The skin is affected by exposure to the sun or UV rays. Over time, this can cause pigment spots can develop. Hormonal factors in the body can also contribute to the increased release of melanin and cause pigmentation spots. Women who are on the pill or who are pregnant are more prone to pigmentation disorders on the skin.
In most cases, pigment spots are a purely aesthetic matter. If they are perceived as annoying, they can be removed using gentle modern procedures such as laser treatment. For general skin health, it is also important to have pigmentation such as moles checked regularly (once a year) by a dermatologist. In this way, harmful changes can be detected and treated at an early stage.
Sun – the main trigger of pigment spots
It is primarily UV rays that are associated with pigment spots. Over the years, our skin comes into more or less intensive contact with it. As the body’s own protection, we produce melanin, which gives our skin a brownish tint and increases self-protection. After the summer period, the tan usually fades again, but localized pigment disorders may remain. The so-called age spots appear particularly with advanced age.
In addition to UV radiation, other causes include genetic predisposition, hormones, injuries, burns and certain medications.
Prevent pigmentation disorders with the right sun protection
As the predominant factor for pigment spots is sunlight, suitable sun protection is the best preventive measure. The skin should be treated daily with a cream that contains a sun protection factor. In everyday life, an SPF of at least 30 is usually sufficient, while sun protection factor 50+ should be used when spending time in the sun. Only use SPF 50+ if you have a known tendency to pigmentation disorders.
Excessive sunbathing should also be avoided to minimize the risk of skin damage and skin changes. UV exposure is particularly high at midday, which is why the sun should be avoided at this time.
Pigment disorders cannot be completely avoided
Despite all caution and suitable sun protection measures, pigment changes on the skin cannot be completely ruled out. Exposure to the sun is also important for our body, whose vitamin D production is stimulated by the sun. As already mentioned, other factors such as medication or hormones can also contribute to pigment spots. Some pigment spots have existed since birth or develop over the course of a lifetime due to genetic predisposition.
What helps against annoying pigment spots?
If there are pigment spots on the body that those affected find unaesthetic or disturbing, these can be removed using gentle laser treatment. The laser sends pulses into the tissue. The energy is absorbed by the color pigments, causing them to burst open. The small particles are then removed by the body’s own processes and the pigmentation fades. Depending on the size of the pigment spots and the individual reaction of the body, different numbers of treatment sessions may be necessary until the desired result is achieved.
Depending on the type of pigmentation disorder, ablative laser treatment can also be used in addition to the above-mentioned method. It is particularly suitable for removing raised or protruding changes such as (non-colored) moles. The disturbing skin changes are carefully removed.
Dr. Kors will discuss which method is best suited to your specific case and how many treatment sessions are necessary in a personal consultation with you.
Is the treatment of pigment spots dangerous?
Laser therapy for pigment spot treatment is considered to be particularly gentle and low-risk. There are hardly any complications or undesirable side effects with an expert. Only temporary swelling, redness, itching or crusting is to be expected.
The skin changes are examined in detail beforehand to rule out any malignant changes. These are not treated with the laser procedure, but are surgically removed and examined for fine tissue in the laboratory. Regardless of whether you want to have certain pigment changes treated or not, you should have your skin checked regularly by a dermatologist.
Skin cancer screening should ideally be carried out annually. It is usually covered by health insurance every two years from the age of 35 (there may be different regulations depending on the health insurance company). The additional examinations then count as individual health services that you can take advantage of at any time.
last update: 22.06.2022
