White spots on the skin from the sun: how to prevent them

Summer arrives, the beach, long walks… your skin begins to tan and suddenly: white spots! What are those white spots scattered on legs and arms? Why do they appear?

The white patches on the skin that we observe in summer, as if the sun had not set there, are more common after the age of 30 and in areas of the body more exposed to the sun, such as legs and arms, and also on the face.

In this article we will learn about the hypomelanosis and how to take care of the skin and prevent the appearance of white spots.

Why do white spots appear on the skin with the sun?

Generally, the white spots on the skin that are observed in summer correspond to local depigmentation or hypomelanosis (hiccup: bit; melanosis: affection of melanin). The areas where there is a lack of pigmentation do not tan like the rest of the skin, which causes in contrast, small round white spots, one to two millimeters in diameter.Hypomelanosis is not usually a dangerous or serious condition.

The stains are always. If it weren’t for the fact that you see white spots when you get a tan, you wouldn’t really realize they’re there, because in winter, when you’re not tanned, you can’t see them and don’t cause any symptoms.They are signs of old attacks on the skin. We must bear in mind that the awareness about the use of sun protection It hasn’t been with us for so many years and you probably remember standing in the sun like a crab, without sunscreen or anything… As we get older, the skin has become damaged and aged, and from there white spots of the hypomelanosis type appear every year .

Why do white spots appear more on fair skin?

In the skin we have melanocytes, cells specialized in creating melanin. Melanin is a pigment whose function is to absorb part of the solar radiation and protect the lower layers of the dermis, more delicate. When melanin absorbs harmful light frequencies, it changes its molecular conformation and with it, it changes color, giving us that tan tone. But let’s not forget that before tanning… we “redden”, that is, erythema appears that may imply burns. Careful!

Depending on the ethnic groups, the amount of melanin that we have in the skin due to genetic components is different and with it, the reaction to solar radiation is different. For this reason, the phototypes or classification of skin types arise according to the response of the skin to radiation or sunlight.

The very white skins they have little melanin, burn very quickly and hardly tan: they need more sun protection. brown skins and the darker ones, on the other hand, have a greater amount of melanin as a natural protection and for this reason they rarely burn and their tan is fast, more or less intense depending on their natural color. the mediterranean skins which, although they are white in winter, can tan but can also burn if care is not taken.

White spots or hypomelanosis they are appreciated more in white skin than in brown skin, since the loss of melanin, however slight, is more noticeable in skins that already have less pigmentation.

In spring with the first rays of the sun, if we look even if we are white-skinned, We started to see the little spots and our tan estival will reveal the difference in tone and the existence of hypopigmentation or hypomelanosis.

Some people use self-tanning creams to camouflage white patches on their arms and legs. If it is your choice, carefully review the instructions and composition of the chosen product so that its use is safe.

Why with age appear more white spots on the skin

As we have commented, white spots due to hypomelanosis are not a serious health situation, rather they are an aesthetic problem. However, it is a wake-up call: time is affecting our skin.

Surely if we start to remember we will remember times in which we spent many hours in the Sun, without sun protection or without proper use of it. Perhaps we have been burned more than once… and everything takes its toll.

Avoiding premature aging is crucial, for many reasons, both aesthetic and health and well-being. Over the years, melanocytes begin to work more slowly and generate less melanin, that is, less natural protection and more white spots (or less brown, depending on your skin). It is also noticeable that those depigmented or hypopigmented areas have less “lustre”, less natural shine, they are faded.

How to prevent white spots on the skin

All skins must be cared for whatever their phototype. Melanin is there to protect us, but nature did not think of it so that we can spend the summer in the sun. Holidays in the sun and the fashion for tanning is a relatively recent custom in our society. With the passage of time, in addition, we are having less melanin, less protection.

Thus, we have to take care and protect ourselves to minimize not only the passage of time or premature aging of the skin, but also to avoid problems such as white spots. As? Basically in three ways:

Solar protection: Using the appropriate sunscreen for our skin and conveniently renewing it when going outside. Remember that each type of sun protection requires a repeated application time. It is not that you put it on when you leave the house and it already works for the whole day.External hydration: With creams or lotions that contain emollient and antioxidant ingredients. Apply your after-sun cream or lotion when you get home. Don’t let the salt water dry on your skin, because it will dry it out. Pat dry and remove the salt.Skin nutrition: Water is essential: drink a sufficient amount of water, we can also consider infusions, fruits and vegetables with a high liquid content, such as melon, watermelon, cucumber, zucchini, lettuce. In addition, the diet must include nutrients such as vitamin A and E that protect it from oxidative damage and help correct regeneration; and omega 6 and omega 7 fatty acids found mainly in vegetable oils nourish the skin and modulate inflammatory processes.

Safe sun protection to prevent white spots on the skin

we often commit mistakes when using our sun cream. If you want to protect yourself safely and prevent the appearance of white spots, keep in mind these tips:

Protecting ourselves from sunlight is not just using a cream or lotion with the appropriate sun protection factor (SPF). It is important to repeat the application of the product after getting out of the water, after sweating, or if it is none of these cases, renew the application every two hours. Photoprotective oils may seem more “softening” to you, but they tend to have a lower SPF: look at this fact. If you have a shaved head or very short hair, remember that the scalp can also burn, suffer from eczema and spots. Take care of hands, feet, ankles, ears. You might need a different product for the skin of the complexion. Umbrellas, hats, visors… do not prevent harmful radiation: pWear sun protection also under the umbrella since clear surfaces such as sand and water reflect sunlight. Finally, remember that adequate sun protection and optimal care of all skin is a first step to prevent skin cancer.

Hair removal and white spots on the skin

It is common for the first white spots to appear on the legs where waxing or other systems are more frequent, as well as sun exposure.

When you wax or shave the skin it becomes irritated. Avoid exposing yourself directly to sunlight after waxing or shaving, you could burn yourself. This is especially important with hair removal creams. Follow the instructions for use and use a suitable product afterwards to avoid irritation. If you are doing laser hair removal consultation on the proper procedures to protect the skin and avoid burns.

White patches on the skin due to dermatitis, vitiligo and fungi

Other skin conditions due to dermatitis or atopic dermatitis, vitiligo or fungal infections can also cause white patches but they are larger and even They can affect large areas of the body.

Atopic skin tends to easily create more and less colored areas: that is, more reddened and inflamed areas with more whitish areas. Vitiligo is an autoimmune disease that makes melanin disappear from large areas of the body. In the case of infections by fungi, the spots are usually round, scattered, located mainly on the shoulders, back, legs and can be contagious. They will require proper treatment. Heat and humidity worsen atopic skin and fungal infections. If this is your case, remember to dry yourself carefully, not keep clothes damp from perspiration and avoid sharing towels and other clothes.