Microdermabrasion is a skin resurfacing cosmetic procedure that is also called microderm. It abrades the top slayer of the skin, It was invented in Italy in 1985. This skin procedure is popular and can be done at skin care clinics or even day spas. The microdermabrasion procedure consists of a light abrasion that removes the outer layer of skin to remove dead skin cells. This method also can remove some sun damaged skin. Microdermabrasion can also diminish or eliminate some skin scars. Microdermabrasion may also reduce and eliminate brown spots on the skin. The procedure does not require an anesthetic and isn’t really painful. When used for a raised scar, microdermbrasion can be very effective in reducing its appearance.

Typical Uses For Microdermabrasion:

• Cleaning out skin pores
• Treating certain kinds of acne
• Treating melasma with 4-5 treatments
• Rejuvenate skin texture
• After skin laser treatments

Microdermabrasion Types

At one time microdermabrasion was done by using abrasive crystals. With this technique, tiny crystals were blasted onto the skin at high speeds in order to remove the dead skin cells. There has been some concern of regular usage of aluminum oxide crystals over prolonged time periods.

Today, there are several different methods because of the new developments that have occurred over the years. One of these new methods is diamond microdermabrasion. Diamond microdermabrasion utilizes a microdermabrasion tip that is covered with tiny diamonds. There are different diamond tips that are used based on the skin type. The removal of dead skin cells helps skin care products penetrate the skin more efficiently.

You can buy home microdermabrasion kits now and do it yourself at home. Though the home kits are not as effective as some of the professional treatments are but you will save money. Some day spas and beauty salons will charge up to $200 for a microderabrasion treatment. These microdermabrasion kits use very small particles to abrate, as well as, polish the skin. Home microdermabrasion will offer good results with recurring usage. If perhaps you don’t want to buy a microdermabrasion kit, you could buy a microdermabrasion cream to exfoliate your skin.

Benefits of Microdermabrasion

• Affordable
• Painless
• Can reduce stretch marks
• Can diminish brown spots or liver spots
• Least invasive skin procedure
• You can do it yourself with a home kit
• Few side effects
• No anesthetic is needed
• Improves skin appearance – gives you younger looking skin

Some Side Effects of Microdermabrasion

• If you are using this procedure to reduce acne, you may at first see an increase of acne when the pores are opened up.
• You could experience some redness, itchy, and/or flaky dry skin.  Most of the time this is mild and goes away quickly.
• People with dark skin tones could experience skin pigmentation imbalances, in other words, your skin tone may be uneven.

Some Cautions:

If you have eczema you should not use microdermabrasion on the afflicted area. If you have any moles or any other skin lesions, you should consult with your doctor before having this procedure done. Always see you doctor if you have any concerns or questions about microdermabrasion.

Chemical peels are normally done for the face and neck areas of the skin. Sometimes they are used on the hands too. The treatment involves having a chemical solution applied to your skin and this solution will cause your skin to blister and then the skin will peel off after a certain amount of time. The new skin is generally smoother, softer, as well as, less wrinkled. The new skin will be very sensitive to sun exposure but that will subside with time. Though, you should always use a sun-screen thereafter.

What Can Chemical Peels Do?

• Decrease fine lines that are around the mouth and under the eyes
• Lessen wrinkles that are caused by aging and the sun.
• Improve the look of some mild scars.
• Treat some acne types
• Reduce brown spots caused by the sun, freckles, and melasma, those dark patches on the face from birth control pills or pregnancy
• Make improvements to dull looking skin
• Remove pre-cancerous keratoses – these are scaly or red spots

What Chemical Peels Can’t Do

Chemical peels can’t remove deep wrinkles or sagging skin. Face lifts are good for those types of problems.

What Skin Types Can Chemical Peels Treat?

People who have fair skin will benefit the most from from chemical peels. People who have darker skin color types might also experience good results, but that depends on the problem being treated. Nevertheless, there may be a risk of having skin tones that are not even after the chemical peel for people who have darker skin tones.

The Procedure For Chemical Peels

Chemical peels can be done in a doctor’s office or as an outpatient procedure in a surgery center. Before your chemical peel, your physician might tell you to not to take some medications. You might have to prepare your skin by using some topical preconditioning medicines like glycolic acid, Renova or Retin-A. You might be prescribed some oral antibiotics.

The skin is carefully cleansed using an solution which removes excess skin oils. The hair and eyes of the patient are protected. Some of the chemical solutions that are used are, carbolic acid, glycolic acid, salicylic acid, and lactic acid. The solution is applied to the skin areas that are being treated.

Most patients will experience some burning that could last up to 5-10 minutes, and then a stinging sensation. Compresses that are cool might be put on to relieve the stinging. Deeper chemical peels might call for pain medicine during or soon after the procedure.

After the Chemical Peel

Based on the kind of chemical peel, a response much like sunburn happens following your procedure. Peeling generally will involve redness, then scaling which stops around 3 to 7 days. Mild chemical peels might be repeated at 1 to 4 week time periods till the preferred effect is accomplished.

Medium-deep chemical peels might cause inflammation because water blisters will occur and they might crack, crust, and turn brown. After about one or two weeks, the skin will start to peel. Medium-deep chemical peels could be repeated in 6 to 12 months, if needed.

Soon after treatment, a few chemical peels might need bandages to be put on part or even all of your skin that’s been treated. Bandages are generally taken off after several several days.

It’s very important to stay out of the sun for some time following your chemical peel because the new skin color will be fragile and much more vunerable to sun burns and infections. Your doctor may recommend the appropriate follow-up treatment to lessen the possibility of developing irregular skin color soon after the peeling process.

Chemical Peels- The Complications

In particular skin color types, there’s a chance of having a short-term or long term color alteration of the skin soon after the chemical peel. Using birth control pills, a pregnancy, or even having family members that get brown patches or spots on their face could increase the chance of getting irregular skin tones.

Even though the risk is low for scarring from a chemical peel, some people are more vulnerable to scarring. Should a scar develop, it generally can be successfully treated.

Also, for patients that have a history of cold sores, they may experience some outbreaks. These can be treated with prescription medication before, as well as, after your chemical peel.

Before your chemical peel, it’s essential for you to tell your doctor about any history of experiencing keloids or if you tend to scar easily. You should also inform your doctor if you have had any laser skin treatments. Doctors usually perform a full medical history before performing chemical peels on their patients.

Skin tags are just little flaps of skin which can develop anyplace on the body. Skin tags are non-cancerous, in other words, benign tumors. Many health insurance companies will not cover skin tag removal because they consider it to be a cosmetic procedure. Though they are not considered serious they can be unsightly and can get irritated and sore at times.

If you have large sized skin tags you may want to have a doctor remove them. Most small skin tags are easy to remove at home by using thread. When the procedure is done correctly, the skin tag will be completely removed. But if not, part of the skin tag may remain and will probably grow back.

Instructions for Removing Skin Tags With Thread

1. You will need about 8 inches of clean thread. Always use clean thread to reduce the risk of infection.

2. Tie the thread around the skin tag. Make sure it is tight and then tie 2 knots to keep the thread secure. Make sure the thread is tied right where the skin tag is attached the normal skin area. Cut off any extra thread. If you tie the thread too high, you won’t eliminate all of the skin tag and it might grow back. Have someone help you when the skin tag happens to be in an area you can’t see.

3. The tightened thread will block the supply of blood to the affected skin tag. After a couple of days, the tied-off skin tag will die because of not having any blood supply and it will fall off.

4. If the skin tag doesn’t fall off, try using some clean nail clippers to cut if off. To clean the nail clippers, boil them in water for about 15 minutes.

Instructions for Removing Skin Tags With Duct Tape

Skin tags are really a very common problem for many individuals. They frequently form in locations where skin wrinkles or creases, like close to the eyes or the underarm. Skin tags are typically harmless benign tumors that get irritated by jewelry and clothing rubbing against them. By having some patience, you are able to get rid of skin tags simply by covering them up with duct tape. In a short time, you will be able to have the problem skin area free of skin tags.

1. For each skin tag you want to remove, cut a small square of duct tape, allowing for an extra 1/4 inch all around to make sure the piece covers the skin tag area. The precise size of the squares may vary because of the size of the skin tags, however, you need to completely cover up the skin tag.

2. When the tape becomes loose, (probably in a couple of days), remove the duct tape very slowly. Don’t rip the duct tape off really fast because that might cause some bleeding.

3. Look at the sticky side of the duct tape to see if the skin tag is on it. If it isn’t attached to the duct tape, put on a brand new piece of tape over the skin tag. In a couple of days, repeat the process of removing the tape carefully.

4. Once the skin tag is successfully removed, put a bandage on the treated area in order to keep the area clean and protected. The treated area could be a little sore for a couple of days, yet it shouldn’t bleed.

A Word of Caution:

Contact your doctor if any skin tags don’t come off or if they get swollen or bleed a lot.

Based on medical reports, skin cancer rates are unfortunately going up. There are three kinds of cancer of the skin: basil squamous cell carcinoma, cell carcinoma and the most serious, melanoma. Since melanoma is undoubtedly the most serious of type of cancer of the skin, it needs to be detected as soon as possible. If you identify melanoma, early enough, treatments may be successful. The areas of your body likely to get these black spots on skin will be the arms, chest, ears, face, hands, legs, lips, and scalp. Spots may appear all of a sudden or gradually over time.

Skin Cancer Types

Basal cell carcinoma can look like a waxy bump or a flat lesion that may look like a scar and be brown or flesh colored. Squamous cell carcinoma is a firm red nodule or a flat scaly lesion. Basal, as well as, squamous cell cancer generally appear on the arms, ears, face, lips and neck..

Melanoma can appear anyplace on the body or even upon an existing mole. It can have different colors and shapes. It might be a big brown shape that has black speckles or it could be a mole, that bleeds or changes color. It might be a lesion, that has a dome-shaped bump or has irregular edges.

Examine your skin often. Cancer of the skin can change with time. Search for any skin lesions which have changed in size or shape, and color. Check to see if any of the black spots on skin you may have, have changed. Search for irregular shapes. One side might be elevated and the other side could be flat. The edges may be imprecise. Watch out for black spots on skin that may have multiple colors along side of it.

Inspect your entire body for black spots on skin. Melanoma spreads, while basal cell doesn’t spread and squamous cell isn’t likely to spread. Melanoma can appear on the head, neck, trunk, of men and on women’s the legs or arms. Watch the fast growths of any black spots on skin or lesions.

See Your Doctor If You Have Any Questions About Black Spots On Skin

Always see your doctor if you have any questions about skin spots or black spots on skin. Any kind of  black spots on skin could possibly be serious. A physician must see any growth or lesion, not matter what color it is if it is bigger than a pencil eraser. Your physician can identify quickly if the area is cancerous. The doctor can do a biopsy to discover the cancer stage. Not every skin changes are caused by cancer, though, and black spots on skin doesn’t imply cancer. You need to see the physician so treatments can start right away, if it’s cancer.

Tips & Warnings About Black Spots On Skin

Safeguard your skin. The majority of skin cancers come from over exposure to sunshine. Put on sunscreen even during the winter, as well as, on cloudy days. Stay away from the sun through the peak hours during the day between 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Familiarize yourself with your body’s skin, so that you know about any new dark or black spots on skin or other colored spots.

Never, ever, postpone visiting a doctor whenever black spots on skin or other colored spots appear and do not go away.

Most of us know now that the primary cause of those unattractive liver spots, also know as age spots is the sun. Many of us have been exposed to the sun for decades without using sunscreen protection. And now some of us have brown spots on our face, hands, neck, back , arms and legs. Many people that have age spots are 50 years old, although liver spots can appear on younger people who are in their twenties. There are several different treatments that can remove liver spots including chemical peels and fade creams. Even though these techniques provide some relief to a degree, there is absolutely no guarantee that the liver spots will be completely removed. Covering up liver spots is certainly one method to conceal the brown spots on face or other skin areas.

Concealer Products You Will Need

Concealer brush
Foundation
Lavender concealer (if you have darker skin tones)
Makeup pads
Powder brushes
Yellow-shaded concealer (if you have light skin tones)
Yellow-shaded finishing powder (if you have light skin tones)

1.  Cleanse your face using cleanser that is oil-free, then rinse face with warm water. Use a clean towel to pat face dry, or let the skin air dry.

2.  Put on skin moisturize before putting on makeup. Allow the skin to completely take in the moisturizer before putting on the concealer.

3.  Apply a bit of yellow concealer on a concealer brush. The yellow concealer should be at least 2 tones lighter compared to your normal skin color. You can buy a concealer brush from a beauty supply store. Concealer brushes have small bristles which will conceal skin imperfections quite well. Individuals with that have darker skin tones should try using a lavender colored concealer to cover dark spots on their skin.

4.  Use the neutralizing lavender or yellow concealer for the liver spot by using the brush on the dark spot and then feathering the concealer in an outward direction. Try not to use too much concealer, it is best to use only what is needed to conceal the liver spot. Let the concealer set for 2 minutes before you apply your foundation.

5.  Now you can apply your regular foundation, make sure it really does match your skin tone. Use your fingertips or a makeup pad to apply your foundation over the liver spot area. It is important not to rub the area too much because you may smear off the concealer.

6.  Let your foundation set for 2 minutes. Follow up by using a powder that is yellow-based powder if you have a lighter skin tone. If you have darker skin tones, use your regular finishing powder. Next, dip your brush into your powder and then tap it to remove the excess powder. Lightly brush the powder around your face in order to get a smoother finish.

Tips For Using Concealer

• Dry skin types ought to use a liquid concealer.
• Lavender-colored concealer is great for concealing very dark circles under the eyes. This will work for all skin tones.
• Buy a concealer that has high pigment levels and mineral oil, like those used to cover up tattoos and scars.

Using a concealer is an easy way to visually remove liver or old age spots.

Melasma is a type of skin condition characterized by gray-brown to brown patches. It usually appears on the cheeks, forehead, bridge of the nose, upper lip, and chin. It can also form on the neck and forearms. Melasma is more common in women as well in people with dark skin, including those of Asian, Latin, Middle Eastern, Indian, North African, and Mediterranean descent.

What Causes Melasma?

The causes of this skin condition is still unknown although genetics is said to be a major factor since people with history of melasma in their family are more prone to developing this skin condition.

How is Melasma Diagnosed?

Because this condition is very common and is easily characterized by brown patches or spots on the face, dermatologists and skin doctors diagnose the condition by simply looking at the patient’s skin. In some occasions, a dermatologist may recommend skin biopsy to make sure that the brown spots are indeed caused by melasma.

How is Melasma Treated?

Melasma sometimes fades on its own even without treatment. This is common in melasma caused by pregnancy or sudden stop in taking contraceptives or birth control pills. If the skin condition stays or does not fade gradually, treatment may be needed.

There are different skin creams especially formulated to treat melasma. One of the main ingredients used in these skin creams is hydroquinone, a common skin-lightening agent. If skin darkening or irritation becomes noticeable with the use of skin-lightening cream or ointment, consult with a dermatologist or skin expert immediately.

Your dermatologist or skin doctor may prescribe a skin cream higher hydroquinone concentration. It is also possible to use skin creams with tretinoin, glycolic acid, or corticosteroids, which can enhance the lightening effect when combined with hydroquinone. Azelaic acid is also commonly used in treating skin conditions such as melasma. Koic acid is also commonly listed in the active ingredients of skin creams for melasma treatment.

Cosmetic procedures may also be used to treat this skin condition. Examples are microdermabrasion, chemical peel, or laser surgery. These cosmetic procedures can be successful and effective but they require the service of a skin expert or dermatologist because complications may arise when the procedure is not done well or according to the skin type of the patient. Patients may have to wait for several months to see significant improvement. It is also very important to follow the directions of your dermatologist carefully during the treatment course to ensure maximum efficacy and benefit.

Please consult with your doctor if you think you have melasma.

Hydroquinone, also known as quinol or benzene-1.4-diol is a type of phenol. It is an aromatic organic compound using C6H4(OH)2 as its chemical formula. Its chemical structure or makeup is composed of the bonding of two hydroxyl groups that are bonded to one benzene ring. At pressure and normal room temperature, hydroquinone is a white-colored granular solid.

Properties of Hydroquinone

In order to be converted into benzoquinone, hydroquinone must go through mild oxidation. The reduction of its quinine will convert it back to hydroquinone. Some natural biochemical compounds have quinine or hydroquinone section in their makeup, such as the coenzyme Q which can go through the same redox inter-conversion. The hydroxyl group of this organic compound is mainly weak acid.

Uses of Hydroquinone

Hydroquinone can be used in different things; however, it is principally used as a reducing agent because it is highly soluble in water. It is used in developing photography because of its metol compound which can reduce silver halides to silver. Its disodiumdiphenolate salt is also used as an alternate comonomer unit in polymer PEEK production. Hydroquinone is also used as a major ingredient in rubber antioxidants, herbicides, and dyestuffs.

Use of Hydroquinone in Skin Depigmentation

Hydroquinone is also used in human medicine as an ingredient in topical application products used in reducing the skin color. In 2006 however, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) revoked its approval of hydroquinone as a safe ingredient of topical application products and proposed the banning of all OTC preparations with this compound. According to a research conducted by the FDA, this organic compound is a potential carcinogen. This was actually based on the study they conducted. In their study, adult rats injected with hydroquinone were found to have tumors, including anisokaryosis, thyroid follicular cell hyperplasias, hepatocellular adenomas, renal tubule cell ademonas, and mononuclear cell leukemia. Several studies also revealed that this organic compound can cause buildup of blue-black pigments on the skin.

Natural Occurrences of Hydroquinone

Hydroquinone is naturally found in the defensive glands of a certain type of beetle. This compound is collected in the beetle’s reservoir which opens through a valve onto a reaction chamber lined with cells secreting peroxidases and catalases. When the reservoir contents are forced to the reaction chamber, the peroxidases and catalases break the hydrogen peroxide rapidly and the hydroquinone oxidation is catalyzed into p-quinones. The reaction releases free oxygen thereby generating enough heat that brings up the mixture to boil and vaporize.

You will need a prescription for Hydroquinone if you want to use it.

Brown patches on face appear for several reasons – sun exposure, age, pregnancy, freckles, hormonal changes, moles, rashes, and a lot more. Also called facial hyperpigmentation, a brown patch on face is harmless; however, it is so disturbing because of the unpleasant appearance. If you have these brown patches on face, read on and know exactly what can be done to get rid of them.

Over-the-Counter Solutions For Brown Patches On Face

Some of the over the counter products really work in getting rid of your brown patches on face; however, you should always consult with a dermatologist before using any of them. Here are some solutions to consider:

• Kojic acid
• Hydroquinone
• Arbutin
• Azelaic acid
• Retinoids
• Ellagic acid
• Alpha-Hydroxy acids
• Vitamin C

Home Remedies For Removing Brown Patches On Face

If you are worried about side effects, you can always turn to natural ways of getting rid of brown patches on face. There are several home remedies that can help get rid of the brown patches. Here are some of most effective:

Lemon Juice – this home remedy works effectively as natural bleach. You simply have to dab cotton onto the lemon juice then apply it onto the brown patches on face. It’s cheap, easy, and effective.

Hydrogen Peroxide – this also acts as natural bleach, but is a little stronger than the lemon juice. Just make sure to ask the pharmacist about the strength of hydrogen peroxide that you can use on your face.

Buttermilk – this home remedy is available in the grocery store’s dairy section. It contains lactic acid used for ages as an effective way to get rid of brown patches on face.

Medical Methods For Removing Brown Patches On Face

If you want a faster way of treating brown patches on face, you can also consider some professional cosmetic services, such as:

Laser Treatment – this cosmetic procedure involves directing light beams at each of the brown patches on face. The light beams are responsible for removing the skin’s top layer while the heat is in charge of accelerating the production and growth of new skin.

Microdermabrasion – this is one of the most expensive medical procedures available today. This procedure involves scrubbing the skin with tiny crystals in order to remove the skin’s top layer and reduce the brown patches on face.

Chemical Face Peeling – this procedure involves applying facial chemicals onto the skin to reduce discolorations. However, the skin may ooze and turn red.

Cryotherapy– this involves the application of liquid nitrogen to freeze the discolored area and eventually lighten the brown patches on face.

Please make an appointment to see your physician if you have any concerns about your brown patches on face.