What is lentigo, its treatment and prevention

The appearance of age spots on the face and body can cause
psychological discomfort. In addition, excessive
pigmentation can be an alarming symptom
in the work of the internal organs. Pigmentation can have
various forms and types, as well as with age to cover a large
healthy skin area.

Content

• What is lentigo
• Types of lentigo
• Causes of disease
• Symptoms and diagnosis of lentigo
• Signs of malignant degeneration lentigo
• Lentigo treatment
• Prediction and prevention of the disease

What is lentigo

Lentigo are flat pigment spots of yellow or
dark brown color that can rise above the skin. Word
Lentigo is a Latin word for lentigo.
This type of pigmentation consists of melanocytes, and their size
varies from 1mm to 3cm. With frequent trauma spots
there is a risk of transformation into a malignant tumor, but in
quiet state this rarely happens. Multiple Lentigo
unite under the common name – lentigiosis. Lentigo enter that
the same group of pigmented lesions as pigment nevus
spots). Lentigo has a chronic course and slow speed
growth, but the mortality from the rebirth of lentigo to malignant
the tumor is higher in men, since it is in them that the process acquires
aggressive form.

Types of lentigo

Lentigo come in the following forms:

1. Senile (hepatic) lentigo.
2. Children’s or youth Lentigo.
3. Congenital or hereditary lentigo (lentigozouten).
4. Sunny lentigo.

Senile (hepatic) lentigo appears in the elderly in
process of metabolic disorders and hormonal changes in
the body.

Baby lentigo appears in the first years of a child’s life and doesn’t
due to ultraviolet radiation.

Congenital lentigo is inherited and new spots
lentigo appear in the process of a lifetime.

Sunny lentigo appears predominantly on the face when
excessive use of sunbathing.

Causes of disease

Unfortunately, the exact causes of the disease have not yet been identified. but
There are many factors that can trigger development.
lentigo:

• excessive sunbathing;
• sensitivity to ultraviolet radiation;
• genetic mutations;
• severe sunburn;
• hormonal adjustment period (menopause, puberty,
  pregnancy);
• elderly age;
• genetic heredity (phototype);
• the presence of papillomavirus in the body.

This disease occurs in people of absolutely any age, and
women develop two times more often than men.

The most common occurrence of lentigo is associated with excessive insolation,
which can start the process of uncontrolled division
melanocytes.

Symptoms and diagnosis of lentigo

Lentigo appears on the skin in the form of small brown spots
sizes. Lentigo stains cause no subjective
sensations: they do not hurt, do not itch, and do not cause a burning sensation.
The diagnosis is carried out by a dermatologist during a clinical
inspection. It is mandatory to conduct skin
diagnosis using dermatoscopy and histological examination
to identify atypical cells. This is necessary in order to
time to diagnose the malignancy of lentigo. Also hold
laser scanning microscopy that allows you to see
layered images of the skin in two surfaces and calculate
how much the stain has spread. It helps to differentiate
lentigo for skin cancer.

Patients at risk should undergo a planned
examination by a dermatologist, and at home to examine yourself
patches of skin with lentigo.

Signs of malignant degeneration lentigo

Lentigo patients should immediately visit a doctor at
case of the following symptoms:

• the rapid spread of the spot;
• increased spot size;
• color change;
• jagged lentigo edges;
• discomfort in the area of ​​lentigo: burning, itching,
  bleeding.

Lentigo treatment

Surgical removal of lentigo is carried out only in those
a case where the stain causes discomfort of an aesthetic order. AT
In this case, it is excised from the skin surface. Together with
a portion of healthy skin is also removed with a spot to prevent a relapse
diseases. After removing the stain, a scar is formed in its place.
Laser method will help get rid of lentigo without leaving behind
scar. At the moment, the laser lentigo removal method is
the safest and most effective. The laser is directed strictly to
pigment spot, without damaging or affecting healthy tissue.
It is for this reason that the laser method is not associated with injury,
post-rehabilitation period and scar formation.

If there are large lesions, a good effect is obtained.
various chemical peels. Chemical peels are removed
the upper layer of the epidermis, which contributes to the rejuvenation of the skin of the face,
allows to discolor lentigo, and restore pigment
exchange.

In all other cases, lentigo treatment includes:

• bleaching lentigo daily bleaching
  funds;
• high factor sunscreen use
  protection;
• use of cosmetic procedures contributing
  exfoliation of the epidermis;
• the use of melanocyte photodestruction method (cells,
  which synthesize melanin).

For bleaching lentigo use drugs based on kojevoy and
ascorbic acid, as well as retinoids and hydroquinone.

Prediction and prevention of the disease

The prognosis of the disease is favorable, but patients with lentigo need
regularly see a doctor and independently monitor
modifications of spots. Lentigo prevention is incredibly simple.
Protect stains from direct sunlight. To
prevent the appearance of age spots should be observed
Some simple rules:

• use sunscreen at any time of the year;
• reduce tanning visits;
• avoid direct sunlight on already
  formed lentigo.
• reduce the time spent in the sun;
• regular examination by a specialist;
• self observation of stains.