Age Spots

[eileen]

That's a pretty extreme case of melasma. lol

[billable]

Yes, but does good to point out the difference. Borders of color variation are more defined in age spots.

[eileen]

Melasma is a natural darkening of the skin on your face caused by excessive production of melanin — the pigment that causes your skin to tan. That's why the sun, which increases melanin production, usually makes your melasma worse.

Melasma can be mild, moderate or severe, depending on how much of your face is discolored and how much darker than normal your skin has become.

Melasma is usually caused by normal hormonal changes in women — during pregnancy or when taking birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy. Because of the way it looks when it usually occurs, melasma is sometimes called the "mask of pregnancy." Men can develop melasma, although it is rare. Melasma may be associated with the use of certain anti-epileptic drugs.

Melasma only occurs on the areas of your skin that are exposed to the sun. Exposure to the sun, even during normal daily activities, can further darken melasma.

http://www.triluma.com/whatis/

Notice it says tanning can make it darker.... tanning isn't why you have it though.

[mcguffy]

I believe Oil of Olay now has a product out that is suppose to help fade these spots. I haven't tried it personally but am considering it. I have one spot above my one eyebrow, thank goodness for bangs, but I would like to fade it a bit.

Nice point BronzeBiz, never thought of doing that. Excellent information by billable and eileen!

[glowgirl]

I've had melasma for several years and you can use Triluma or get laser treatments, but the fact is it will continue to come back time after time when your skin is exposed to sunlight - indoors or out. I use a high quality sunscreen on my face when I tan and I only take in a few minutes of light in the booth at a time. I didn't know about the Australian Gold product - I'll have to try that. Mine's always worse on the left side of my face b/c of the sun coming in my driver's side window. Fun.

[glowgirl]

Oh yeah - and I wear sunscreen on my face EVERYDAY, even when it's cloudy. It helps keep the melasma to a minimum (wrinkles too!)

[tanthis&tanthat]

maybe we could get this person to clarify! because there is visually a HUGE difference between MELASMA and LENTIGO. i know if i told someone i had an age spot on my face and they told me it was MELASMA, and i googled it, i would be pretty freaked out by now.

i have an age spot on my face, one on my right side on my jaw line. it doesn't matter where it came from... let's just assume that i overtan my face, cause i prolly do! It is one age spot... the rest of my face is covered in cute freckles! nope, had them all along... not melasma either.

Age Spots,
Solar Lentigo or Sun Spots
Lentigines or Freckles

i just googled those and melasma... the one on my face is an "AGE SPOT" by pictorial definition! let's assume that this person already looked up her spots and believes them to be "age spots"... does anyone have any suggestions for her... "other than tanning her face"????

[ldorelli73@yaho]

Ok, so I have a question... I have melasma. It SUCKS. Huge spot on my left cheek, starting to get speckles on my upper lip... and spots forming in my recede area on both sides! :(.... I haven't tanned for 5 months and FINALLY the spot on my cheek is almost unnoticeable. I'm thinking of getting off the pill in the hopes that when I go to Mexico next month, the huge spot won't return. But I also don't feel like getting pregnant right now. Wouldn't be the end of the world, just would prefer not. Will getting off the pill make the spots not come back????

[eileen]

the way i understand it the pill can give you melasma

read post #13 in this thread again :)

[Gidget]

I have a small dark spot that appears every once in a while right at the tip of my nose. I bought some lightening cream for the face and I dab a Q-tip and apply only on the darker spot and within a few days its gone. It can last for weeks then all of a sudden its back again.