10 types of dark spots on the skin and their treatments

There are several types of dark spots on the skin and they can arise due to sun exposure, hormonal changes or other reasons. Some blemishes are harmless, but in some cases, they can be dangerous, causing skin cancer. To talk about it, dermatologist and allergist Dr. Ênio Zyman (CRM 39974-SP), pointed out the most common types of stains, the causes and main treatments. Check out!

melasma

Melasma is one of the most frequent dark spots on the skin and, according to the dermatologist, “it is a very common pigmentation in women after pregnancy, but it can also occur outside of pregnancy. In fact, it can even arise in men due to sun exposure or hormonal spikes.”

how to treat

The professional reported that “the treatment for melasma includes photoprotection, chemical bleaches, eventually peeling, lasers and other depigmenting treatments such as microneedling.”

nevi

The nevi or spots as they are popularly known, are also very common dark spots on the skin, they can have different sizes and appear all over the body. “There are large or diffuse spots that take in several regions as well as small spots. There are people with a lot of spots spread over the body, face, trunk and limbs”, commented the dermatologist.

Regarding the causes, the professional explained that people can be born with some spots and in other cases they can arise due to sun exposure. “The main concern with nevi is the malignancy they can give rise to as melanoma.”

how to treat

Usually, moles do not pose a risk, but it is necessary to be aware and, above all, maintain the use of sunscreen. However, Dr. Ênio warned that in cases where “the nevi are large and dysplastic, that is, they have strange characteristics, they can be removed by surgery or with a laser”.

freckles or ephelides

Another type of dark spot on the skin that often occurs is freckles or ephelides. The doctor explained that they are “benign lesions caused by the sun, especially on fair skin, although it can exist on dark skin as well.”

how to treat

One of the main forms of treatment is to use sunscreen to prevent new freckles from appearing. However, the dermatologist reported that dark spots can also be treated with the use of chemical bleaches, in addition to laser treatments or freezing eventually with acids.”

phytophotodermatoses

According to the dermatologist, phytophotodermatoses, also known as lemon burns, is another very common type of dark spot on the skin. “Lemon sensitizes the skin when exposed to sunlight, so it can raise blisters and burn leaving a very intense pigmentation,” he explained.

how to treat

The professional advised that “the treatment is carried out with soothing, anti-inflammatory and depigmenting creams, usually based on hydroquinone”. The dark spots on the skin caused by phytophotodermatoses can take up to months to disappear. Therefore, it is important to consult a professional for proper treatment.

ocher dermatitis

Dr Ênio explained that ocher dermatitis is a lesion of vascular origin caused by a pigmentary effusion of small vessels that rupture and bleed. “The spider veins that burst leave blood pigments under the skin that are metabolized. The hemoglobin in the blood forms the so-called hemosiderin – a rusty pigment that forms those little marks, especially on the legs and shin region, leading to a very unsightly pigmentation.”

how to treat

The specialist said that the dark spots on the skin caused by ocher dermatitis are treated with lighteners, depigmenting agents and, eventually, with laser. “We can significantly reduce the pigmentary aesthetic effect. However, simultaneous follow-up with a vascular doctor is important to take care of blood vessels and varicosity”.

mycoses

Dr Ênio also cited ringworm as one of the causes of dark spots on the skin and informed that “some types of mycoses cause light spots, others cause dark spots because of the fungal layer”.

how to treat

“Treatment is done with antifungal and antimycotic drugs, and it is often necessary to use some bleaching cream”, commented the doctor.

hemangioma

Hemangioma is another type of dark spot and, according to the dermatologist, it is “a benign tumor derived from blood vessels that causes a very dark pigmentation. They can be small or large, and even stains that people call port wine.”

how to treat

“Usually, the treatment is surgical or a microembolization is performed where microparticles are injected, managing to block these vessels. Eventually, it can also be performed with cryotherapy and liquid nitrogen,” explained the specialist.

acanthosis nigricans

Another type of dark spot on the skin is acanthosis nigricans, which is very common in diabetics. According to the doctor, the spots can pigmentation the armpits, groin, the back of the neck and areas with folds.

how to treat

The dermatologist said that the main form of treatment is prevention, that is, treating diabetes to prevent dark spots on the skin from appearing. But, “a whitening cream can also be used to try to reduce the intensity of the aesthetic part”.

Melanoma

Melanoma is the type of stain that causes the most concern, because, according to Dr Ênio, “it is a skin cancer that usually presents with a dark stain, being a lesion that must be treated by an oncologist”

how to treat

The professional warned that melanoma is a very serious injury and can lead to death. “It needs surgical removal, eventually, complementary treatments such as immunotherapy to have good results,” he commented.

natural dark spots

The dermatologist reported that there are spots that arise naturally on the skin due to friction, mainly caused by exercising or being overweight, leading to pigmentation in areas such as the armpits and groin, for example. In addition, shaving or waxing methods can also cause these areas to darken.

how to treat

The treatment can be done “with cosmetics to lighten these stains and, in some cases, it is even interesting to perform laser hair removal to remove stains from the fur that are at the bottom, darkening a little more”, oriented the professional.

To avoid the appearance of dark spots on the skin, some care is necessary, mainly using sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) above 30. In addition, if you notice any type of altered pigmentation on the skin, immediately seek a dermatologist. Enjoy and learn how to choose sunscreen for your face and keep your skin protected!