What if I told you that what causes age spots is melanin? Melanin is a hormone secreted by specialized cells called melanocytes. These are located in the dermal layer of the skin. They don't always secrete melanin. They must be stimulated.
The things that stimulate melanin production are UV rays from the sun and certain other hormones. Estrogen is one of them. That's why some women see these darker areas appear during pregnancy, after taking birth control pills or when they take hormone replacement therapy to relieve menopausal symptoms.
The cells in the outermost layer of skin are constantly being replaced, although the replacement process slows down with age. In a young healthy person, the entire layer is replaced in about a month. Those new cells are created by stem or mother cells in the dermal layer, right next to the melanocytes. When melanin is secreted, it enters the new cells and they move towards the surface. If these melanin-rich cells clump together, you see a spot that usually looks something like an oddly shaped freckle.
So, that's what causes age spots. Now, what can you do about them? You can probably do a lot more than you think.
Protecting the skin from the sun is important and most sunscreens on the market simply don't cut it. Let's say that the spot you are attempting to get rid of is on your face. You need to go hat shopping. Look for one that will shade the area and wear it whenever you go out in the sun.
If the spot is on an area like your hands, where it cannot be protected with clothing, you need to go shopping for an effective sun-block. It is not likely that the one you currently have is effective. Anything that disappears into the skin is not protecting you from UV radiation. Some sun-screening agents actually do damage similar to what is caused by the sun, according to research completed several years ago. Yet, they were not removed from the market. You should never use a sunscreen that contains oxybenzone.
It might not be what causes age spots, but it could be what causes the increased incidence of melanoma that has been seen in regular sunscreen users. Sunscreen use reduces the risk of some types of skin cancer, but not others. Benzophenone and avobenzone are similar compounds. No studies concerning them have yet to be conducted, but for safety's sake, you might want to avoid those, too. The best sunscreen is zinc oxide. It's also the safest.
Now that you are armed with this information, once you have your hat and an effective sun-block, you need a good moisturizer. Excessive dryness is not what causes age spots, but it does play a role in some of the other signs of aging. Regular cleansing is a part of good hygiene, but it also strips the skin of its natural protective oils. If the cream contains the right ingredients, it will replace the oils and provide the protection. Now that you know what causes age spots, you might want to learn more about what your anti-aging moisturizer should and should not contain.
To learn more about unique ingredients for healthy skin, and other incredible substances you've probably never heard of, visit my website today.
The things that stimulate melanin production are UV rays from the sun and certain other hormones. Estrogen is one of them. That's why some women see these darker areas appear during pregnancy, after taking birth control pills or when they take hormone replacement therapy to relieve menopausal symptoms.
The cells in the outermost layer of skin are constantly being replaced, although the replacement process slows down with age. In a young healthy person, the entire layer is replaced in about a month. Those new cells are created by stem or mother cells in the dermal layer, right next to the melanocytes. When melanin is secreted, it enters the new cells and they move towards the surface. If these melanin-rich cells clump together, you see a spot that usually looks something like an oddly shaped freckle.
So, that's what causes age spots. Now, what can you do about them? You can probably do a lot more than you think.
Protecting the skin from the sun is important and most sunscreens on the market simply don't cut it. Let's say that the spot you are attempting to get rid of is on your face. You need to go hat shopping. Look for one that will shade the area and wear it whenever you go out in the sun.
If the spot is on an area like your hands, where it cannot be protected with clothing, you need to go shopping for an effective sun-block. It is not likely that the one you currently have is effective. Anything that disappears into the skin is not protecting you from UV radiation. Some sun-screening agents actually do damage similar to what is caused by the sun, according to research completed several years ago. Yet, they were not removed from the market. You should never use a sunscreen that contains oxybenzone.
It might not be what causes age spots, but it could be what causes the increased incidence of melanoma that has been seen in regular sunscreen users. Sunscreen use reduces the risk of some types of skin cancer, but not others. Benzophenone and avobenzone are similar compounds. No studies concerning them have yet to be conducted, but for safety's sake, you might want to avoid those, too. The best sunscreen is zinc oxide. It's also the safest.
Now that you are armed with this information, once you have your hat and an effective sun-block, you need a good moisturizer. Excessive dryness is not what causes age spots, but it does play a role in some of the other signs of aging. Regular cleansing is a part of good hygiene, but it also strips the skin of its natural protective oils. If the cream contains the right ingredients, it will replace the oils and provide the protection. Now that you know what causes age spots, you might want to learn more about what your anti-aging moisturizer should and should not contain.
To learn more about unique ingredients for healthy skin, and other incredible substances you've probably never heard of, visit my website today.
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