Dark spots on the skin vary in appearance, depending on the cause of the discoloration, making it easy to begin treatment on the spots once they are identified. No matter why you have dark spots on your skin, wearing sunscreen will protect the skin from further damage. UV rays can cause dark spots, but the sun also increases the chance of discoloration from other sources.
Blackheads
Blackheads, clinically called open comedones, appear as tiny dark spots on the surface of the skin. According to the New York Times, blackheads are created when a pore in the surface of your skin becomes blocked.Over time, the oil in the pore oxidizes, creating a small, dark spot. On the face, blackheads are usually small. However blackheads located on the back can become quite large.
Acne
Acne, especially severe cystic acne, may cause dark patches of skin discoloration over time. Treating acne without popping pimples or using harsh cleansers may reduce the chance that the acne will scar. Once the acne is under control, most of these spots can be removed through microdermabrasion or chemical peels.
Sun Damage
Age spots, also called sun or liver spots, present as slightly darker patches of skin, particularly on the face, shoulders, and chest. These spots are caused by sun damage from UV rays. Over time, the skin reacts to UV rays by creating excess melanin. According to the Mayo Clinic, this melanin can clump, causing a freckle-like appearance of the skin. Sometimes age will cause these spots, even without sun damage. However, sun exposure will hasten these spots.
Pregnancy
Dark spots on the face during pregnancy are called melasma or the mask of pregnancy. These dark spots, the result of over pigmentation caused by pregnancy hormones, appear most often on the cheeks and forehead. The American Pregnancy Association notes that 50 percent of pregnant women show some signs of these spots. To reduce the chance that you will have visible spots while pregnant, wear sunscreen. It is thought that sun exposure increases the risk for spotting.
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