How To Treat Dark Spots From Eczema

What Is Postinflammatoryhyperpigmentation

Postinflammatory pigmentation is temporary pigmentation that follows injury or inflammatory disorder of the skin . It is mostly observed in darker skin types . Postinflammatory pigmentation is also called acquired melanosis.

More severe injury results in postinflammatory hypopigmentation, which is usually permanent.

How Different Skin Types Are Affected

The features of eczema differ depending on the persons skin type.

On paler skin, the typical pattern is inflamed, red or dark pink patches, with dry itchy skin, which in severe flares may ooze with small vesicles .

On darker skin, inflammation is more difficult to detect, as it is seen as various stages of hyper-pigmentation and is more subtle, so often redness is not seen. As a result, the severity of eczema can be underestimated.

Post-inflammatory hypo- and hyper-pigmentation are a much greater concern in people with darker skin, as it can take months for this to resolve and the discoloration can sometimes be a greater concern than the eczema itself.

Another feature of eczema, more commonly found in darker skin, is follicular prominence. This is where the eczema appears in small, itchy bumps or papules on the skin mainly on the trunk and forearms. Dry skin and scale can also be more prominent, as its white or grey colour shows up most noticeably.

A UK longitudinal study into ethnic variations in atopic eczema reported that children with darker skin were more likely to develop atopic eczema than their white counterparts and were six times more likely to develop severe eczema.

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Skin Care For Facial Eczema

Moisturize. The best way to keep your skin from drying out is with thick creams and ointments , not with thinner lotions. The best time to do this is right after you wash your face. If ointments are too greasy for your face, try using them only at night.

Clean gently. Soap can irritate your skin, but washing with water alone may not be enough, especially if your face is oily. Use a gentle non-soap cleanser or a medical emollient instead. Pat dry with a soft towel.

Watch the temperature. Use only cool not hot water on your face, and for as little time as possible.

Skip makeup.Donât use cosmetics on irritated skin.

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How Did I Get Eczema On My Breast

Eczema can develop anywhere on your skin, including your breasts. A combination of immune system activation, genetics, environmental triggers and stress can cause it.

• Immune system: If you have breast eczema, your immune system overreacts to minor irritants or allergens. This overreaction can inflame your skin.
• Genetics: Youre more likely to have breast eczema if you have a history of eczema in your family. Youre also at a higher risk if you have a family history of hay fever, asthma and allergens. Allergens are substances like pollen, pet hair or foods that trigger an allergic reaction. There might also be a change in your genes that control a protein that helps your body maintain healthy skin. Without normal levels of that protein, your skin wont be completely healthy.
• Environment: A lot of irritants in your environment can irritate your skin. Some examples include tobacco smoke, air pollutants, harsh soaps, fabrics such as wool and some skin care products. Low humidity can cause your skin to become dry and itchy. Heat and humidity can cause sweating, and sweating can make itchiness worse. If you have a breast eczema flare-up after coming into contact with an allergen or irritant, you may have contact dermatitis.
• Stress: Your stress levels can cause or worsen your breast eczema. There are mental and emotional signs of stress and physical signs of stress.

What are the mental/emotional signs of stress and physical signs of stress that can cause breast eczema?

Can Home Remedies Help

If youre hoping to address eczema discoloration at home or searching for gentler alternatives to prescription treatment, you have a few options.

Fishman suggests considering skin care products with botanical ingredients known to promote lightening by slowing down melanin production. These include ingredients like:

• arbutin

She notes that youll likely need to use these products for at least 3 months in order to get results.

Another brightening skin care ingredient that may help lighten hyperpigmentation? Vitamin C.

According to Green, vitamin C can have benefit because it:

• has anti-inflammatory properties
• helps reduce the production of melanin
• has antioxidant properties that help neutralize free radicals from sun exposure

Vitamin B-3, which you might know as niacinamide, may also help prevent darker areas of pigmentation from rising to the top layer of your skin, where theyre visible.

Green also emphasizes the importance of using a moisturizer that repairs the skins natural protective barrier, which can promote healing and minimize discoloration. She recommends trying one with ingredients known to help to lock in moisture and repair the skin, including:

• ceramides

Experts agree that sun protection is key in preventing post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Green recommends applying sunscreen with a minimum of SPF 50 daily and reapplying every 90 minutes.

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Treatment For Dark Spots

Prior to any recommendations for dark spots treatment, we conduct a full skin exam and evaluation to ensure the right solutions are offered. Pinpointing the underlying cause of dark spots is essential in treatment planning for these concerns. In addition to making sure you have the right treatment for your type of dark spot, these exams also ensure we rule out more serious concerns like skin cancer before we begin treatment. For these reasons, every treatment plan for dark spots should start with a trip to your dermatologist for a consultation to discuss your condition and possible treatments.

What Worsens Dermatitis What Triggers It

Try your best to figure out what triggers your dermatitis. Its important to remember that it can affect people differently.

Is your dermatitis triggered by a chemical you clean with? Do you get it every time you go to your uncles house, because hes a smoker? Does your scalp feel itchy since you started that new shampoo? Did that rash on the inside of your wrist appear after you tried that new perfume? Does excessive sunlight make your dermatitis better or worse? Do you feel itchy every time you wear that wool sweater?

Remember what else worsens dermatitis: stress, hot showers, allergens like pollen and pet dander, etc. Find out what worsens your dermatitis and do your best to avoid it.

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Freckles Can Be Cute But If You Have Dark Spots On Your Skin That You Dont Want There Are Ways To Remove Them

If youre bothered by darks spots due to hyperpigmentation on your skin, one thing is clear: Today there are more options for erasing that harmless but irksome discoloration than ever before.

What exactly is hyperpigmentation? Its any patch of skin that looks darker than your natural skin tone due to overproduction of the brown pigment melanin. According to the American Academy of Dermatology , the most common causes of hyperpigmentation which can affect people of all skin tones in varying degrees are:

• Inflammation Skin trauma such as acne, eczema, bug bites, cuts, scrapes, even scratching or friction from, say, vigorous rubbing can set off inflammation. Inflammation, in turn, can send pigment-producing cells into high gear, leaving behind a dark spot after the injury has healed.

Home Remedies To Avoid

People may wish to keep in mind that many of the home remedies that webpages recommend may have side effects or no evidence of effectiveness. Examples include lemon and apple cider vinegar. No studies back the claims that these treatments work.

In some cases, unproven treatments may aggravate the skin. For example, the American Society for Dermatological Surgery do not recommend lemon juice or abrasive scrubs, as these methods could make dark spots worse.

Some skin lightening products can do more harm than good. Many contain ingredients that can harm the skin or overall health, such as mercury or steroids. Applying these can cause pimples, rashes, and fragile skin over time.

A doctor or dermatologist can often work out the cause of dark spots on the skin by examining them and taking a medical history.

During a physical exam, the healthcare professional might perform a Woods lamp skin exam, where they view the spots through a special device that emits black light.

In some instances, specific characteristics of a spot might require more tests to make sure skin cancer is not causing the spot.

Anyone can develop dark spots on the skin. Certain risk factors appear to increase a persons chances including:

• sun exposure

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How Is Eczema Treated

Treatment for eczema can vary from home treatments to prescription medications. Still, in many cases, people get maximum relief from a prescription treatment combined with home skincare methods and avoidance of irritants. Ways people can treat eczema include:

• Biological medications that help manage the immune system
• Steroid creams or pills to control inflammation
• Over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream for itching
• Regular baths and application of a gentle, unscented lotion
• Avoidance of scented or harsh products as well as known irritants

Treatments like oatmeal and aloe vera may help soothe the skin of people with eczema but will probably not get rid of the problem by themselves.

What Else Should I Know

If you live with eczema, tune in to what triggers it and how to manage it. For example, if you find that some types of makeup irritate your skin, ask a dermatologist to recommend brands that are less likely to do so.

Your self-esteem doesn’t have to suffer because you have eczema, and neither does your social life! Getting involved in your school and extracurricular activities can be a great way to get your mind off the itch.

Don’t forget to exercise. It’s a great way to blow off stress try walking, bike riding, swimming, or another sport that keeps your skin cool and dry while you work out.

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Medications To Help To Reduce Scars

Keeping the skin moisturised once the initial wound has healed, after approximately 3 weeks, is the best method of preventing or reducing scars. Bath emollients and moisturisers can also help to restore the skins smoothness and elasticity.

Emollients

Emollients are preparations that soften the skin. Sometimes the skin can become too dry whilst its healing, causing it to become puckered. Using soap and water to cleanse the skin can cause it to become dry and irritated.

Emollients can help to prevent this effect and may help to calm the scar. Adding bath oil or additive or using an emollient shower gel can help to soothe, hydrate and smooth the skin. However, the effects are short lived so a moisturising cream or ointment needs to be applied to the area as well, to provide longer term benefit. Examples of suitable emollients include:

• Aveeno bath oil
• Doublebase emollient bath additive or shower gel
• E45 bath oil or E45 wash cream
• Oilatum emollient bath additive or shower gel
• QV bath oil and QV gentle wash, and
• Zeroneum.

Moisturisers

Moisturisers allow the skin to retain moisture for a longer time than the bath additives and shower gel and should be used after the skin is washed and dried thoroughly. Sun block cream with SPF 35 or greater may be suitable for skin that is exposed to sunlight. The following examples are suitable to use for small scars:

• Aveeno cream

Treatments Your Physician May Prescribe

Some creams may help fade dark marks. These include 24% hydroquinone, tretinoin, tazarotene, azelaic acid, and glycolic acid. These products are often used in combination. Chemical peels or microdermabrasion are treatments not generally covered by insurance and need to be repeated monthly for a total of 46 sessions. If not done by experts, they may cause further irritation and darkening.

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Eczema Coping Tips Beauty Products

Suggestions for using beauty products include:

• Remember that even hypoallergenic cosmetics can irritate your skin. Whenever possible, keep your face free of make-up.
• Avoid perfumes, fragranced skin lotions and strongly scented shampoos.
• When using a new cosmetic, try testing it first on a small, inconspicuous area of skin such as your forearm. If you experience a reaction, dont use the product again.

What Cant I Eat Or Drink With Breast Eczema

The connection between breast eczema and food/drink allergies is unclear. If you have food allergies, then one of the reasons why you must avoid those foods is that they may cause or worsen your breast eczema. Examples of common allergies include peanuts, dairy, eggs, sugar, alcohol and gluten. Pay attention to what you eat. If your breast eczema flares up after you eat a particular food, then you might be allergic to it.

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Add One Of These Acids Into Your Routine

Step 3: Add a potent serum

Serums are usually packed with a high percentage of active ingredients that work to either deeply hydrate your skin or brighten/smooth/resurface your skin. For dark spots, you want a serum that puts in work. Look for a formula thats filled with one of these ingredients:

• Kojic acid: While most acids work to exfoliate your dark spots away, kojic acid also works to prevent them by interfering with your skins melanin production. So not only will kojic acid fade your current discoloration, but itll also help block new spots from sticking around.
• Niacinamide: This superhero ingredient is a form of vitamin B3 that helps balance out your oil production while also fading your dark spots.
• Vitamin C: An antioxidant that protects your skin against environmental aggressors that cause inflammation. It also helps to fade acne scars and dark spots while helping to smooth fine lines over time. Its basically a do-it-all ingredient.

What Is Hyperpigmentation

Okay, so let me back up for a sec: Most of the time when we say hyperpigmentation, were actually referring to post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, or PIH, says Dr. Imahiyerobo-Ip. Quick bio lesson: When a zit pops up, your skin gets inflamed and your body works overtime to heal that skin trauma. As your skin heals, it produces a ton of melanin in that area, says Dr. Imahiyerobo-Ip. And with deeper skin tones, sometimes your body will send too much melanin, leaving you with hella-dark spots and uneven skin. Fuuun.

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Keep The Skin Moisturized

When youre treating hyperpigmentation, your main goal is to lighten any dark spots. You can find over-the-counter products with ingredients that will even your skin tone. However, you should also look for creams and potions that contain hyaluronic acid or glycerin to infuse the skin with moisture. A product that lightens the skin but also contains retinol is also ideal for prompting cell turnover and give you a healthy glow. Following your skin treatments with a moisturizer that replenishes the fat barrier of your skin and protects you from UV rays.

Eczema Affects All Skin Colors

Eczema is a common disease affecting mostly children, and it does not discriminate against skin color. Light skin and dark skin tones are equally affected.

Similar symptoms appear in dark skin as in light skin:

• Changes in skin color on the eczema patch
• Swelling
• Thickening of the skin

In atopic eczema, which presents in flare-ups, skin also feels dry and tight, even in periods of remission. Intense itching can impede sleep and cause children to become irritable.

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Which Skin Type Are You

Skin type is described by the Fitzpatrick classification , which determines the colour of skin by phototype, which depends on the amount of melanin pigment in the skin.

In this article we describe skin as lighter or darker.

Skin types: Fitzpatrick classification, adapted from:

Skin changes are caused either by active eczema or by scratching as a result of eczema itch. These changes can result in two types of pigmentary skin changes in eczema:

• HYPO-PIGMENTATION Loss of skin pigment or colour, usually seen as patches of skin that are lighter than overall skin tone.
• HYPER-PIGMENTATION Patches of skin becoming darker than the normal skin tone.

Hypo- and hyper-pigmentation are more visible in darker skin types but can occur in any skin type and can be concerning and distressing for anyone with eczema.

The main way of improving skin pigmentation changes is to treat the underlying eczema and inflammation. But discoloration can last for months or years, even after the eczema is treated.

Black Spots On Skin Std

Black dots on the skin of genital and anal parts can result from sexually transmitted diseases . Genital warts caused by human papillomavirus can result in dark bumps on the skin of the vulva and penis. Syphilis, genital herpes and HIV can also result to black bumps and dark scarring on the genital areas.

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Easy Ways To Improve Hand Breakouts

Covering your hands with gloves before coming into contact with chemicals and irritants can help to get rid of eczema on the hands. You can also try soaking your hands in saline solution to get rid of excess bacteria that may be aggravating the skin.

Additionally, a daily routine using a moisturizer with calming ingredients such as colloidal oatmeal works wonders to soothe any rash on the hands.

Here is the link to a lotion I use when my hands get dry and rough: Skin Fix Hand Repair. It works great!

Hand eczema is usually rough, dry and inflamed. It can also appear as small filled blisters known as dyshidrotic eczema.

What causes eczema on the hands can be things like bacteria, chemicals and/or irritants such as harsh sulfates in hand soap and chemicals in tap water. Studies suggest that hand eczema may be more common with people in specific occupational groups, such as hairdressers, bakers, and nurses. Possibly due to the high exposure of irritants.

If you struggle with breakouts on the hands, it can be very beneficial to do a trigger avoidance strategy as well as a daily skin routine!