How to Avoid Skin Discoloration

There are three general categories of skin discoloration and while they�re not necessarily a serious medical issue, they definitely can be a serious cosmetic issue. Skin discolorations are more commonly known as freckles, age spots and melasma. Genetics does play a role in the appearance of these skin discolorations however many people don�t realize that the sun is just as much a culprit. That�s why it�s important for people to protect themselves from the sun�s damaging ultraviolet rays.

Freckles tend to be prominent on fair-skinned individuals and those with red hair. They also appear on fair-skinned individuals who have light-colored eyes. Freckles mostly are the result of the person�s genetic make-up. But because freckles are actually melanin, exposure to the sun can cause freckles to appear on the skin of just about anyone, regardless of skin, hair or eye color. In fact, for this latter group, freckles can actually be a sign of melanoma or skin cancer.

Age spots are also brownish-colored spots that appear as people get older. That�s how they got their name. They are the result of years of unprotected exposure to the sun. Age spots appear mostly on the face and hands.

Melasma is a condition that appears primarily in pregnant woman and those experiencing menopause. With melasma, many brown spots appear on the forehead, nose and cheeks. Sometimes these spots touch other brown spots and create what appears to be a mask. That�s why melasma is sometimes called the �mask of pregnancy.� Exposure to the sun can aggravate these skin discolorations, causing more to develop and existing ones to enlarge.

As mentioned previously, skin discoloration isn�t always a dangerous condition. However, only a dermatologist can determine whether or not the skin discoloration will develop into something more serious. Dangerous or not, skin discoloration can be avoided simply by keeping the sun�s harmful rays at bay by wearing suitable clothing and applying protective sunscreen.