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The good face that remains after the summer, has a dark reverse in the form of spots. They, more than wrinkles and lack of firmness, are one of the biggest aesthetic concerns for several reasons: it is almost impossible not to have them at some point or another in life (hormones have a lot to say in this, as in cellulite), they are very difficult to eliminate and, for more 'darkness', they are the signs that most age the appearance of the face (or hands). even more than fine lines or flaccidity.

That is why it is a fact that, after the holidays, few women are spared from resembling, in one way or another, a Dalmatian. "Half of them between the ages of 25 and 35 suffer from melasma or hormonal spots. 30% of women between 35 and 60 years old have sunspots. And up to 40% of women from the age of 60 leave senile spots, which are like huge freckles, "says aesthetic doctor Paula Rosso, from the Lajo Plaza Medical Center (Madrid).

As stated by Dr. Leo Cerrud, an expert in aesthetic medicine, "spots are like children: for life. They can leave home (eliminate), but they always end up coming back."

The great concern posed by stains in aesthetic terms is demonstrated by the fact that, just as visits to the hairdresser increase in September, at this time of year consultations for spots abound in a dermatological clinic, as Dr. Ricardo Ruiz, from the International Dermatological Clinic (Madrid) says.

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Why do more spots come out in summer?

Not all spots are created equal. Dr. Miguel Sánchez Viera, coordinator of the GEDET (Spanish Group of Aesthetic and Therapeutic Dermatology) of the AEDV, explains that, in very general terms, there are mainly two types: "The vascular, which are due to vascularization problems, and the pigmented, which have their origin in an accumulation of melanin (and there are many types: nevus, freckles, lentigines, melasma and hyperpigmented scars)". The passage of time, and exposure to UV radiation (alas!) and are the most common factors when skin spots make their appearance, according to the expert.

Among all the catalog of hyperpigmentations, it is the lentigines that are usually 'the fault of summer'. "They are dark and relatively small areas that appear due to exposure to the sun, a sign of aging that, in general, do not pose a risk to health, but to aesthetics," says Dr. Conchita Pinilla, an expert in aesthetic and plastic surgery in Zaragoza.

Lentigines usually occur on the face, theback of the hands and sometimes the shoulders from a certain age (45-50 years), due to the cumulative damage of so much sun, they go to more with age and affect 90% of people, and more to women, confirms Pinilla. But we must not forget that other types of spots, already existing, are accentuated in summer because "when the rays affect our skin, there is a general stimulus of melanocytes, cells that are our defense system against the aggressions of ultraviolet radiation A and B, which leads us to tan.", explains the aesthetic doctor Virtudes Ruiz, of the Virtudestética clinics, in Murcia.

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Why have I got spots if I have protected myself?

Do not be surprised that, although you have protected yourself with good sunscreens, as the canons command, and in all possible areas there have been and to have, you return from the summer with some extra stain, or with the most visible existing ones (hormonal melasma, for example).

"This occurs mainly due to two factors: first, that the protection has not been as correct as we think. For example, reflection on surfaces such as sand or seawater, sometimes makes us trust when we are under the umbrella or during bathing, with an indirect photoexposure, which is an intense stimulus for conditions such as melasma or pigmentation after inflammatory lesions (wounds, bites, scars). The other reason is a biological factor. By exposing the body surface to the sun, there is the release of a hormone from the pituitary gland stimulating melanocortin, responsible for the synthesis of melanin by melanocytes (cells responsible for skin color). Even when we extreme facial photoprotection, the action of this hormone in people predisposed to facial pigmentations (such as melasma), means that they can be accentuated, "explains Dr. Jaime Company, dermatologist at GEDET.

The classic treatments that work against stains

Although, as Leo Cerrud insists, the spots tend to return, there are dermatological treatments that give good results against them.

  • The laser is a classic to eliminate pigmentations. Dr. Isabel del Campo explains that it acts on darkened areas by fragmenting the pigments, which are reduced with each session and expelled by the body through the lymphatic system. "The most appropriate for the spots that the dermatologist treats the most, solar and senile lentigines, are those of Q-Switched", details the dermatologist. Laser treatment for spots is safe if the right technology is used and is virtually painless. Superficial crusts usually appear that disappear in about five seven days, leaving a possible redness for between four and seven weeks and in that time sun exposure must be avoided. In some cases, one session will suffice.
  • Intense pulsed light is another basic; It is less selective than laser, which allows simultaneous treatment of spots, dilated veins and skin texture. Among its side effects, it enhances the intensity of the spots for two weeks and some crusts may appear that resolve in a few days. One to three sessions are needed.
  • A chemical peel (the classic among the classics), allows to force cell renewal in the epidermis, and therefore replace cells with a lot of melanin by others. It can be useful for solar lentigines, when using trichloroacetic acid, although dermatologists are more advocates of the laser. Although the improvement can be complete with peeling, the tendency of melasma is to reappear, but we can control it with maintenance treatment. The same happens with lentigines with successive sun exposures if there is no adequate photoprotection. As side effects, a greater or lesser peeling and more or less intense redness stand out depending on the peeling that can last between five and 12 days. It is advisable to moisturize, use depigmenting creams and photoprotect and it is recommended to leave it for a time with less sun, between three and 10 sessions.

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An innovative combination treatment against summer spots

Doctors Virtudes Ruiz and María Vicente, aesthetic doctors at Virtudestética clinics, propose a very regenerating, avant-garde and effective treatment against summer spots, the combination ofphotobiodynamic therapy with a serum with exosomes, "substances that produce cell regeneration and help revitalize the skin of the face, neck and décolleté, to activate the natural production of collagen and elastin, to reduce spots, wrinkles and acne sequelae, "says Vicente.

The treatment in question begins with a specific peeling for each skin state, to achieve a cleansing and exfoliation of the superficial layers of the skin, without peeling, "says Ruiz. The second step is the application of a personalized mask that contains depigmenting substances, such as lactic acid, azelaic, phytic or kojic acid, and moisturizers.

It is covered with a transparent film and left to act for 15 minutes aphotobiodynamic t erapia lamp with HDD (High Density Diodes) light, whose green light (among all those it has), is anti-inflammatory, inhibits excess melanin and stimulates the synthesis of collagen and elastin. The final touch is given by the serum with exosomes. The effects are noticeable in the first session, three is ideal.

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