Natura

No age group or skin type is immune to the appearance of patches on the face. This problem may be caused by several factors: exposure to the sun, genetic heritage, aging, inflammatory processes – acne, allergies, scarring, burns, hair removal, skin diseases – and hormonal alterations, such as in pregnancy, are some of the most common causes. Patches may form in different layers of the skin, ranging from the deepest to the most superficial. 

It comes as no surprise that patches are Brazilians’ second major skin care concern. Especially where sun spots on the skin are concerned, solar protection is essential for prevention.

Patches on the skin: which are the most common types?

• Melasma: this is a superficial dark patch, very common in pregnancy. These appear more on the face. The genetic influence is strong and they become more intense with exposure to the sun.
• Freckles: small brown or orangey-brown patches the result of genetic pre-disposition. They may be intensified by exposure to the sun.
• Spots: caused by a high concentration of melanocytes, these may appear at any age. Normally, clarifying treatments are not very effective because they are not caused only by external stimuli.
• Age spots: caused by natural aging and photo-aging, these patches on the face are normally darker. When the damage is more severe, the cells responsible for the pigmentation of the skin are subject to a programmed death process, leading to the formation of white patches.
• Post-inflammatory pigmentation: caused by wounds, scarring, allergic reactions, physical trauma  – such as hair removal and burns –, skin infections and inflammatory diseases. They are generally characterized by hyper-pigmentation.
• Vitiligo: an autoimmune condition which appears in the form of irregular completely depigmented patches. As of yet there is no cosmetic intervention capable of reversing this. 

How to prevent sun spots on the skin?

Including a sun protector in your daily skin care routine is fundamental for preventing the appearance of melasma or other sun spots on the skin, as well as for toning down freckles and mitigating the emergence of age spots due to photo-aging. To ensure adequate protection apply the equivalent of one teaspoon of sun block to the face. And extend this protection to the neck and cleavage. Lastly, whenever possible wear a hat or cap.

How to remove already darkened patches from the face?

During the day, a high level of protection is indispensable. Apply the protector after cleansing and drying your face. At night, apply the serum over the whole face. This has four powerful ingredients: 0.35% concentrate of aroeira (a Brazilian biodiversity active ingredient extracted from leaves which acts on the first stage of melanin, regulating its production and reducing the formation of darkened areas); 10% pure vitamin C (which clarifies the skin tone, making it uniform); 4% glycolic acid (chemical peeling, which exfoliates the skin and stimulates cell renewal), and 0.5% ferulic acid (a powerful antioxidant which inhibits the action of free radicals on the skin, decelerating the formation of patches on the face).

Shop all Dark Spot Skincare routines.