The biggest determining factor in the color of a person is how much of a pigment, called melanin, they have in their skin. As we become older our skin tends to develop dark spots, called age spots or sun spots. These spots are actually caused by the skin being over exposed to the sun. Over time, because the skin has had to protect itself from the sun in these places, these dark spots start to develop.
The best way to get rid of these spots is, obviously, to never get them in the first place. They can be prevented by not over-exposing your skin to the sun. Staying out of the sunlight would be very difficult, but you can cover up your skin as much as possible to avoid UV exposure. Of course, when it is hot outside, covering up can be difficult also. If your skin must be exposed, use a sunscreen with a high level of UV protection. If you are exposed to the sun for long periods of time, be sure to reapply it every few hours as described by the label. Also, make sure you reapply it after swimming or other water activities.
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Our skin changes throughout our lives and as we age, changes in pigmentation can happen and be hard to treat. Fortunately, there are anti aging treatments such as anti aging creams and anti wrinkles treatments to help keep your skin looking as youthful as possible.
Age Spots or Sun Spots
One of the first signs of aging many people notice are age spots or sun spots. Appearing as early as age 40, they are patches of pigmentation. While most people take them as a sign of age, the reason the alternative name for them is sun spot is they are the skin’s reaction to long term sun damage. Like their cuter cousin, freckles, age spots, or sun spots are places where the skin has had to protect itself from sun damage. Tanning beds can also cause this damage.
Skin darkening and pigmentation happens due to the mal function of the melanin cells on the skin surface. These cells are responsible in maintaining the skin tone and color. They also are responsible in ensuring an even skin tone, across the entire surface area of the skin. Melanin pigments need nutrients and vitamins for their functioning. People will have to ensure that these nutrients are available in adequate quantities. These nutrients can be provided through the dietary food intake of the people. The nutrients present in food items are absorbed by blood and are supplied to the skin cells. If the nutrient supply is insufficient, melanin pigments become inefficient and this can result in overall skin darkening and skin pigmentation. Supplementary nutrients can be provided to the melanin pigments via ingested compounds and also by external application of skin maintenance creams and lotions. Nutrients are also essential for the rejuvenation ability of melanin cells, especially vitamins. If these vitamins are not provided to the cells they become dormant and lie in isolated concentrations on damaged parts of the skin. These are visible in the forms of skin pigmentation and ski darkening. Nutrient supply is vital for prevention of skin darkening and skin