Sun damage and pigmentation

There are many different forms of sun damage, and consequently, some forms are more serious than others. Among the most serious consequences of sun exposure, one can single out melanoma (mole cancer), actinic keratosis (a precursor to cancer) and basal cell cancer (skin cancer).

Pigment spots are areas of the skin with a darker colour than the rest of the skin, and are most commonly found on the face, hands and other sun-exposed areas. The pigment spots are often divided into liver spots, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and melasma, but common to all is that a small dark area is formed on the skin. As said, pigment spots are often caused by sunbathing, but it is worth noting that other factors can also play a role, such as genetics, the use of drugs and pregnancy.

How to avoid sun damage

The best thing you can do to avoid sun damage is to be aware of when and how you stay in the sun:

• Avoid being in the sun for too long at a time. This is especially true in the summer and in the middle of the day, when the sun is at its strongest.
• Use enough sunscreen and a minimum factor of 30. Reapply every two hours, or more often if you bathe or sweat a lot.
• Protect yourself with clothing, a cap/hat and sunglasses, and stay in the shade whenever possible.
• Avoid using tanning beds.

When you have already had sun damage, there is little you can do yourself, and it will then be necessary to get help from a dermatologist to treat the damage.

If it is a mole, the dermatologist will first carry out a thorough examination. If the dermatologist wants to examine the mole further, a sample of the mole will be taken and sent to a laboratory for an even more thorough examination. Furthermore, unsafe or dangerous moles will be removed with the help of a small surgical intervention. At Dr.Dropin, we also offer a state-of-the-art scan with FotoFinder, to more easily see how your moles develop over time and thus more easily detect abnormal skin changes. You can read more about moles and FotoFinder here.

Even in cases where it is a harmless pigment spot, our dermatologists can help you with this. Pigment spots can often be experienced as embarrassing and irritating, and many people, therefore, want to remove them. This is done with the help of an effective and gentle laser treatment, which reduces or removes the pigment spot so that the skin tone is evened out. Depending on how big the pigment spot is, you will normally need between 1 and 3 treatments.

• Sunbathing and any self-tanning cream should be avoided for 4 weeks before the treatment.
• Sunscreen and other substances that can irritate the skin should not be used in the days before the treatment.
• The area to be treated should not be covered by make-up or moisturiser.
• Laser treatment should be avoided if you have used antibiotics or other similar drugs in the last 12 months, or if you are pregnant or have epilepsy.

The treatment itself usually takes 20 minutes, and there will normally be no need to rest or call in sick afterwards. It is certainly worth noting that some people may experience that the skin turns red and gets small swellings, but as I said, for most there will be few or no side effects. Otherwise, it is good to know the following:

• In the 6 following weeks after the treatment, you should use a sun protection factor of at least 30.
• It is recommended to avoid direct sunlight and solarium in the weeks after the treatment.
• If you get sores after the treatment, a doctor should be contacted