When coming to the beach, many people want to get an even, bronze tan. However, if brown spots appear after a sunburn, a person immediately has a question not only about the nature of their appearance, but also, most importantly, about methods of combating this problem. First of all, it is worth analyzing such a phenomenon as skin pigmentation, to find out why areas of the body exposed to the sun change their color.
General concepts
In itself, such damage is thermal in nature. The top layer of the epithelium simply burns and dies. But this problem can also be encountered at home, why is everything different after a sunburn - a person has moles, age spots?
The sun's rays are ultraviolet radiation, which, passing through our atmosphere, significantly loses its destructive power. If it were not for this protective layer of the Earth, the skin's reaction to ordinary sunlight would be much more serious. However, even in such a weak concentration it can cause harm to people. This is strongly expressed in sensitive epithelium and prolonged exposure to the sun (especially during peak hours from 12:00 to 16:30). In this case, if brown spots appear after a sunburn, you should not be surprised.
To avoid similar and more serious complications, our body contains a special element - melanin. It protects sensitive tissues from exposure to ultraviolet radiation. During tanning, it naturally begins to accumulate in larger quantities, which manifests itself in the form of darkening of the skin. Over time, a person’s top layer dies off (which is normal) and the tanned areas return to their normal color. If moles appear after a sunburn, this is a serious sign that there are some failures in the protective function.
Right time
The most active sun is from 10 am to 4 pm. Therefore, it is better to come to the beach by 6-7 o’clock and leave before the dangerous time arrives. But even during this period, do not forget to apply Sunscreen to your skin: SPF 50 for the body and SPF 30 for the face. To get a beautiful bronze tan, you don’t have to fry in the sun; UV rays do their job even in the morning.
Possible causes of brown spots and moles after a sunburn
The root may not even be hidden in the sun itself, so it’s worth considering a few points:
- You still need to start with thermal damage. In this case, age spots almost always occur. The reason for this is the burn covering part of the skin. As a result, ultraviolet radiation affects different areas to different degrees. In one area it is stronger, and in another it is weaker, and this results in similar states. It should be noted that if the radiation burn was serious or the person ignored its treatment, such pigmentation can last a very long time, if not remain forever;
- Chemical composition of creams, shower gels, cosmetics. Whatever one may say, tanning is a protective reaction of the body. In this situation, any externally used drugs can distort their functions. After a sunburn, in such episodes not only brown spots appear, but also allergies, rashes, itching, and hives. Treat the selection of any cosmetic products in the same way as pharmaceutical medications;
- General weakening of the body. Intense heat, ultraviolet radiation, stress, burns and other factors can cause inhibition of the liver, thyroid gland or biliary tract. Such episodes will be characterized by pigmentation not only in tanning areas, but throughout the body;
Important! If moles appear after a sunburn, this may indicate a more serious problem - the development of cancer. If new moles appear or old ones change, become blurred, enlarged or darken, consult a doctor as soon as possible.
Prevention of skin pigmentation from the sun
It is quite difficult to avoid the appearance of age spots after sunbathing on the face, back and neck, especially if there is a genetic predisposition to this, but there are still some effective methods of prevention.
- Timely protection against UV rays. With age, those areas of the skin that were most often exposed to the sun, that is, tanned, are especially susceptible to the manifestation of pigmentation. Most often this is the face, neck and hands. Therefore, they require additional protection in the form of sunscreen, hats, baseball caps, scarves and other protective equipment.
- Correct selection of products for the daily diet. If the problem of pigmentation is acute and causes many aesthetic problems, then the choice of ingredients should be approached more carefully. The menu should contain a lot of vegetables, herbs, fruits, olive oil, red fish, and sprouted cereals. The body needs vitamin C and folic acid.
- Choice of hormonal agents. To protect your body from unexpected manifestations in the form of pigmentation after tanning, you should be especially careful when choosing hormonal medications. If you have a long vacation ahead on the seashore, it is best to consult a specialist before taking hormonal drugs.
Important! To prevent pigmentation, you can use complex preparations that contain vitamins A, B12, C, D, E, PP.
If small amounts of age spots begin to appear on the face or other part of the body from the sun, it is better to immediately begin removing them. If detected early, it will be much easier to quickly and efficiently fix the problem.
What to do?
When faced with such a problem, it is necessary to figure out what was the root cause of the disease. In modern medicine and cosmetology, there are many drugs, scrubs, peelings, skin whitening products that help eliminate brown spots that appear after sunburn. However, when the cause is somewhat more serious than the post-burn spot, such therapy will not be particularly effective.
Treatment of pigmentation differs in each case:
- If the cause was a direct burn, then everything will go away on its own, with time. Avoid sunlight for long periods. It would not be superfluous to use regenerating drugs. Panthenol, Bepanten, Solcoseryl, Actovegin or their analogues can be a good support in recovery. If the situation is more serious, you should consult a doctor;
- The allergic reaction is usually accompanied by itching and red marks, but in rare cases there may be dark pigment spots after sunbathing. Take an antihistamine (Suprastin, Fenistil) and consult a specialist on this issue. Most likely, you will be able to choose a cream that neutralizes the effects of ultraviolet radiation;
- You can get rid of age spots that appear due to the characteristics of your skin using cosmetic procedures, peelings, and scrubs. They will remove tan and remove all external defects. To avoid such problems in the future, use protective creams.
Important! If you find pigment spots on the face, groin area, chest, mucous membranes, consult a doctor as soon as possible. These are vulnerable places where such symptoms can lead to some complications.
If you have brown spots after a sunburn, this is often normal. But, if they do not disappear after a few days, along with the tan, or your therapy does not produce results, consult a cosmetologist.
How to overcome hyperpigmentation after sunburn
The fight against hyperpigmentation should begin with a consultation with a dermatologist or cosmetologist, who will help determine the cause of the problem and, if necessary, refer to a specialized doctor (gynecologist, endocrinologist, gastroenterologist, etc.).
If a large number of freckles and age spots is a hereditary problem or a consequence of a condition that cannot be cured (for example, age-related changes or menopause), you will not be able to overcome them forever, but you can significantly reduce their severity.
After eliminating the factor that provokes the appearance of hyperpigmentation, or in parallel with treatment, a set of measures is carried out aimed at:
- getting rid of or clarifying existing formations;
- preventing the emergence of new ones.
The younger and smaller the stain, the faster it can be removed. Home treatments and cosmetics should also be prescribed by a doctor. Since methods of dealing with pigment are chosen based on the reasons that led to its formation, and only a specialist can correctly determine this.
Elena Samokhvalova, dermatologist, cosmetologist, head of the cosmetology department of the Ottimo aesthetic medicine clinic
https://www.passion.ru/beauty/uhod-za-telom/pyatna-na-solnce-kak-izbavitsya-ot-pigmentacii-156303.htm
Only a dermatologist or cosmetologist can create a program for working with age spots. It usually includes special procedures and the use of lightening and/or melanin synthesis-slowing agents.
Only a cosmetologist or dermatologist can prescribe the best methods for eliminating hyperpigmentation
Experts note that it usually takes from 2 to 6 months to achieve significant results. However, this period may take less or longer depending on the severity of pigmentation and the individual characteristics of the skin.
Video: cosmetologist on methods of combating age spots
Cosmetology procedures
The most effective way to remove or make age spots less noticeable is professional procedures, which are carried out only by a cosmetologist or dermatologist in a specially equipped office.
Table: characteristics of popular professional procedures against age spots
| Name | How does it work | How many procedures will be required |
| Chemical peeling | Exfoliates the surface layer of skin containing melanin due to the action of:
| 2–10 |
| Mechanical peelings (scrubs, gommages) | The top layer of the epidermis containing the coloring pigment is removed. | 2–8 |
| Mesotherapy | Treating the skin with a mesoscooter or injecting a special preparation provides a brightening effect and normalizes further melanin production. | 3–6 |
| Laser resurfacing | The laser beam destroys pigmented cells without affecting the rest. | 1–3 |
| Photo procedures | Due to the action of high-intensity light streams, the skin is cleared of pigment. | 5–6 |
Professional procedures are effective and give relatively quick results, but they are not without their disadvantages:
- high cost (especially considering that a course of procedures will be required);
- most hardware techniques (including laser treatment) cannot be performed on tanned skin;
- the presence of contraindications (chronic inflammatory processes on the skin, febrile conditions, viral infections, diabetes mellitus, pregnancy, individual intolerance, rosacea, etc.);
- traumatic for the epidermis (the skin becomes more susceptible to ultraviolet exposure, so such procedures are recommended to be carried out in the autumn-winter period, when solar activity is reduced; most procedures also require a rehabilitation period so that the appearance of the skin is restored).
Video: laser removal of age spots
Special means
If it is not possible or necessary (pigment spots are weakly expressed) to resort to professional procedures, special means are used. Also, such products can be prescribed to cosmetologists in between sessions of the methods described above.
Compound
Anti-pigmentation products work due to exfoliating and brightening components. They usually contain:
- acids (glycolic, phytic, azelaic, ascorbic, mandelic, koic, albatine R);
- gentesic acid esters;
- dermawhite R (complex of Valteria indica plant extract and a complex of organic acids);
- arbutin;
- N-acetylcysteine;
- aloesin (aloe vera extract complex);
- burnet extract;
- licorice root extract.
Review of popular products
Here are the most popular and effective anti-pigmentation remedies:
- Yves Rocher, Even Botanical, anti-pigmentation serum. It works due to active ingredients: licorice and white peony extracts. It has a light texture, is easy to apply, and absorbs well.
- ULTRACEUTICALS, Ultra Brightening Serum, ultra-whitening serum. Active ingredients: citric, salicylic lactic acids exfoliate the pigmented layer, yarrow extract suppresses melanin production. The product also eliminates signs of aging.
- Caudalie, Vinoperfect Cell Renewal Night Cream, night whitening cream. Active ingredients: glycolic and grape acids, viniferin, papaya enzymes, grape seed oil, cassia angustifolia. Exfoliates pigmented cells, normalizes melanin synthesis, accelerates regeneration, slows down skin aging, improves the appearance of the epidermis.
- SkinCeuticals Retinol 0.3, highly effective night care cream. Retinol accelerates cellular regeneration and collagen production, lightens age spots and smoothes wrinkles.
- KIEHL'S, Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution, serum for even skin tone. Ascorbic acid evens out the shade of the epidermis and, in combination with peony extract, prevents the pigmentation process, white birch extract moisturizes the skin and activates collagen synthesis.
Photo gallery: purchased anti-hyperpigmentation products
Yves Rocher, Even Botanical does not contain silicones, parabens or dyes
ULTRACEUTICALS, Ultra Brightening Serum is valued by consumers for its high effectiveness
Caudalie, Vinoperfect Cell Renewal Night Cream, in addition to lightening age spots, provides the skin with additional care
SkinCeuticals Retinol 0.3 works due to its pronounced exfoliating effect and prevents the appearance of new spots
KIEHL'S, Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution blocks the pigmentation process and moisturizes the skin well
When I thought about buying a cream with retinol, my choice fell on Retinol 0.3 from SkinCeutikals, because: I trust the brand and almost all of my care is based on cosmetics from this manufacturer. 0.3 is the minimum concentration, which means it’s perfect for the “first acquaintance” With one by pressing, just enough comes out to treat one part of the face (forehead with temples, right cheek, left cheek, chin and top of the neck). The consistency of the product is between a fluid and a light cream - it spreads easily. For the first two weeks, I wanted to apply something moisturizing on top of the product (due to active peeling and the accompanying feeling of tightness), so after 30 minutes I fixed the cream with hyaluronic serum. After a month, I switched to nightly use Retinol 0.3 without additional moisturizing after. I can feel that my skin has adapted to retinol and now accepts it perfectly. Effect The visible effect for me personally was noticeable on days 4-5 after starting to use retinol: the skin was smooth, taut, small invisible bumps on the face were smoothed out, the complexion evened out. Active peeling began on days 7–10. A month later, retinol became the only night cream in my routine (if you don’t take into account additional peelings and masks during the week).
AmeliaAmelia
https://irecommend.ru/content/zamechatelnyi-retinol-03-dlya-obnovleniya-kozhi-izbavleniya-ot-akne-pridaniya-uprugosti-reko
Not everyone knows that whitening creams are medicinal cosmetics that have contraindications and side effects. Therefore, before using them, it’s still better to stay safe and consult a cosmetologist.
Irina Kirova, cosmetologist
https://www.vologda.kp.ru/daily/24154.3/368987/
Traditional methods
There is no clear opinion among cosmetologists regarding traditional methods of combating pigmentation. Some allow their use as an aid, others are extremely skeptical. However, almost all experts agree that the use of traditional methods alone will not solve the problem of hyperpigmentation.
Often lemon is used against pigmentation, herbs are brewed, and strawberries are smeared. This does not work! Moreover, squeezing lemon onto your skin can irritate it, which makes you even more prone to hyperpigmentation because the epidermal barrier is destroyed.
Irina Tkacheva, cosmetologist at the TORI cosmetology and beauty center
https://www.passion.ru/beauty/uhod-za-telom/pyatna-na-solnce-kak-izbavitsya-ot-pigmentacii-156303.htm
Home remedies have a natural composition and have a caring effect, but have minor whitening properties.
Rubbing
To lighten the skin, you can wipe the skin with juice 1-2 times a day:
- lemon;
- parsley;
- cucumber;
- viburnum berries;
- raw potatoes;
- sauerkraut.
Parsley juice has long been used by girls to lighten their skin.
15–20 minutes after the procedure, you need to wash your face with warm running water.
One friend surprised me, she said her whole face was covered in spots, she rubbed it with sauerkraut juice starting in March, there are no spots, she’s evenly tanned, she’s almost 45, I’m in shock.
Zoya
https://www.woman.ru/beauty/medley2/thread/3855077/
You can also use the following tincture for wiping:
- Finely grated horseradish root into a dark glass bottle with a tight lid.
- Pour in apple cider vinegar in a ratio of 1 to 5.
- Leave in a cool, dark place for a week.
- Dilute with water in a ratio of 1 to 1.
Masks
The compositions are applied to clean skin for 15–20 minutes, then washed off with warm running water. It is recommended to repeat the procedure 1-2 times a week. Here are the most popular mask recipes:
- Viburnum berry juice and honey combined in equal quantities.
- Lemon juice and hydrogen peroxide 3%, mixed in equal proportions (in the composition you need to moisten gauze folded in several layers and apply to hyperpigmented areas).
- Parsley juice and sour cream or natural yogurt mixed in equal quantities.
Video: mask recipe for age spots
Cosmetic ice
Pour any of the following products into molds, freeze and use the cubes for morning rubbing of skin areas with pigmentation. To make such ice, the following are suitable:
- viburnum berry juice;
- chamomile infusion (pour 2 tablespoons of raw material with a liter of boiling water, leave for 30 minutes, cool, strain).
“Ice” rubbing is contraindicated for rosacea, cold allergies, inflammatory and infectious skin rashes, excessively dry and sensitive epidermis, and during the cold season.
Scrub
A brightening scrub can be prepared as follows: mix a tablespoon of oatmeal and ground coffee beans, a tablespoon of cranberry or lemon juice.
Apply the composition with massaging movements onto slightly moistened skin, after 5-10 minutes rinse with running water. Use once a week.
Precautions and prevention
During hyperpigmentation therapy, it is recommended to avoid tanning because:
- under the influence of the described methods and means, the skin becomes more sensitive to ultraviolet radiation: the risk of burns and the appearance of new spots increases;
- the disrupted melanization process takes on visible forms under the influence of ultraviolet radiation, and if new spots appear during the treatment process, the therapy will turn into an endless process.
The use of any product (both purchased and homemade) must be agreed upon with a specialist. It is recommended to conduct an allergy test before use. Apply a little product to the crook of your elbow and wait a day. If no undesirable manifestations (burning, dryness, redness, etc.) are found, the product can be used in the absence of other contraindications (see instructions for the specific product).
To prevent the appearance of spots with a tendency to hyperpigmentation, it is recommended:
- avoid tanning (both in the solarium and on the beach);
- during the warm season, wear light-colored clothes made of natural materials that cover the body as much as possible, wear a cap or hat with a wide brim;
- Treat exposed skin areas with sunscreen all year round before going outside (depending on the intensity of UV radiation and individual characteristics, the cosmetologist will determine the required SPF level).
If you are prone to hyperpigmentation, cosmetologists recommend using sunscreen all year round.
Poor education
Sunburn on the skin is unsightly and very unpleasant. It is painful for the sufferer, pink as a pig, to walk, sit and even lie down - any movement or contact with the fabric causes him real agony. Fortunately, these sensations do not last long: a couple of days, a maximum of a week. After this, the burn goes away. Alas, not without a trace. Every time a person gets sunburned, their risk of developing melanoma, a malignant tumor that develops from melanocytes, pigment cells that produce melanin, increases.
This is one of three types of skin cancer and the most dangerous of them. That is why it is very important for everyone, without exception, to use sunscreen to protect our bodies from sunburn. And first of all, this applies to people at risk - these are white-skinned, light-eyed, freckled (especially if the hemp is pink), blond or fair-haired, those who have many new moles, whose relatives have been diagnosed with melanoma, as well as men and women over 50 years old. All of them should not only use sunscreen, but also reduce contact with ultraviolet radiation to a minimum. Sunbathe for 10-15 minutes, no longer, and do it at the right time - before eleven o'clock in the morning. After noon, the sun becomes especially radioactive.
Visibly-invisibly
As you know, there are significantly more brown-eyed people in the world than light-eyed ones. Therefore, many girls are proud of blue and gray eyes, revering them as a great rarity. Unfortunately, in addition to reasons for joy, they also have serious reasons for fear. According to recent studies, light-eyed women are more likely than others to experience retinal rupture, which leads to severe deterioration of vision, including the inability to work with papers and at the computer. At worst, this problem can lead to complete and irreversible blindness. It sounds scary, but there is a way to protect yourself: always, and especially in the summer, wear sunglasses. They will protect against ultraviolet radiation - the main cause of retinal rupture. It weakens vision because throughout our lives it affects the pigment responsible for color and light transmission and destroys it.
What does bright-eyed women have to do with it? And despite the fact that in their eyes there is initially much less pigment than in brown ones. But keep in mind: not all glasses can provide truly reliable protection. For example, this is beyond the capabilities of cheap plastic copies. Please note: even if they are very dark, this will not save you, but, on the contrary, will put you in even greater danger. The fact is that in such glasses the pupil dilates as much as possible and an increased dose of ultraviolet radiation penetrates it. And the flimsy coating on the economy class windows cannot stop him. As for expensive sun protection accessories, their plastic filters 99-100% of dangerous rays thanks to a special coating. Also pay attention to the temples of your glasses - they should be wide to protect your eyes from the sun from the side of your temples.
