Why do skin blemishes occur?
Melanin and blood hemoglobin pigment in the structure that gives color to our skin. Over time, melanin pigment, due to various reasons, condenses on the skin at certain points to form stains. Genetic structure and susceptibility to the formation of stains, sun exposure, hormonal changes (thyroid diseases, pregnancy), used chemicals and drugs are effective. Stains on our skin; congenital stains (Ito and Ota nevus, cafe au lait spots), sun spots (melasma, solar lentigo, pregnancy mask), freckles and postinflammatory hyperpigmentation (spots formed after skin irritation) can be listed as.
What methods do we use for treatment?
Because of the role of the sun in the formation and increase of stain, correct protection from the sun is an indispensable part of all stain treatments. The sun should be maintained continuously throughout the year, not only in the summer months when the sunlight is intense. The effectiveness of sunscreen creams lasts for 3-4 hours and water is reduced with sweat contact and therefore should be repeated frequently. These measures prevent darkening of spots and the formation of new ones, but it may be necessary to apply a number of treatments to combat the stain. The important point in the treatment is the correct identification of the spot.
In the treatment of skin stains, medical drugs, chemical peeling, stain mask and laser applications are used.
- The most commonly used agents among medical treatments, creams, are hydroquinone, kojic acid, azeleic acid and vitamin A (retinoic acids).
- Chemical peeling treatments can be very successful in appropriate patients. Chemical peeling is the process of peeling and stimulating the skin with chemical agents such as fruit acids and trichloroacetic acid (TCA) applied to the skin surface. It is possible to open the stains with chemical peeling sessions to be applied once or once every 15 days. However, peeling may cause an increase in stains in dark-skinned persons and should be applied with caution.
- Cosmelan and dermamelan stain mask treatments are an effective enzymatic peeling method that reduces pigmentation by reducing the amount of melanin present in the skin. The method, also known as the 10-hour stain mask, suppresses the mechanism that triggers the formation of stains on the skin. Antiaging can also be achieved in the entire skin.
- Laser Therapies; especially in deep and dark spots. Today, the most effective lasers in the treatment of spot Q-switch Nd-YAG, KTP and fractional lasers. The lasers allow the removal of the stain and suppression of the overproduction of the pigment causing the stain. One millionth of a second, shooting at high speed to the high energy by staining the skin without damaging the high amount of energy on the spot. Due to the explosion of the laser shot, large stain pigments clinging to each other are divided into small pieces. In this way, the small pieces of melanin pigments are now dissolved by the cells and removed from the region. Q-switch Nd-YAG laser applications made by applying carbon based solution are called Carbon Peeling treatment. After carbon staining with carbon peeling treatment, carbon atoms are swept from the skin with the Q-switch Nd-YAG laser. With the regular applications of laser treatments, serious reduction in stains and new staining are seen after 6-10 sessions.
Do I get stains?
As there are multiple causes of stains, treatment should be combined with multiple treatments. Depending on the type and condition of the stain, there is a 70-100% chance of success depending on the treatment considered appropriate. Blemish treatments are more sensitive than before and the skin becomes more susceptible to staining. Therefore, it is more appropriate to perform the treatments especially in the autumn and winter months when the effect of the sun decreases. Because to prevent the darkening of the existing stain is as important as fighting the formation of new stains. Even if the treatment is finished, high-factor sunscreens should be used regularly in all four seasons to ensure that the stains do not recur. The stain is a very challenging disease for both the patient and the physician. It is important to continue the treatment with patience and to make the rituals necessary to prevent new staining.