction of melanin, but this time in response to hormonal changes. Despite its nickname, it does not only affect pregnant women; it can also appear after taking birth control pills or undergoing hormone replacement therapy.
Finally, scar spots appear when skin weakened by an injury or burn is exposed to the sun without protection. The epidermis reacts even more strongly because of its fragility, and this excess melanin then forms dark spots all around the scar. This is, for example, the case with blemish-prone skin, which very often has acne scars.
How can you limit the appearance of dark spots?
If there were only one piece of advice to remember to prevent dark spots, it would of course be to protect your skin from the sun, either by avoiding exposure altogether - which is difficult when you know that simply walking down the street exposes us to UV rays - or by using daily sun protection, taking care to reapply it every 2 hours and relying on antioxidants, both in your skincare routine and in your diet.
If, despite all these precautions, spots appear, it is then time to use an anti-dark-spot serum.
