Do you have spots on your skin? Find out why they appear and what advice you should take

Published: 31 August, 2020 | 4'

The skin is the largest organ in the body and has memory. If we care for it in our youth, we will keep it much smoother and healthier throughout the years.

Caring for your skin is especially important in the summer months. Heat, sunshine and lack of protection can cause premature ageing of the skin and the appearance of the feared sun spots. To understand more about the care our skin needs, we must first understand why it happens and what we can do to prevent it.

What are skin spots and why do they appear?

According to the Spanish Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, skin spots are the result of the distribution of melanin, as well as the cells that produce it. Melanin is the pigment that protects the skin from the sun rays; when we are exposed to the sun, melanocytes are responsible for producing more melanin.

One of the main reasons for the appearance of spots is due to sun exposure. Sun creams do not fully protect against UV radiation, which is why, despite using them, melanin production is continuous and this causes the spots to become more accentuated. Even so, there are several reasons that may produce such spots:

Bacteria or other microorganisms in the skin.
Inflammation from skin rashes.
Changes in melanin production.
Acne.
Skin cancer.
Treatments such as radiotherapy.
Pathologies such as vitiligo.

However, as there are different reasons, there are also different types of spots, which are related to several pathologies or factors and can appear in different shades.

In any case, the most advisable is that a dermatologist examines and follows closely any type of spot or injury that may appear on our skin.

White spots

Normally, white spots are related to different pathologies, one of them is dermatitis. This is a dermatological disorder that generates dryness, flakes and white spots on the skin, especially on the face. They may also appear due to depigmentation or loss of colour, by the sun, or by fungus.

Vitiligo, on the other hand, is another reason of this type of spots. It is the appearance of whitish spots and they are delimited. This type of spots are symmetrically distributed throughout the body, but mainly on the legs, eyes, nose and mouth. This disease has an auto-immune origin.

Pink or red spots

Spots of this type are related to skin rashes, this kind of injury is caused by a variety of pathologies. Some of the most common are the following:

Rosacea.
Impetigo.
Dermatitis
Eczema.
Chickenpox.
herpes
allergies
measles
Some insect bites.

Dark or brown spots

The appearance of such spots on our skin is mainly due to pigmentation and melanin production, sun exposure and therefore premature skin ageing. One of the worst consequences of sun abuse is skin cancer, and of these, melanoma.

As mentioned above, all skin injuries should be examined by a dermatologist. However, when the spot meets the following parameters, the AECDE rule, it is recommended to visit the specialist to rule out possible severe pathologies:

Asymmetry, when the injury is not rounded.
Edges, when the spot is irregular.
Colour, when it presents different shades and never in a homogeneous way.
Diameter, when the size of the injury is bigger than 6 millimetres.
Evolution, when any of the previous conditions have changed over time.

Does the skin get spotted during pregnancy?

The answer is yes, the hormonal changes that affect the body also have an impact on the skin, so spots may appear.

The different hormonal changes in turn encourage changes in skin pigmentation in some parts of the body, such as the abdomen and face. This type of injury is known as melasma. Melasma, according to the Dermatology Service of the Hospital del Mar, is a skin condition that consists of the appearance of brown spots, located in areas that are exposed to the sun, also known as "mask of pregnancy".

This kind of spots are avoidable. It is important not to expose yourself to the sun without protection and to use always creams with a protective factor over 50.

Sun Spots on the Skin

As we have been saying, one of the main reasons for the proliferation of spots on our skin is the exposure to the sun. It is often thought that the use of sunscreens is useful only during the summer, when in fact, areas such as the face are exposed to the incidence of UV rays all year long.

However, dermatologists recommend protecting our skin as long as we can by using an FP50, avoiding the hours when the sun rays are most harmful.

Rosehip for skin spots

Rosehip is a plant frequently used for skin care due to its antioxidant, firming, repairing and moisturizing properties. Rosehip oil may be a good ally in the regenerating process of your skin.

MARNYS® Regenerating Rosehip oil is a 100% vegetable oil obtained from Rosehip seeds. It is used to prevent the formation of wrinkles and improve the appearance of scars and stretch marks, as well as to regenerate, moisturize and restore the skin elasticity. It is also suitable for use on the skin of both the face and the whole body. It is ideal for use after exposure to the sun.

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