Healthy Body
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Trouble with Blotchy Skin?
May 2016
Staff
As we age, our skin changes. When we look in the mirror, we no longer see a blemish-free, pearly white or smooth, brown complexion. Instead, pesky spots start to appear here and there causing many to fret about their appearance.
Millions of women must cope with blotchy skin, yet there is only so much you can do with make-up to conceal uneven skin tone. Red, white or dark patches may be irritated or itchy and may appear anywhere on the body; however they are most common - and most visible - on the arms, neck, and face.
"The first thing to do in treating blotchy skin is to figure out what is causing it," says Derek V. Chan, M.D., Ph.D., of Advanced Dermatology, P.C. "There is a wide range of factors that can cause blotchy skin, such as weather, heredity, allergies and various environmental factors. While some of these causes are beyond your control, others can be managed and the blotchiness prevented or treated when it occurs."
Weather: "The best remedies for weather-related redness are sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or more, sunglasses, a hat and moisturizer," explains Chan. "These will also prevent sunburn and the most common signs of aging skin - dark spots and sagging caused by years of sun exposure."
A recent review in the December 2015 issue of the Journal of Drugs and Dermatology also suggested that the use of oral, multicomponent, dietary supplements may be useful in helping with the appearance of photo-aged skin. Additionally, commercially available extracts derived from Polypodium leucotomos, a tropical fern, may help maintain a youthful appearance by helping to prevent further oxidation and photo-aging of the skin. Before starting any of these supplements, Dr. Chan notes that consultation with a dermatologist is always necessary before starting any supplement therapy, and more confirmatory research needs to be done to more conclusively demonstrate that oral dietary supplements help skin appearance.
Allergies: Springtime allergens in the air can trigger red, irritated skin in susceptible people. Animal dander in the environment - even when there's no cat or dog present - can also cause red, blotchy hives. An anti-histamine may be effective in controlling allergic reactions and itchy skin.
Heredity: People with fair skin are more prone to blotchy skin and uneven skin tones than people with darker skin. Hormonal changes in women, particularly those associated with pregnancy, can also cause red or dark patches. Skin problems caused by genetic predisposition and hormonal changes are harder to prevent but a gentle moisturizer may help.
Irritating Products: Harsh soaps, fragranced lotions, rough exfoliators and chemical peels can leave the skin inflamed, dry and blotchy. Use a gentle, moisturizing cleanser that doesn't leave the skin tight, dry or flaky. Avoid gritty scrubs and products that contain fragrance or antiseptic. "The bottom line for cleansing is to avoid overdoing it," Chan explains. "Don't over-wash, over-scrub or over-dry, and don't use harsh, drying products on the skin. Look for soaps and cleansers that are fragrance-free. Some 'unscented' products actually have fragrance or perfume to mask the odor of the other chemicals, so patients should look for products without fragrance or perfume if their skin is prone to getting irritated."
Stress: Red patches on the face, neck and upper chest are sometimes a reaction to stress or tension. When the stress eases, the skin generally clears, or the redness can be reduced with a histamine-blocking lotion.
"People who are troubled by frequent instances of red and blotchy skin should start by seeing a dermatologist to determine the cause," urges Chan. "Skin conditions such as rosacea, eczema and psoriasis can all cause red or blotchy skin and have different triggers and factors that aggravate them as well as different treatments to get them under control. But whatever the cause, the basic advice for red, blotchy skin starts with limiting exposure to weather extremes, never going out without sunscreen and treating your skin gently."
Advanced Dermatology P.C. and the Center for Laser and Cosmetic Surgery (New York & New Jersey) is one of the leading dermatology centers in the nation, offering highly experienced physicians in the fields of cosmetic and laser dermatology as well as plastic surgery and state-of-the-art medical technologies (www.advanceddermatologypc.com).
Derek V. Chan, M.D., Ph.D, has particular interests in psoriasis, cutaneous neoplasms, and lasers/cosmetic dermatology.
As we age, our skin changes. When we look in the mirror, we no longer see a blemish-free, pearly white or smooth, brown complexion. Instead, pesky spots start to appear here and there causing many to fret about their appearance.
Millions of women must cope with blotchy skin, yet there is only so much you can do with make-up to conceal uneven skin tone. Red, white or dark patches may be irritated or itchy and may appear anywhere on the body; however they are most common - and most visible - on the arms, neck, and face.
"The first thing to do in treating blotchy skin is to figure out what is causing it," says Derek V. Chan, M.D., Ph.D., of Advanced Dermatology, P.C. "There is a wide range of factors that can cause blotchy skin, such as weather, heredity, allergies and various environmental factors. While some of these causes are beyond your control, others can be managed and the blotchiness prevented or treated when it occurs."
Weather: "The best remedies for weather-related redness are sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or more, sunglasses, a hat and moisturizer," explains Chan. "These will also prevent sunburn and the most common signs of aging skin - dark spots and sagging caused by years of sun exposure."
A recent review in the December 2015 issue of the Journal of Drugs and Dermatology also suggested that the use of oral, multicomponent, dietary supplements may be useful in helping with the appearance of photo-aged skin. Additionally, commercially available extracts derived from Polypodium leucotomos, a tropical fern, may help maintain a youthful appearance by helping to prevent further oxidation and photo-aging of the skin. Before starting any of these supplements, Dr. Chan notes that consultation with a dermatologist is always necessary before starting any supplement therapy, and more confirmatory research needs to be done to more conclusively demonstrate that oral dietary supplements help skin appearance.
Allergies: Springtime allergens in the air can trigger red, irritated skin in susceptible people. Animal dander in the environment - even when there's no cat or dog present - can also cause red, blotchy hives. An anti-histamine may be effective in controlling allergic reactions and itchy skin.
Heredity: People with fair skin are more prone to blotchy skin and uneven skin tones than people with darker skin. Hormonal changes in women, particularly those associated with pregnancy, can also cause red or dark patches. Skin problems caused by genetic predisposition and hormonal changes are harder to prevent but a gentle moisturizer may help.
Irritating Products: Harsh soaps, fragranced lotions, rough exfoliators and chemical peels can leave the skin inflamed, dry and blotchy. Use a gentle, moisturizing cleanser that doesn't leave the skin tight, dry or flaky. Avoid gritty scrubs and products that contain fragrance or antiseptic. "The bottom line for cleansing is to avoid overdoing it," Chan explains. "Don't over-wash, over-scrub or over-dry, and don't use harsh, drying products on the skin. Look for soaps and cleansers that are fragrance-free. Some 'unscented' products actually have fragrance or perfume to mask the odor of the other chemicals, so patients should look for products without fragrance or perfume if their skin is prone to getting irritated."
Stress: Red patches on the face, neck and upper chest are sometimes a reaction to stress or tension. When the stress eases, the skin generally clears, or the redness can be reduced with a histamine-blocking lotion.
"People who are troubled by frequent instances of red and blotchy skin should start by seeing a dermatologist to determine the cause," urges Chan. "Skin conditions such as rosacea, eczema and psoriasis can all cause red or blotchy skin and have different triggers and factors that aggravate them as well as different treatments to get them under control. But whatever the cause, the basic advice for red, blotchy skin starts with limiting exposure to weather extremes, never going out without sunscreen and treating your skin gently."
Advanced Dermatology P.C. and the Center for Laser and Cosmetic Surgery (New York & New Jersey) is one of the leading dermatology centers in the nation, offering highly experienced physicians in the fields of cosmetic and laser dermatology as well as plastic surgery and state-of-the-art medical technologies (www.advanceddermatologypc.com).
Derek V. Chan, M.D., Ph.D, has particular interests in psoriasis, cutaneous neoplasms, and lasers/cosmetic dermatology.
Editor's Note: Understand warning signs of possible melanoma. According to the American Cancer Society, "The most important warning sign for melanoma is a new spot on the skin or a spot that’s changing in size, shape or color. Another important sign is a spot that looks different from all of the other spots on your skin. If you have any of these warning signs, have your skin checked by a doctor."
Tell your doctor about spots that have any of the following features:
Tell your doctor about spots that have any of the following features:
- Asymmetry: One half of a mole or birthmark does not match the other.
- Border: The edges are irregular, ragged, notched, or blurred.
- Color: The color is not the same all over and may include shades of brown or black, or sometimes with patches of pink, red, white, or blue.
- Diameter: The spot is larger than 6 millimeters across (about ¼ inch – the size of a pencil eraser), although melanomas can sometimes be smaller than this.
- Evolving: The mole is changing in size, shape, or color.
