Over the years, many women have asked me what causes sun spots and how to avoid them.  Women often develop these brownish spots or patches, especially on the face, and much less frequently on other parts of the body. This type of hyper-pigmentation of certain areas of the skin is known in dermatology as chloasma, or melasma.

This phenomenon often affects young mothers or women taking contraceptive hormones.  It has been noted that oxidative stress is involved in the over-production of skin pigments.  Exposure to sunlight greatly contributes to further oxidative stress, all the more reason to wear sunscreen and minimize skin exposure to the sun during prime hours.  In attempts to remove these over-pigmented areas, aggressive chemical peeling agents are applied to the skin, even though some are known to cause irreversible skin damage.  There are other gentler but effective ways to brighten and even out these spots, including products with Pycnogenol, such as our Pigment Corrective Topical.

Aging is another factor in sun spots.   Melanocytes begin to burn out when you reach your late 30s and 40s, making it more difficult for your skin to fight sun damage, which can result in uneven pigmentation.

What steps do you take to minimize sun spots?