Freckles/Pigment
What are they?
Freckles
Also known as ephilides, these cute brown spots arise after the activation of melanocytes, by sun exposure and in people with fair skin, to produce and spread melanin, depositing clumps of melanin into the epidermis.
And, yes, on children they are cute. But as time and years pass freckles become less cute, and start to represent sun damage, lack of self care and risk of skin cancer.
Pigmentation, though, is a broader term. Technically, any colouring agent at all can be referred to as "pigment". But in the parlance of the average clinic, "pigmentation" refers unwanted patches on skin of melanin (brown) that have arisen secondary to some injury, disease or hormonal process.
Common examples include melasma, Hori's macule, nevus of Ota, poikiloderma of Civatte, and so on.
In either case, we are referring to the *activation* of melanocytes as opposed to an increase in their *numbers* (so "moles", naevi, dysplastic naevi, and of course melanoma, are a whole different story).
How are they managed?
in general, the principles remain the same for treating these issues
1) Everyone knows that sun exposure is an important, or even vital, precursor to the development of pigmentation. But what is often *not* known is that regular sunscreens, good though they may be for preventing skin cancer, do *NOT* prevent pigment formation.
To prevent the formation of freckles.pigmentation, one must block UVB, UVA, *BLUE* LIGHT and *GREEN* LIGHT from reaching the skin.
Chemical sunscreens will not do this.
Titanium dioxide will not do this
Zinc oxide will not do this enough
only Iron Oxide in your sunscreen will block the blue light and green light that needs to be blocked to prevent pigmentation.
2) Once freckles/pigmentation are present there are a range of skin care ingredients and products that will help to reduce that brown colour. Talk to us.
3) Mild cases of freckling/pigmentation can be helped, even profoundly helped, by treatments such as skin peels and microdermabrasion.
4) Focussed freckle and pigmentation treatments include IPL and 532nm laser
Every face is different.
Every face requires an individualised plan and approach.