Age Spots & Hyper Pigmentation

 Age spots, also called  sun spots are light brown to black pigmented lesions of various sizes that typically develop in chronically sun-exposed skin. It is well known that age spots are strongly related to chronic sun exposure and are associated with photodamage and an increased risk for skin cancer,

High levels of traffic-related air pollution and air pollution-associated gases may increase risk of developing facial brown spots, new research suggests. The most pronounced changes were observed on the cheeks of Asian women aged 50 and older.  Overall, an increase of 10 µg/m3 in NO2 concentration was associated with approximately 25 percent more dark spots, the study showed. 

The photoaging of human skin is primarily due to chronic exposure to ultraviolet radiation. This premature aging in the appearance and function of the skin is cumulative over time and is dependent on the degree and intensity of exposure to the sun along with the skin’s natural pigment. Photoaged skin is characterized by various clinical manifestations, including coarseness; wrinkling; irregular pigmentation; laxity;  lentigines; atrophy; purpura;. Uneven pigmentation is often a prominent feature in sun-exposed skin. Dyspigmentation can cause considerable aesthetic 

 Different natural products mulberry, licorice extracts,, kojic acid, niacinamide, arbutin, green tea, turmeric, soy, and ascorbic acid. are used for hyperpigmentation with promising results.   The use of OTC lightening agents is widespread among those patients with hyperpigmentation disorders who reside in the United States. Those with melasma and PIH were more likely to use an OTC lightening cream. The majority of patients believed that OTC creams were safe to use without physician supervision. In those who had also tried prescription products,

Parabens are used as preservatives in some cosmetic products, but so-called “long-chained” parabens can act as estrogens and disrupt hormone signaling. A recent study (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3855500/) by scientists at the Harvard School of Public Health linked one type of paraben to impaired fertility in women.   Johnson & Johnson agreed to stop using most parabens in 2012, but they can still be found in numerous cosmetics.  Read the labels carefully to spot products that contain parabens, especially the long-chained varieties—propylparaben, isopropyl paraben, butylparaben, and isobutylparaben. 

 The facial treatment regimen studied, known by the acronym GRASS, refers to growth factors, retinol, anti-oxidants, specialty products, and sunscreen.