Cosmetic problem or health risk? Freckles are medically a genetic disorder. They mainly affect people with lighter skin and light eyes, with red or brownish-red hair. They appear most often on the face, décolletage and back. These are unevenly demarcated patches that are formed by a cluster of pigment, called. melanin. A freckle is not a mole that could cause serious health risks, it is just a harmless buildup of pigment in the lower part of the skin. “As a problem, freckles are defined mainly from a cosmetic point of view. If we consider perfectly smooth, alabaster flawless skin to be perfection, freckles are a kind of imperfection on the skin. But in the same breath it must be said that absolute beauty and facial symmetry are relative indicators of what is or is not beautiful in a woman. In my opinion, if she’s really a red-headed, freckle-faced kind of girl, it’s much more important for her to get through puberty and search for herself until she discovers her own style. However, many clients insist on freckle removal even after the consultation that precedes any skin procedure,” explains MUDr. Alexandra Novotná, PhD. owner of the Bratislava Clinic Esthetic.
How to remove them The least invasive and simplest method is microdermabrasion. It is actually a mechanical peeling, in which the top layer of the skin is sanded with a diamond grinder. By abrading the top layer of the skin, the epidermis, the freckles will fade. However, it should be noted that this is also the least effective method. Chemical peeling is a method that must be used several times in succession for its effect to be satisfactory. However, the use of fruit acids and their mutations (beta-hydroxy acids, lipohydroxy acids and others) carries the risk of minor damage and subsequent healing of the skin. In the past, medium-depth phenolic peeling was a very effective method of removing freckles. However, it is not used nowadays due to the fact that it is toxic and not only the client but also the dermatologist has been exposed to its toxic effects on the kidneys and heart. “However, this method is not too forgotten elsewhere in the world and it happens that it is asked for by clients from abroad who have had a good experience with it. However, the risk far outweighs the resulting benefit. The most effective method is currently the use of polychromatic light (IPL or Intense Puls Light, i.e. pulsed light), which as if “picks up” melanocytes in the skin, while not damaging the surrounding skin at all,” says MUDr. Novotna. The use of IPL light is a procedure that absolutely does not disable a person from everyday life. Everything that happens is happening inside the skin, not on the skin. It leaves no scabs, no burns. The freckles turn red after the procedure and then darken even more. They are shed by peeling and absorption and eventually lost. This is an outpatient procedure that is comfortable for the patient. So if one is making a decision based on speed and minimal side effects, pulsed light is definitely the leader. The procedure is usually divided into several sessions to eliminate the risk of skin inflammation to a minimum. During the first sessions, the darkest and largest freckles are removed and then the skin is only refined.
Goodbye forever? The skin will remain freckle-free after the procedure, but only until we expose it to the sun again. “Melanocytes remain active in the skin, so I recommend using sunscreens with a high SPF to prevent freckles from reappearing. Moreover, people with freckles usually have very pale skin and do not belong in the sun at all. There is an increased risk of various, even precancerous (pre-cancerous) changes in the skin,” warns MUDr. Novotná
So if you really don’t like your freckles and want to prevent them, use a sunscreen during the summer. If they still appear and you want to get rid of them, wait until autumn when the sunlight is less intense. The sun does not favour skin treatments and could cause problems in the treated areas.
AUTHOR: clinic Esthetic
