By Nasrin Mani, M.D.
Skin pigmentation is one of those beauty mysteries that has acquired its own little cluster of myths created by laymen to explain that which most of us don’t understand—how do we get birthmarks, freckles, and age spots, and how do we get rid of them?
Myths about Skin Discoloration Causes
There are many myths about the source of skin discolorations. Freckles, for example, are sometimes described as “angel kisses.” More recently, people have a darker myth about freckles, that they’re pre-cancerous. This comes from a confusion between freckles and moles, which actually can develop into cancer.
Age spots, similar to freckles, are sometimes considered to be pre-cancerous. They’re also attributed to liver problems (and some people even call them “liver spots”).
Other myths surround the cause of birth marks. For example, some cultures believe that birth marks are signs of battle wounds from a previous life. Strawberry birth marks were long held to be a sign of witchcraft (which, incidentally, served as one excuse for the execution of Anne Boleyn).
Myths about Skin Discoloration Cures
There are just as many myths about cures for skin discoloration. For freckles, some people promote regular applications of lemon juice to the skin.
Another supposed cure for skin discoloration is turmeric, which is supposed to be applied to discolored areas of the skin. However, turmeric applications can actually cause skin discoloration, not cure it.
Fraxel—Scientifically Proven Skin Discoloration Cure
One thing that is not a myth is the effectiveness of Fraxel against skin discoloration. It can be used to treat many different types of hyperpigmentation. Discoloration is a sign that your skin is absorbing light differently in some areas than others. Light treatments like Fraxel with its Thulium laser that targets hyperpigmentation are ideally suited as remedies for skin discoloration.
To learn more about proven remedies for skin discoloration in San Diego, please contact La Jolla Cosmetic Laser Clinic.
