Post-summer blemishes: Causes and effective solutions

Blemishes, also known as melasma, are a result of melanin or melanocyte disruption and affect both men and women.

Melasma on the face: The most common phenomenon after summer

The summer period is synonymous with holidays, relaxation, and carefree days. However, we must not forget to protect our bodies, even during this relaxed period, from increased risks. One such risk is overexposure to the sun. Indeed, while a nice tan can sometimes be flattering, it can leave its marks, such as melasma and dyschromia, on the face, especially on the forehead, cheeks, and upper lip. Melasma, also known as chloasma, results from a disturbance in melanin or melanocytes and affects both men and women. Melanocytes produce melanin, a substance that protects the skin from the sun, creating the coveted tan.

Melasma - Images

Melasma can also appear gradually during pregnancy or after childbirth due to hormonal changes. Melasma: How can I prevent it?

Sunscreen Sunscreen should definitely become your closest companion during the summer . It should always be by your side, and you should reapply it every 2 hours ! There are sunscreens perfectly suited for every skin type , with various protection factors , so you can easily find the right one for you, or ask for your dermatologist's advice ! However, especially in Greece, sunscreen is not only necessary during the summer. You should use it throughout the year – not with the same frequency as in summer, of course – but it is certainly needed, as it is one of the best preventive measures for melasma , discoloration , and photoaging .

Limit sun exposure In summer, sun exposure obviously increases . From sunbathing to simply walking down the street, we are exposed to its rays, putting our skin at various risks , such as sunburn , melasma , discoloration , photoaging , and long-term , the risk of developing skin cancer

Prefer shaded areas, as you can still tan even without direct sun exposure! Melasma: How to treat it? Melasma , appearing as spots on the skin, can have various shapes and sizes , from small spots (freckles) to several centimeters across the skin's surface. What we don't see with the naked eye, however, is the depth to which hyperpigmentation extends into the skin layers. This can only be determined by a doctor after an examination , and depending on the depth , they will suggest the appropriate treatment . Some of these include chemical peels and Dermapen .

Chemical peels or Dermapen? Chemical peels and Dermapen are based on the same principle: to induce controlled trauma to the skin's surface with the goal of cell renewal and the regeneration of new skin! The difference lies in the method by which controlled trauma is induced. In chemical peels , acids are used, while with Dermapen, the specialized head creates multiple small punctures in the epidermis. Another common point between these two treatments is that they can be performed primarily during the period when the sun is not as strong. If there is significant sun exposure immediately after their application, spots may become more pronounced .

Chemical peels offer: Radiance Deep exfoliation Cell renewal Skin regeneration Improvement of spots & discolorations Treatment of very fine lines and wrinkles Treatment of superficial scars (acne - injuries)