WHAT CAUSES SUN SPOTS ON SKIN?
Your skin contains a substance called melanin, a skin pigment that determines the colour of your skin and hair. When exposed to UV light, the skin produces more melanin in an attempt to repair damage. The increase of melanin in the body turns the skin darker – that’s your tan. In other words, melanin is the body's way of protecting the skin from burning. Sun spots appear when melanin is produced in high concentrations where your skin is exposed to high doses of UV light such as your face or hands. This creates patches of darker skin, referred to as hyperpigmentation – more commonly, sun spots.
WHEN DO SUN SPOTS START APPEARING?
Most people start getting them around the age of 40, depending on the amount of exposure they’ve had to the sun over the years. You'll often see sun spots on face, neck, and hands. The more time you've spent in the sun with little or no UV protection, the more likely it is you will develop sun spots. Fair skin is also more at risk of developing sun spots. While harmless, sun spots can get bigger over time. So if sun spots on skin are causing you concern it's best to tackle the problem sooner rather than later. Waiting can make sun spot removal a little more time consuming.
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