Ways to get rid of skin spots

Darkening of skin color, tone changes, and spots are among the leading skin problems.

Sun exposure, advancing age, pregnancy, conditions that cause hormonal changes, acne and certain other skin diseases, and the use of incorrect products are internal and external factors that can lead to spots, which constitute a significant cosmetic issue for individuals.

There are many methods that can be used in spot treatment, such as skin-lightening creams, peels, mesotherapy, and laser applications.

However, spot treatment can sometimes be challenging for both the patient and the physician; even if treated effectively, they can recur. Nevertheless, the applications used in treatment make patients quite happy at the end of the process, as they not only make the spots less visible but also make the skin look more vibrant, smooth, bright, and soft.

METHODS USED IN SPOT TREATMENT

The selection of spot treatments used to remove existing spots and prevent their recurrence, as well as the number of sessions and duration, varies from person to person, but all processes must be planned and applied by specialist physicians.

There is not a high risk of major side effects developing in these treatments applied by specialist physicians.

Sometimes, temporary redness and peeling are normal after laser and peeling applications. Spot treatments are not painful procedures, but topical anesthetic creams can be applied before procedures such as mesotherapy and laser to increase patient comfort.

'SUNSCREEN PRODUCTS SHOULD BE USED'

Treatments used to remove skin spots can be used individually or in combination with each other. However, sunscreen creams must be used in conjunction with all applied treatments.

Sunscreen creams are very important both for removing existing spots and for preventing the formation of new ones.

Individuals undergoing spot treatment must be aware of the possibility that the spots may return even if they have completely faded, and they must protect their skin for life.

Prominent methods in spot treatment are as follows:

Skin-lightening creams: Creams containing hydroquinone, arbutin, vitamin C and E, kojic acid, and niacinamide, as well as creams with peeling effects containing AHAs such as citric acid, glycolic acid, and mandelic acid, are most frequently used in spot treatment. Additionally, retinol-containing creams can be used as an adjunct to treatment as they show a peeling effect on the skin.

Chemical peels: Chemical peeling is performed with specially prepared chemical solutions. The most frequently used in spot treatment are AHA-containing solutions found in fruits, such as glycolic acid. Solutions containing glycolic acid are applied in an average of 3-6 sessions at 2-4 week intervals, especially for skin with mild spot problems and for people who do not want excessive peeling. For people with more severe spot problems who need deep peeling, strong solutions containing Phenol and TCA can be used.

Enzyme peeling (Spot mask): An enzyme-containing spot mask prepared as a special mixture for the spot is left on the skin for 8 to 10 hours, then the mask is rinsed off, and a 4-5 month maintenance cream is provided.

Mesotherapy: It is applied by injecting special solutions prepared with spot-removing ingredients into the skin.

Laser treatments: Different types of lasers can be used for spot treatment depending on the prevalence and darkness of the spot. Q-switched lasers that target the melanin that gives skin its color, fractional lasers that act by peeling the top layer of the skin, Thulium lasers which are a micro-fractional laser system targeting melanin, and IPL devices are the most preferred light systems in spot treatment.