Age Spots (Freckles)

Freckles is a general term used for circular spots that develop randomly on the skin, especially common in those with a fair complexion. They can appear anywhere on the body and can occur from very young ages.

Age Spots

Age spots are also knows as liver spots and is a term describing the type of freckles seen on adults, usually on the backs of hands. They are not necessarily a sign of old age, but usually appear on areas that have been exposed to the sun, so are more common in adults with a history of sun-exposure.

Older people may also have raised, crusty lesions known as seborrheic keratoses in the same areas, which are benign growths of the skin. The colour ranges from tan to black and can be up to an inch in diameter. These types of lesions are common in most adults after a certain age (40+).

Treatment of Freckles

There are treatments for freckles that can lighten them or reduce their appearance. These include bleaching creams which can be purchased without prescription and can lighten freckles after being applied over the period of a few months. They should also be used in combination with avoidance from and protection against the sun.

Cryosurgery may also be used as a treatment for freckles, where the freckles are freezed or burned. However, not all freckles will respond to this. Lasers may also be used, as these can lighten freckles effectively. Both methods are safe and have low associated risks.

Lightening freckles can also be done using retinoids which are often used in conjunction with bleaching creams, or pulsed light treatments.

Prevention of Freckles

The best prevention is to avoid exposure to the sun as well as using adequate sun protection. You should also wear protective clothing, hats and stay indoors during the strongest sun hours. However, different people are more likely to develop freckles than others and they may not be avoided completely.

Melanin Resolution Experts,Research on skin lightening

When it comes to hyperpigmentation, skin lightening creams are many peoples favorite solution. However, some skin lightening products can be harmful. You might come across some skin brightening creams with harmful ingredients even steroids like clobetasol propionate and hydroxyquinone that are akin to paint stripper chemicals.
Dark skinned women are familiar with skin lightening. Having brighter looking skin is important to them. Nevertheless, skin lighteners are highly sought after by many individuals, no matter what color their skin may be. I am one of those many women as I really hate it when my skin starts to produce too much melanin. Many women believe these pigment reducing products can correct their pigmentation problems. Furthermore, it does wonders to their self esteem.
I do not wish to blemish skin lightening products. Unless you do a little bit of digging, there is no surety that it will make your hyperpigmentation go away. I hope this quells some of the concerns youve been reading about skin lightening creams. Maybe its a good idea to worry less and enjoy life more.

Vitamin D levels drop as winter's gloom nears

If living a long and healthy life is a priority, it is imperative to know that simply having a low level of Vitamin D is associated with an amazing 26 percent increased rate of death, from all causes, according to an August, 2008 Archives of Internal Medicine study.

A plethora of studies in the last decade also have demonstrated that low Vitamin D levels are a major factor in the pathology of: at least 17 varieties of cancer; heart disease; stroke; high blood pressure; autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, which is uncommon at the equator; diabetes; depression; chronic pain; osteoarthritis; osteoporosis; muscle weakness and wasting; birth defects; periodontal disease; weakened immunity, such as the flu and the common cold; inflammatory bowel disease.. the list goes on and on.

If cancer is a concern, a 2007 research team from the University of California, San Diego reported that up to 50 percent of all breast and colon cancer cases could be prevented by consuming more vitamin D. Only 29 percent of the American population is estimated to have adequate vitamin D levels.

Vitamin D deficiency is more common in: the elderly, wintertime residents of Northern California; people with darker skin who get little direct sun exposure or use sunscreens above SPF8, people who live in smoggy, foggy or cloudy areas.

After exposure to the same amount of sunlight, the elderly make only about 25 percent as much vitamin D as 20-year-olds.
Despite the abundant Vitamin D-fortified summer sunshine in Davis, as winter approaches, Vitamin D levels drop precipitously creating the perfect internal environment for wintertime flues and other nasty immune challenges.

Research from around the world has clearly demonstrated that people do less well in the winter because Vitamin D levels drop as the winter progresses.

Vitamin D has profound and multiple effects on human immunity. Influenza occurrence parallels vitamin D deficiency in time and space. Norwegians, who get less sun exposure than any other Europeans, have less flu epidemics and a smaller wintertime spike in mortality because their diet includes fish oil and the highest wintertime vitamin D levels.

Due to increased skin melanin, African-Americans generally have lower vitamin D levels than Caucasians and may explain why African-American children get pneumonia twice as often as Caucasian children, and why African-American adults often have higher blood pressure.
Children with rickets, the classic vitamin D deficiency illness are 11 times more likely to have lower respiratory infections than matched controls without rickets.

Flu shots in the elderly and immuno-compromised may even be unnecessary if Vitamin D were at optimal levels by stimulating innate immunity.

It's November! Are your vitamin D 25 OH levels at the optimal 60-80 ng/mL? If you are not sure, talk to your doctor or a healthcare practitioner for a simple blood test. Ask for the vitamin D 25 Hydroxy test.

Ways to prevent Freckles

With frequent exposure of the skin to sun, there is also a risk of getting freckles on face. Freckles are just pigment cells contained within the skin in small batches of spots developed randomly on the skin. Freckles are usually light brown or tan but the color may vary according to individual. While freckles may look ugly on some, they are not an indicator of any health problem. Given below are some ways by which you can prevent freckles and keep your face spot-free.

Freckles look ugly on a majority of people and thus there has been a rise in cosmetic treatments to get rid of them one of the most common of them is the use of bleaching agents but these can lead to chemical burns and rashes. So, why not prevent freckles in the first place as it is an old saying that prevention is better than cure. The basic and simple preventive tip demands protecting your skin from harmful sun rays as they are responsible for a freckled face. Avoid going out during peak hours and always wear a hat to prevent the sun from directly hitting your face. Use sunscreens of minimum SPF 30. Do not get tempted by tanning beds as they can expose your skin to lots of pigment-inducing UV rays. In addition to protecting your skin from sun and its UV rays, you should also check out whether you are taking any medication, either internally or externally, which is triggering those pigments on your face. Usually, many people develop freckles due to use of antibiotics and birth control pills. There are also certain home remedies like washing of face with sour milk or naturally bleaching it through lemon juice. Whatever remedy you try, always remember that freckles take time to go away and there’s no magical formula to dispel them in a jiffy. The best way is to prevent freckle formation and for that you need to follow the above given precautionary steps.

Age Spots (Freckles)

Freckles is a general term used for circular spots that develop randomly on the skin, especially common in those with a fair complexion. They can appear anywhere on the body and can occur from very young ages.

Age Spots

Age spots are also knows as liver spots and is a term describing the type of freckles seen on adults, usually on the backs of hands. They are not necessarily a sign of old age, but usually appear on areas that have been exposed to the sun, so are more common in adults with a history of sun-exposure.

Older people may also have raised, crusty lesions known as seborrheic keratoses in the same areas, which are benign growths of the skin. The colour ranges from tan to black and can be up to an inch in diameter. These types of lesions are common in most adults after a certain age (40+).

Treatment of Freckles

There are treatments for freckles that can lighten them or reduce their appearance. These include bleaching creams which can be purchased without prescription and can lighten freckles after being applied over the period of a few months. They should also be used in combination with avoidance from and protection against the sun.

Cryosurgery may also be used as a treatment for freckles, where the freckles are freezed or burned. However, not all freckles will respond to this. Lasers may also be used, as these can lighten freckles effectively. Both methods are safe and have low associated risks.

Lightening freckles can also be done using retinoids which are often used in conjunction with bleaching creams, or pulsed light treatments.

Prevention of Freckles

The best prevention is to avoid exposure to the sun as well as using adequate sun protection. You should also wear protective clothing, hats and stay indoors during the strongest sun hours. However, different people are more likely to develop freckles than others and they may not be avoided completely.