DECODING FRECKLES
If you like those cute brown spots, then great, but if you want to treat them then here’s what Dr Chiranjiv Chhabra has to say.
What are freckles?
Freckles, is one of the most overwhelming skin problems, which is common for all age groups. These can be categorised in two types. The first are the ephelides, which are the commonly understood type of freckles. These are more common among those with light complexion and are udually hereditary. The second are the solar lentigines, also known as sunburn freckles, which develop majorly during adulthood along with age spots.
Cause:
They are mostly triggered by overexposure of the skin to the harmful UV rays. However, they can also appear due to biological causes. A deeper understanding of the problem reveals them to be a proliferation of a dark pigment called melanin.
Freckles can develop in one or two year old kids as well but that is a rare case. They usually occur in upper body skin areas like cheeks, nose, arms, and upper shoulders, and more prominently visible on people with fair complexions.
Treatment:
– Reduce sun exposure and wear a sunscreen with good SPF to prevent them from surfacing.
– On appearance, use of skin lightening creams may help in most cases. Try Melalite XL, EGA cream and ZO Melamin. But use only after consulting your doctor.
– Few dermatological treatments can be undertaken to reduce their visibility. These include Medlite C6 aka Q-switched Nd-YAG laser, Erbium Yag Laser, CO2 Laser and Affirm Fractional Laser. However, which treatment works best for one can be determined by a dermatologist after assessment.
