How is it formed
Every person from birth has a genetically determined skin color - the so-called permanent pigment.
When exposed to external and internal factors, an additional one is produced, which can be either a temporary physiological phenomenon (natural tanning) or a pathological one, difficult to remove even with special lasers (lentigo, vitiligo, etc.). The formation mechanism itself occurs in the epidermal layer. Here are located keratinocytes - epidermal cells. Their life cycle is up to 60 days, so they are constantly updated. To protect young and vulnerable cellular structures from sun exposure, melanocytes exist. They belong to the nervous system and are called upon to produce melanin, which absorbs ultraviolet radiation.
If the body is healthy, there is no overdose of solar radiation, melanocytes will produce a sufficient amount of protection. However, if there are failures, the “protectors” begin to be distributed unevenly, which leads to the formation of hyperpigmented areas.
Regular cleansing and skin care –
Wash your face twice a day with mild cleansers. For acne patients, cleansers usually contain salicylic acid or alpha hydroxy acids. Salicylic acid is lipophilic, and therefore will effectively help dissolve fat plugs, but this only applies to blackheads (open comedones). The exfoliating effect of salicylic acid is extremely insignificant, therefore, for so-called whiteheads, it is best to use washes with alpha hydroxy acids. The latter have a slightly more pronounced exfoliating effect.
In addition, you should give up comedogenic cosmetics, and also ensure that your cleansers remove not only ordinary water-soluble impurities, but also fat-soluble impurities (cosmetic residues). If you start using adapalene, then at first you should avoid scrubs (to prevent skin irritation).
A very important point - in spring and summer, regularly use sunscreen with SPF 50, because it will also help you prevent new acne from appearing. This is not only important if you are using topical products with topical retinoids or benzoyl peroxide. For example, solar radiation directly leads to the development of epidermal hyperkeratosis, which contributes to obstruction of the follicles (the formation of comedones in them). Sun cream must be non-comedogenic, preferably in the form of a suspension, as in the photo below. Next, we will tell you how mechanical acne removal is carried out.
Sunscreen with SPF 50 (our editor's choice):
Causes of hyperpigmentation
An increase in melanin production can be associated both with physiological changes occurring in the body and as a result of pathologies. The most well-known factors influencing the occurrence of stains are:
- endocrine diseases;
- hormonal changes during pregnancy or menopause;
- diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and adrenal glands;
- metabolic disorder;
- vitamin deficiency or hypervitaminosis;
- helminthic infestations;
- severe intoxication of the body;
- trauma or inflammatory processes;
- prolonged exposure to the sun;
- taking medications - antibiotics of the tetracycline group, gentamicins, erythromycins, as well as some NSAIDs, salicylic acid, antidepressants, diuretics, sleeping pills and sedatives, antihistamines, St. John's wort extract, etc.;
- heredity.
Changes can also appear due to prolonged stress. Since melanocytes belong to the nervous system, any fluctuations and unstable conditions lead to serious pigmentation disorders.
Why is everything bad
In many ways, the tendency to blackheads is a hereditary factor. And if your parents had something similar, most likely it will affect you too. For blackheads to appear, at least one of these reasons is enough, but as a rule, they come together.
- Unstable hormonal levels.
Normally, our body synthesizes about 70 different hormones. When something breaks down in this process, either too much or too little hormones are produced, problems begin. The appearance of blackheads is usually associated with increased testosterone production. This may be due to dysfunction of the ovaries and/or adrenal glands due to stress, illness or a strict diet. If your hormones are out of whack, you need serious treatment from a dermatologist and endocrinologist. - Incorrect care.
This is when normal or dry skin is washed with products that say “for oily skin”, and all sorts of actions begin in the style of “I’ll take a harsher product like a scrub with bones or hand soap so that it will work for sure.” It will only get worse. Such aggressive cleansing only injures the skin of the face. A dermatologist will help you choose the right care. - Dirt.
In this case, you can cope on your own by taking care of hygiene.
Localization of spots
They can have different sizes, both with clear contours and blurry ones, merge together or not grow at all. Depending on the differential diagnosis and the type of hypermelanosis, they can be located both in certain areas and without specific boundaries, covering absolutely any area of the body.
On the face
One of the most common sites of localization of many hyperpigmentations. This is due to the fact that the skin here is thin enough so that negative factors can attack them faster. Among the common phenomena are freckles, which can decorate the face all year round and also appear and disappear after exposure to the sun. They are also localized over the entire surface or located pointwise in the area of the cheeks, eyes, and forehead.
Anti-age drugs
Bb Laboratories – Delicate oil for deep cleansing
Laennec – solution for injection
Bb Laboratories – Two-phase serum concentrate
Two-phase placental serum concentrate
On the body
Namely on the arms, shoulders, chest, back, groin area. For each individual disease, there are areas where pigment accumulation is observed. For example, senile hyperpigmentation is typically located on the hands, forearms, and upper back.
What do acne and blackheads look like: photo
Blackheads look the same in men and women. The type of rash, size and number of comedones depend on individual characteristics; in women, acne and blackheads appear on the shoulders and back more often, mainly due to regular hormonal fluctuations.
Types and symptoms of age spots
Let's consider the most characteristic signs of hypermelanosis, as well as control methods that are relevant for each specific type of pathology.
Freckles
The most common type of melanin accumulation. They are mainly located on the face, in the cheek area. In advanced cases, they can completely cover the entire surface of the skin with small distances between the spots. And also have a round or oval shape, small diameter, clear contours.
Genetic predisposition plays a major role, so freckles can appear in childhood. People with red and blond hair are most susceptible to them. This is due to the need for high melanin production to protect the skin.
Freckles can be easily distinguished from other types of spots by the complete disappearance of pigmentation in cold weather, and the appearance of a whole scattering on the face with the arrival of warmth. Therefore, to combat them, creams with maximum sun filters are used throughout the year, as well as lightening cosmetics.
Melasma
Spots without clear boundaries and endings, varying in shade from bronze to dark brown. They have the ability to stretch, grow, and merge with each other into huge pigmented areas that occupy a large surface of the body. The main provoking factor is considered to be hormonal disorders caused by menopause, pregnancy, and the use of oral contraceptives. Treatments include peeling methods and procedures that promote cell renewal. When the root causes are eliminated, the stains quickly disappear.
Melasma
The second name is melanosis. It can be acquired or hereditary, manifests itself in the form of an accumulation of melanin with uneven but clear boundaries and localization in open areas of the body. May occur as a result of Addison's disease, hemochromatosis, due to sensitivity to ultraviolet radiation, anthracene or acridine substances, diseases of the pituitary gland, ovaries, adrenal glands, syphilis, tuberculosis, malaria, treatment with hormones. Pigmentation is accompanied by redness, itching, peeling, and roughening of the skin.
To prevent progress, sunscreens are used, drug therapy is prescribed with steroid groups, retinoids, hydroacids, and vitamins B (1.6) and C are additionally used.
Becker's nevus
A characteristic defect in men, it is much less common in women. The first manifestations can be as early as 10 years of age. It is a hyperpigmented area protruding above the surface of the skin, on which dark long hairs grow. It occurs both as a result of genetic factors and can appear after sun exposure, changes in hormonal levels, in particular androgens. The location most often is the upper back and chest; it is not often found on the legs, groin, or head. It has a warty surface on which acne or comedones can be seen. Does not respond well to any cosmetic procedures or medications. An argon laser is used to minimize the aesthetic defect.
Secondary
Occurs at the site of mechanical damage. They can be either deep cuts, scratches, or acne, comedones, ulcers and other superficial causes that trigger the inflammatory process in the skin cells. There is an excess of melanin, resulting in staining. They are localized where the damage was and go away after the area returns to normal and the inflammation disappears. To speed up the lightening process, you can use special lightening creams or cosmetic procedures aimed at renewing the epidermal layer.
Age
As we age, the negative effects of ultraviolet radiation lead to increased melanin production in certain areas of the body. These are usually open areas that have been exposed to a lot of sunlight during their lifetime. With age, spots appear with a diameter of 1 to 5 cm, which are darker in color than the entire surface of the skin.
Berlocc's dermatitis
Refers to contact types of immune response to irritants. Usually due to contact with perfumes, colognes, and deodorants. It is located where the skin came into contact with the substance. Symptoms may include not only a change in the color of the dermal layer, but also itching, peeling, and swelling. It disappears quickly, just stop using perfume and in a few days everything will return to normal.
Chloasma
Large spots can merge into one large skin defect. They do not have a clear contour or boundaries and can grow and increase in size throughout life. Among the provoking factors are pregnancy and lactation, menopause, changes in hormonal levels due to diseases, stress, taking oral contraceptives, steroids, the use of hormone-containing ointments and some cosmetics.
Features of cosmetics against blackheads
Did you know that remedies for blackheads, for example, on the nose, have the same mechanism of action as lotions for comedones on the back? Modern cosmetics begin with active ingredients - they are well studied and successfully used all over the world.
Compound
Anti-comedogenic substances in cosmetics serve several purposes. They need to dissolve the plug in the skin pores, draw it to the surface, and make the skin smooth and matte. An effective remedy for blackheads must contain at least a couple of components from this list.
- — Salicylic acid – at a concentration of 2% it dissolves the contents of pores and has a delicate antibacterial effect on the skin.
- - Glycolic acid - acts similarly, but only on the surface of the skin.
- — Zinc – fights oiliness, mattifies well, prevents inflammation.
- — Plant extracts – some of them mattify, while others visually reduce pores and soothe the skin.
- - Clay and charcoal - they are loved for their absorbent talents, their ability to draw out impurities from pores, reduce and lighten blackheads.
- — Mild abrasive additives – exfoliate the epidermis and polish the skin, restoring its smoothness and softness.
Properties
Cosmetic ranges, whose formulas are based on active ingredients, are produced in entire “families” - so one set of cosmetics for problem skin will replace all your usual care. In these ranges, each product has its own specificity, but together they go towards the same goal.
- Moisturizers. Oily and at the same time dehydrated skin – does this happen? Even so, if there is no moisturizing product without comedogenic substances in your care.
- Cleansing. They are the main ones here: they work in the pores, renew the epidermis, remove impurities and excess sebum, gradually reducing the number of clogged pores.
- Exfoliating. Created for regular skin renewal. Those with blackheads, as a rule, have a slower exfoliation of dead cells - this cannot be done without outside help.
- Toning. By enhancing the effect of cleansers, they soothe the skin and even prevent the appearance of oily shine throughout the day.
What causes pigment spots to appear on the face after sunbathing?
Most manifestations of hyperpigmentation occur after the negative effects of ultraviolet rays. Among those that immediately appear are freckles, various melasma and chloasma. There are also those that have a cumulative effect, for example, lentigo.
Also, if during the summer vacation there were inflammatory processes in open areas of the body, most likely after they heal, a change in shade can be clearly observed.
Prolonged exposure to the hot sun with the presence of existing tumors and increased pigmentation can be fraught with the degeneration of harmless spots into aggressive cancer - melanoma. Therefore, you should limit your tanning time and use special cosmetics for protection.
Minimally invasive procedure “BB GLOW TREATMENT”
A cosmetologist uses a special device - a darmapen. There are contraindications, consultation is required
This is a hardware procedure that whitens the skin and has a healing effect. She fights freckles, post-acne, age spots and uneven complexion. As a result of using “bb glow treatment”, pores are narrowed, fine wrinkles are straightened, the skin becomes moisturized and radiant.
Age spots and peeling
Melanin accumulation occurs in the upper layers of the epidermis. In order to remove unaesthetic problems, products that stimulate the renewal of the dermis are used. The most effective peelings are: chemical, mechanical, laser. They promote the regeneration of epidermal cells, forcing keratinocytes to produce new ones as quickly as possible, which will not have a large accumulation of coloring pigment. When eliminating the root causes of hyperpigmentation, there is a chance that you will forget about various spots for a long time.
Causeless manifestations
It happens that people try to protect their skin, use special sunscreens, but hyperpigmented areas still appear. It's like it happens for no apparent reason. However, for melanocytes to malfunction, even a small but prolonged stress or temporary hormonal imbalance is enough.
It is also worth noting the cumulative negative effect of ultraviolet radiation, which can manifest itself over the years on areas of the body that received sunburn in early childhood. Therefore, only at first glance it seems that hypermelanosis arose without provoking factors. In fact, he has hidden reasons.
Salon treatments for blackheads
If the imperfections are non-inflammatory and there is no recurrence of acne, you can get rid of blackheads using popular cosmetic procedures. Properly selected corrective home care will prolong the temporary results of aesthetic manipulations.
Types of salon procedures for removing blackheads:
- Ultrasonic, vacuum or mechanical (manual) cleaning of pores;
- Dermabrasion (mechanical resurfacing) for deep exfoliation of the skin;
- Cryotherapy (cryopeeling), acid peeling (based on glycolic, lactic, azelaic, salicylic acids or retinoids) for intensive renewal of the stratum corneum of the skin;
- Laser resurfacing is a radical and most traumatic way to get rid of acne, as well as post-acne marks, by exposing the epidermis to a laser beam.
- Disincrustation cleanses pores with a special solution that delivers electric current to the deep layers of the skin.
Liver pigment spots
Deterioration in the functionality of internal organs can also lead to the formation of aesthetic defects. The liver plays the role of a filter, retaining and processing all dangerous substances, and then removing them from the body. In cases where she fails to cope with her duties, slow but sure intoxication occurs, which is manifested not only by internal, but also by external pathologies.
Metabolic processes in tissues are disrupted, including the normal distribution of melanin; it accumulates in certain areas. Most often it appears on the face. The contours of such spots are not uniform, they do not have a clear boundary. The color can also vary from light to dark brown.
A little about towels and sponges
When there is a tendency to inflammatory elements on the face, strong sebum secretion, clogged pores, the first thing to start with is gentle cleansing.
Normally, for the hydrolipidic barrier to perform its protective function, the pH of the skin should be slightly acidic. A healthy person has a pH between 4.5 and 6. To maintain its level, we generally recommend using neutral or slightly acidified tonics. This is necessary to prevent the skin from becoming alkalized.
After washing, some people rinse their face with water from a filter or chamomile decoction. This is very good, provided that you are not allergic to chamomile. But in reality, only a small percentage of people do this. Therefore, after cleansing, it is advisable to use a toner.
The task of the toner is to restore the protective hydrolipid barrier of the skin after washing. So the tonic is good at removing limescale and dirt that may be in tap water. The main thing is that it has a neutral or slightly acidic pH.
The next thing to keep in mind is disposable face towels. They can be paper or rag (then they must be washed at at least 60 degrees, and then they can be used again). It is important that you have one special face towel, preferably one per day, and that no one else uses it except you.
In general, there are cases when you simply replace a reusable towel with a disposable one, and the person already begins to improve. And you don’t have to prescribe anything else at all.
Third - pillowcase. It should always be clean. During periods of exacerbation, iron it well every day. Or at least change it every three to four days.
Another dangerous provocateur of blackheads is brushes and sponges for applying decorative cosmetics. It's better to give them up altogether. And try to apply everything that can be applied in a one-time manner in a one-time manner. A clean finger or cotton swab is better for applying eye shadow than a brush, which collects all the dirt and bacteria. And it’s somewhere in a glass on a shelf in the hallway. But if you really want to use sponges, you need to wash them thoroughly with detergent and use antibacterial agents.
Another opinion that people have in their heads is that blackheads appear due to the consumption of certain foods. Mostly milk and sweets. And they exclude them from their diet. It is not right. There is a book by Dr. Anjali Mahto that talks in detail about why we should stop being afraid of food. In short, today there is no documented information about the direct dependence of the presence of blackheads on products. And the point is not in the food itself, but in its quantity.
Lentigo
The phenomenon is popularly known as “senile ripples.” Appears in older people in areas of the body that have been exposed to intense ultraviolet rays throughout their lives. The pigment usually appears on the arms from the hands to the top of the shoulders, upper back, décolleté, and face. It is distinguished by its small size, different diameters and chaotic arrangement of spots.
The first manifestations can be noticed after 40 years; they noticeably age the appearance, so many people at this stage turn to cosmetologists to eliminate the defect. During menopause, hormonal changes lead to an increase in the amount of pigment. Chemical, mechanical and laser peels are used for treatment. Cosmetics and whitening creams will not cope with the problem.
Folk remedies for blackheads: will they help?
Home remedies for blackheads are a common way to cleanse the skin of sebaceous plugs at home.
The following are often used in cleansing masks:
- tea tree, which relieves inflammation and cleanses pores;
- clay (white, blue, black) as an absorbent of sebum and other impurities that clog pores;
- egg white, which has an anti-inflammatory effect;
- baking soda cleanses pores, relieves and dries inflammation.
These are not all the available components that are used to prepare cleaning products at home. But each of them in their pure form has a number of contraindications, as they can cause an allergic reaction and provoke new foci of inflammation. Experts in the field of dermatology do not recommend resorting to such a prescription, replacing them with professional care with clinically proven effectiveness.
Solarium - is it harmful?
It is also a mistake to think that sun tanning is harmful, and nothing will happen in specialized salons in a few minutes. On the beach, the skin gets a lot of heat, but this happens gradually. In the booths, a loading dose of ultraviolet radiation is given in a few minutes, which is difficult to obtain outdoors even in a whole day.
People with a fair skin type, with the presence of moles and nevi, freckles, existing aesthetic defects in the form of increased melanin production, need to get rid of the habit of visiting a solarium. The consequences can be expressed both in the progression of unsightly changes in the epidermal layer, and in their degeneration into malignant neoplasms.
Where do blackheads come from?
Blackheads, also known as open comedones, are one of the mildest forms of acne.
Among skin diseases, acne is the eighth most common disease in the world. In the medical classification of diseases, they have their own diagnosis number - L70 and L73.0 for the keloid form - pathogenesis and treatment. Moreover, they should not be confused with acne, when there are pimples, papules, nodules and other skin ailments. We have already talked in detail about acne. Blackheads usually occur in people with oily or combination skin aged 12 to 25 years and older. And most often in men. Because men's skin is usually (though not always) thicker and oilier than women's. Most often, blackheads appear where there is a high density of sebaceous glands: on the tip and wings of the nose, on the forehead and chin. But sebaceous filaments are a natural product of the sebaceous glands. And unlike acne, it is not a disease.
You're most likely to notice sebaceous threads if you have oily skin or large pores that tend to become clogged. They become visible when the inside of the pore fills with sebum. Sebaceous filaments can turn into a blackhead. But not necessarily.
Typically, sebaceous filaments consist of 10-30 layers of keratinized cells that carry a mixture of bacteria, sebaceous lipids and corneocyte fragments. If you suddenly decide to squeeze out the thread, the follicle will fill up within 30 days.
When squeezed out, they look like thin light threads with a waxy consistency; black dots, on the contrary, are denser and shorter, similar to plugs. You should not do this; in response, the skin will only increase sebum secretion in order to normalize the hydrolipid balance.
Diagnostics
To accurately determine the type of hypermelanosis, as well as to identify effective means of control, you need to contact a dermatologist. At the initial visit, the doctor will collect the patient's medical history to determine the most likely internal and external factors that will indicate a certain type of disorder. He will examine the skin and also prescribe a number of tests:
- AOK and OAM;
- blood biochemistry;
- Wood's lamp tests;
- scraping;
- biopsy.
If a malignant neoplasm or fungal infection is suspected, referrals will be given for the last two procedures on the list. As a result, the specialist will be able to accurately determine the type of illness and prescribe therapeutic or cosmetic procedures.
Anti-age drugs
Bb Laboratories – Hyaluron-elastin-collagen extract
Laennec – solution for injection
Curacen Essence (20 fl x 2 ml)
Two-phase placental serum concentrate
Cosmetic procedures
To look attractive and restore healthy skin, you need to find the root cause of blackheads. A doctor who deals with skin diseases is called a dermatologist. You may need to visit an endocrinologist, gynecologist and gastroenterologist.
Special cosmetic procedures help effectively remove blackheads. They can be used as an independent method of treatment or as a method that complements the main therapy.
People with problem skin first try to squeeze out comedones on their own. But it is better to consult a cosmetologist. This procedure in professional language is called mechanical cleaning. The face is first steamed, spots are removed with special tools, after which anti-inflammatory and pore-narrowing agents are applied.
In beauty salons, comedones are removed using phototherapy. The procedure is so called because of the use of short flashes of light that destroy pathogenic bacteria and regulate the functioning of the sebaceous glands. Phototherapy removes spots on the face, as well as freckles on the nose and rosacea on the cheeks in a course of 5-7 procedures.
Chemical peeling also helps get rid of comedones. To carry it out, substances are used that soften the horny scales and help open the skin pores. After application and light rubbing, you can reduce greasiness and get rid of rashes.
You can remove spots on your face using the biodermabrasion procedure. For it, several types of peeling are taken, which prepares the epidermis for mechanical stress. Biodermabrasion removes superficial and deep blackheads, relieves inflammation and oily skin.
How to fight
Among the modern and effective methods of struggle, it is worth highlighting:
- cosmetic preparations;
- laser peeling;
- phototherapy.
Depending on the variety, medications may be prescribed to address the underlying causes. However, to remove an aesthetic defect, it will be necessary to wait for the cell surface to renew itself, or to help it renew itself faster with the help of additional deep peeling and cosmetic photorejuvenation procedures.
Cosmetic preparations
Among the popular drugs that give noticeable results in the fight against hyperpigmentation are placental products with a high content of natural peptides, amino acids and hyaluronic acid, as well as vitamins, micro- and macroelements. Injection product Curacen (Curasen) and non-injection drug Curacen Essence (Curasen Essence) are the ideal choice of cosmetologists for triple action: brightening, moisturizing and eliminating wrinkles. You can also use specialized cosmetics from the Laennec Skincare brand - LNC. This line offers to transform the skin at the cellular level, eliminating and preventing hyperpigmentation.
Now you know about the main causes of pigmentation, as well as what causes the appearance of age spots on the face, and you can easily answer the question - what to do when pigments have already appeared. Dermatologists recommend not only limiting time spent on the beach and using sunscreen in summer, but also year-round use of skin protection from the negative effects of ultraviolet radiation. It is this that becomes the main catalyst, and in combination with internal disorders of the body can lead to serious changes in the epidermal layer.
What should be the composition of good anti-blackhead products?
- Hydroacids (AHA acids, azelaic acid, LHA acid, salicylic acid, glycolic acid) promote gentle exfoliation of the stratum corneum of cells, breaking down the protein bonds between them, and gently cleanses the skin.
- Hydrofixatives (hyaluronic acid, glycerin, La Roche-Posay Thermal Water) soften and moisturize the skin, prevent transepidermal loss of moisture from cells, and strengthen the hydrolipid barrier.
- Amino acids (sebulis) reduce shine.
- Absorbents (perlite, kaolin) absorb sebum and sweat, giving the skin matte and smoothness.
- Zinc pidolate or zinc mattifies the skin and has antibacterial properties.
- Niacinamide soothes skin.
- Prokerad prevents the formation of stagnant spots.
- Mannose extract normalizes the skin microbiome and restores its protective properties.
- Antioxidants (vitamin C, E, carnosine) prevent oxidative stress by helping cells fight the negative effects of free radicals.
- Piroctone olamine has an anti-inflammatory effect and cleanses pores.
- Oils (squalane, shea butter, shea butter) restore the hydrolipidic barrier, nourish, soften the skin, and prevent the development of hyperkeratosis.
