The doctor talked about the causes and ways to prevent age spots in the spring.

In spring, the skin of the face is especially vulnerable due to a lack of vitamins and trace elements, and it is also affected by external factors, such as dry air and the sun. Natalia Mikhailova, Candidate of Medical Sciences, dermatovenerologist, scientific director of MARTINEX, told Izvestia about ways to avoid age spots on March 11.

She explained that the corresponding reaction is provoked by a weakened stratum corneum, which cannot cope with sun protection.

"People with dark skin type (III–IV) are particularly prone to hyperpigmentation. Although pigmented spots are more noticeable on fair skin, they are deeper and more difficult to correct for dark—skinned people," Mikhailova said.

The doctor advised people with a tendency to hyperpigmentation to apply a cream with SPF 50+ at any time of the year, as even in winter, ultraviolet light reflected from snow can exacerbate the problem. In the spring, the specialist recommended using cosmetics with skin-lightening ingredients. Retinoic peels, for example, do a good job of this.

"To prevent pigmentation in spring, it is important to use acid peels and lightening creams containing retinol, vitamin C, ANA acids, bearberry and mulberry extracts. Lotions, tonics and serums with antioxidants help not only lighten the skin, but also protect it from free radicals," Mikhailova explained.

Beauty with terrible power: cosmetics shipments up 60% nationally

The departure of foreign sites and the growth of interest in domestic brands have had an impact, experts believe

According to her, treatments should be combined with skin hydration. For example, complexes of hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, amino acids and antioxidants such as glutathione and cysteine are used in injectable cosmetology. These components accelerate skin lightening, protect it from UV rays and promote recovery.

She noted that using folk remedies to lighten the skin can be dangerous. Often people resort to vinegar, acids or hydrogen peroxide, which leads to burns and only worsens the situation.

"If there is a tendency to pigmentation, it means that the skin is weakened, unable to cope with its normal protective function, and melanocytes — skin cells that produce the pigment melanin — react to any sun damage, inflammation or injury by the appearance of age spots. Sleeping for at least eight hours helps to remove excess melanin and helps the skin to be healthy," the expert added.

Mikhailova emphasized that during sleep, the liver is restored, which is the organ responsible for detoxification of the body. If it does not work properly, the risk of age spots increases.

"Some medications, including antibiotics and toxic drugs, can also cause hyperpigmentation. Nutrition also affects the condition of the skin. An unbalanced diet with a lot of fatty, fried and canned foods overloads the liver, which contributes to the appearance of age spots," the doctor concluded.

On March 1, Marina Kartasheva, a dermatovenerologist, pediatric dermatologist, cosmetologist, and a leading specialist in the Semeynaya clinic network, told Izvestia about the main mistakes in home skin and decollete care. One of them, according to the expert, is insufficient or excessive cleansing of the skin. They also include neglecting serums, not following the care sequence, and excessive hydration.