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Although it is not uncommon to have dark spots on anywhere on the skin, legs usually tend to have dark spots more often as compared to other body parts. The main cause of dark spots on legs is considered to be melanin, which is what is actually responsible for your skin color. When there's more melanin in a specific area of your leg as compared to the skin that surrounds it, this is when you get that dark spot. In general, the more melanin that's there, the darker the skin color is. Dark spots can happen to anyone regardless of their skin tone.
Dark spots are typically harmless and most people just want to get rid of them for aesthetic reasons only. However some dark spots could also be a sign of something you shouldn't ignore. Try to self diagnose yourself and prevent yourself using the factors listed below that are a common cause of dark spots:
If you happen to love the beach lifestyle, you may be familiar with this. Overexposure to those UV rays isn't a good thing. This makes your skin react and causes it to product more melanin in certain areas of your body while the other areas may not produce the same amount of melanin. So wherever there's melanin in abundance on your skin, you'll most likely get a dark spot there.
Skin conditions such as acne can have a post-inflammatory effect. The increased inflammation results into increased melanin production in the affected area, which again causes dark spots. This can also happen if you've had other skin conditions in the past such as eczema or psoriasis. Even an injury to your skin may lead to a dark spot over the course of time.
You may already know the fact that some people with certain type diabetes become insulin resistant, wherein the body does not use the insulin properly and causes and excessive insulin buildup in the bloodstream. However the spots caused by diabetes usually don't appear on legs. These type of spots are generally referred to as acanthosis nigricans. The common areas where these dark spots may appear are neck, armpits, lips, elbows, knees, below the breasts, or basically wherever the skin folds.
This is where things should be taken seriously. Melanoma is a type of skin cancer. There are other types of skin cancers as well that are more common but in case of melanoma, it ends up spreading to other parts of the body. There's not fixed pattern that it may appear on your skin, which is why it is crucial to get the lesion checked by your doctor. If you happen to have a lesion that is irregular, uncommon, changes colors, itches, or bleeds, you should get in touch with your doctor.
While this may seem pretty obvious but it is often ignored. While using a sunscreen may not get rid of your existing dark spots, but it can at least prevent the new dark spots from occurring. SPF 30 or higher is generally recommended. But you may also consult your dermatologist to see what works the best for your skin type. There's even some really good sunscreens that are extremely affordable and you can buy them just for a dollar or two. This way you can protect yourself from sun all the time.
Aloin is the active ingredient in aloe vera, which actually has the potential to lighten the skin. Aloe vera gels and lotions are available almost everywhere. Simply add it to your daily skin care routine and apply it to your skin. The soothing effect that it gives may actually end up helping your sunburned skin.
While there's thousands of devices out there that you can try at home to remove dark spots on your legs, but it may not be a viable option doing so many test and trials. Aven Buzz Spot Remover Pen is actually practical and makes sense. It simply does what it says it'll do. The function is similar to those of dermatologists' devices. The heat passed to the probe creates a laser like effect which helps you remove the dark spot. It is just like doing a laser treatment at home by yourself without spending thousands of dollars on a cosmetic procedure.
As with most OTC products, you may see a lot of claims but there's hardly any evidence. You may need to do some test and trial to find out what works for your skin. But these are still considered better options than most home remedies that take forever to work. Even with OTC products, you should make sure to find out first how long it may take for the product to work. Or if it has certain ingredient that you know of that may be harmful for your skin.
Some of the common ones that help treat hyperpigmentation are:
It is not only known for muscle and recovery especially in athletes but also known for destroying pigment cells that cause dark spots. Cryotherapy is a process in which very cold temperature is used to remove the skin tag. Mostly liquid nitrogen is used but in some cases cold aerosol sprays are also used depending on the skin type and condition that needs to be treated.
You definitely need to get in touch with your doctor to get these but this might be the safest and fastest route. Although it may be really expensive as your insurance company may not cover this process because it is considered cosmetic. Some of the commonly prescribed ointments are:
Dark spots are generally harmless and are not a cause for concern unless you want to remove them for cosmetic reasons. While home remedies and OTC treatments don't deliver instant results but they can help you at least fade away the dark spots over time. However if you can afford the costs of treatments through your doctor or dermatologists, that'll be the best option. Its just that most people don't prefer this route only because it is NOT covered by insurance most of the times, as the process is considered cosmetic in nature.