Dark spots

Pigmented spots, wherever they appear, primarily disturb the person because of their unattractiveness. However, any dyschromia (discoloration of the skin) may indicate deep pathological processes occurring in the body. It is known that the skin is an external indicator of the internal state of organs and systems. Uniform in structure and color, the skin today is a rarity, possibly due to unfavorable environmental factors, possibly for other reasons. Before dealing with pigmentation and such a condition as pigmented spots, it is necessary to find out what role pigments play, and what their increase or decrease indicates.

Causes of the pigmentary heel

Pigmented spots, provoked by natural or physiologically normal factors, are not cause for concern. These types of pigmentation include the following: 

• Freckles - in translation from the Greek language - solar pigment spots or ephelids. Usually ephelids are a hereditary phenomenon transmitted from generation to generation. Characteristic for light-skinned people with light, red, chestnut hair color. Freckles most often appear under the influence of ultraviolet, and in the winter pale. These pigment spots appear first in the sun exposed areas of the skin, but can also be spread throughout the body. 
• Hyperpigmentation in the form of chloasma. This is clearly defined pigmentation spots, a different color. A favorite place for chloasma is the face, less often the arms and genitals. Chloasma can be caused by physiological causes - pregnancy, age-related changes and do not pose a threat to health. In the summer, chloasma becomes more vivid, in winter they pale and sometimes completely disappear. Chloasms of the elderly are called lentigo, they are more dense in structure, vast in size. 
• Hypopigmentation is a hereditary property of the skin, manifested in white depigmented areas. Vitiligo still could not be attributed to a certain category of pigment disorders. On the one hand vitiligo is not a threat to health, and the etiology of this dyschromia is still not clear. On the other hand, curing some internal diseases in some people makes it possible to achieve persistent repigmentation and uniform skin coloration.

Pigmented spots caused by pathological factors, and are a sign of an obvious or hidden disease. They include the following types: 

• Pigmented spots that compensate for skin trauma or exposure to chemical aggressive substances. Melanin tries to protect the damaged area by painting it with a tread. So there is a temporary protection of the damaged area from the effects of ultraviolet radiation. 
• Keratosis caused by seborrheic disease. Keratosis is similar to specific growths, they are often confused with ordinary warts. 
• Nevuses are benign or moles. It is a small brown pigment spots, most often denser in structure and slightly elevated above the surface of the skin. Moles themselves are not a disease, but even the smallest mole is a potentially dangerous formation that can transform under the influence of various factors in melanoma. 
• Chloazmy hepatic, characteristic for the pathology of the bile duct and liver. These are pigmented spots, located on the cheeks, often extending to the neck. They are often called the "hepatic butterfly." 
• Skin cancer - lentigo malignant etiology. Most often these pigmented spots are uneven along the contours, constantly changing in size and color. Such pigmentation spots should be examined immediately, so as not to miss the time.

[1], [2], [3]

Pathogenesis

The skin tone depends on the number and ratio of the four main skin pigments: 

• Melanin - a coloring pigment, developed in the deep layers of the skin. Basal structures of the skin contain specific cells - melanocytes, which produce melanin production. If the structure of the skin is not broken in the sense of the conductivity of the layers, the melanocytes quite quickly come out of the depth to the surface layer of the skin. If the conductivity is impaired or the pigment is insufficiently produced, the upper layer of the skin is depigmented. 
• Carotene - a pigment that gives a yellowish tinge to the skin. Carotene produces keratinocytes, which are located in the upper layers of the skin - the epidermis. If there was no carotene, then, obviously, all people on earth belonged to the Negroid race. 
• Red pigment is a pigment containing hemoglobin. It is in small amounts in the capillaries of the skin. 
• Blue pigment, slightly lightening the skin. For the blue pigment is also responsible hemoglobin, but no longer containing oxygen, but destroyed and newly restored in the veins.

Most often, skin pigmentation and pigmentation spots depend on the level of melanin production, all other pigments do not play such an important role in skin coloring.

Excessive pigmentation of the skin is mainly due to the powerful ultraviolet radiation. This explains the specific shade of the skin of peoples living in hot countries. Melanin is a genetically determined protective factor for them. In other people, any exposure of solar people provokes the production of a certain additional portion of melanin, so the skin acquires a darker shade - tan. Melanin can also become more active due to pathogenic factors - diseases, poisoning, metabolic disorders.

[4], [5], [6]

Treatment of the pigmentary heel

The first commandment for a person striving to neutralize pigment spots is protection from ultraviolet radiation. 

The second advice is to observe a full-fledged diet, saturation of the body with the necessary amount of vitamins and microelements. 

The third general advice that relates to the prevention of diseases in principle, and not only to getting rid of external defects is getting rid of harmful, destructive habits and observance of the elementary rules of a healthy lifestyle related to motor activity, normal sleep and stress resistance. 

Cosmetic procedures, which are now a great many, effectively cope with the neutralization of such features of the body as pigmented spots. Carry out procedures should only after consulting a dermatologist and, as a rule, courses.

Pigmented spots are often a signal and an occasion for a complex examination of the body, since the skin is a reflection of the work of all human organs and systems. That is why, taking care of the appearance of the skin, do not forget the internal factors that cause the appearance of pigmentation.