Black spots on the human body can occur due to exposure to various factors on his body. In some cases, they appear due to the uneven distribution of the coloring pigment, in the remaining darkening of individual parts of the body indicates the presence of a serious disease. In order to understand exactly what exactly affected the appearance of dark spots on the surface of the skin, it is important to evaluate all the symptoms a person has.
What to consider
When black spots appear on the human body, it is important to take into account the following factors:
- causes of dark spots;
- their location;
- the presence of concomitant symptoms and diseases;
- the location of black spots in relation to the surface of the skin (entering or merging form of formations);
- concomitant symptoms (pain, burning, itching).
Depending on the circumstances of the appearance, black spots are attributed to a cosmetic defect or to a serious pathology, in which you should immediately seek medical help.
It is important to remember that even small black pigment spots on the body can be eliminated by medical methods if they adversely affect the appearance of a person and bring discomfort. To do this, use various cosmetic techniques. In any case, it is important to carefully monitor the dark spots that have formed on the body, since their character can change from benign to malignant at any time.
The main reasons for the appearance
Why do black spots appear on the body? Clean skin is an indicator of health. Any dark formations on the body or face can not only bring aesthetic discomfort, but also talk about the presence of any problems in the body. Rashes, which appeared due to the development of the disease, most often bring itching and burning, do not give a person peace.
Black spots on the body may appear as a result of an enhanced pigmentation process. They are also called pigmented. They most often appear in the elderly, but in some cases they can be diagnosed in children.
Factors that lead to the appearance of large black spots on the body:
- problems with the functioning of the endocrine system - problems with human physiology (child bearing, menopause), as well as diseases of the endocrine system (polycystic ovary and hyperthyroidism) can lead to this condition;
- lack or excess of vitamins in the body;
- ultraviolet radiation;
- bad cosmetic products applied to the body;
- diseases of the biliary tract and liver.
The color of the spots can range from light brown to dark.
As a result of melanosis
The most common cause of black spots on the surface of the skin is melanosis or melanopathy. Epithelial cells and mucous membranes produce a large amount of melanin. It is he who is responsible for the skin tone. The main function of melanin is protective. It helps protect the skin from exposure to ultraviolet radiation.
Melanin production can be severely impaired by pathological factors. As a result of the production of a large amount of melanin, its excess will accumulate in certain parts of the body, leading to the appearance of dark spots of a different shade.
The main types of melanosis
The most common types of melanosis are:
- Physiological is a completely normal process that is common in certain races.
- Neurodermal is a congenital form of producing large amounts of melanin. In this condition, dark spots appear not only on parts of the body, but also on the soft shell of the brain. Most often, against the background of their appearance in the body, muscle atrophy, spina bifida, and other serious processes occur.
- Oculodermal - spots of a blue-brown shade that form in the region of the eye sclera and on the face along the trigeminal nerve. The defeat in most cases appears in women with dark skin. It should be noted that oculodermal and neurodermal types of melanosis are congenital. The remaining species can be acquired by humans throughout life.
- Dubreuil melanosis is a precancerous lesion. In this case, a single large spot of dark color with fuzzy borders appears on the skin. At the beginning, its size varies from 2-3 centimeters, and after it begins to increase rapidly. Individual parts of the spot can be painted in different colors (from light brown to dark). In most cases, the formation appears in open areas of the body (arms, neck and face). This kind of melanosis is subject to mandatory removal, since it, as a rule, degenerates into a malignant form.
- Uremic melanosis. Appears in chronic kidney disease.
- Cachectal - accumulation of a large number of melanocytes as a result of tuberculosis.
- Endocrine - for diseases of the thyroid gland, pituitary gland and adrenal glands.
- Hepatic - occurs after chronic liver diseases (cirrhosis).
- Arsenic - occurs as a result of prolonged use of drugs with arsenic in the composition.
- Toxic reticular melanosis. At risk are people who work for a long time at coal or oil refineries. At first, red-black spots appear on the body, which cause burning and itching. After foci are formed with hyperpigmentation (from gray to dark blue). They are localized in the lower body (back, legs and shoulders). In sore spots, the skin becomes thinner, peeling occurs on it, as well as spider veins. The treatment of such a lesion includes the exclusion of contact with pathological components and strengthening the body's immune system.
If the cause of the appearance of formations on the body is damage to the internal organs, it is important to begin its comprehensive and effective treatment as soon as possible, and only then pay attention to stopping dark spots.
Skin mastocytosis
With such a lesion, a person appears on the body spots with black dots. The disease occurs due to pathological multiplication of mast cells (they are responsible for the state of human health) and their accumulation in large quantities in the epithelium. Doctors divide the disease into a skin form in which dark spots, nodules and spider veins appear on the human body, as well as systemic (spots spread to internal organs).
Mastocytosis in a child occurs in the first years of his life. The most common form of cutaneous mastocytosis. The disease goes away on its own when growing up.
In the elderly and adults, the disease spreads not only to the skin, but also to the internal organs (heart, kidneys, liver, spleen).
The following types of disease:
- Maculopapular - multiple dark rashes appear on the skin, which, when combed, are converted to blisters and urticaria. This kind of mastocytosis is also called pigmented urticaria.
- Nodal form. In this condition, a person is diagnosed with small bubbles ranging in size from 7 to 10 millimeters. They can be pink or light brown in color, often merge and form large plaques.
- Solitary form. In this case, one large dark spot appears on the body with a size of 5 to 6 centimeters. It is localized, as a rule, on the shoulders, abdomen, back and neck. If you accidentally touch the lesion, then it will turn into a bubble and will provoke severe itching.
- Erythroderma - tan dense spots. They do not have boundaries, are easily deformed and provoke the formation of cracks and ulcers. Most often, spots spread to the gluteal folds and hollows.
- Teleangiectasia is a large number of dark spider veins in the neck and chest. In most cases, such formations are formed in women.
Treatment of any type of mastocytosis should be comprehensive and include the use of hormonal drugs, cytostatics, antioxidants and anti-allergic medicines. If black spots on the body appeared in a single amount, then it can be eliminated by surgery.
Black acanthosis
Black acanthosis also leads to the appearance of dark pigmentation on the human body. This is a rare type of skin dermatosis, which manifests itself in a thickening of the stratum corneum, pigment spots and papillomas.
In most cases, pigmentation spreads on the folds of the skin: on the armpits, under the knees, near the neck, under the chest, in the inguinal region and hips.
Why do black spots appear on the body? The main factors leading to the onset of the disease are not exactly known. Doctors believe that acanthosis can indicate diseases of the endocrine system or the presence of malignant and benign tumors in the body.
Pigmentation with black acanthosis can be light brown or dark in color, do not have a clear border, and also spread to large areas of the body. The skin in the affected areas become thicker, often covered with a large number of small papillomas. This form of rash does not affect the patient’s condition, but only brings cosmetic discomfort.
To get rid of black acanthosis, for starters it is important to eliminate the root cause of the lesion. For this, the doctor prescribes the use of immunostimulants, vitamin complexes and cosmetic gels. You can examine in detail the black spots on the body in the photo.
Freckles on the skin
Almost every person on the body has a certain amount of freckles. Sometimes they spread to the hands, back, chest. A freckled rash appears in a person as a result of heredity. It is formed due to the fact that the melanin in the skin is distributed unevenly.
The peak of the distribution of freckles on the human body occurs in the spring-summer period. Freckles are numerous small rashes (size from 2 to 3 millimeters). Their color ranges from light yellow to dark brown.
Freckled rash may become darker when exposed to sunlight. Experts believe that the skin of people who are susceptible to the formation of hemp, are particularly sensitive.
Freckles do not need treatment. Many even like such rashes on the body. If a person wants to eliminate them, then he can use a specialized whitening cream. To prevent the appearance of rashes, it is important to draw up a proper diet, start taking a complex of vitamins, and also protect the skin from the sun.
Preventive actions
To prevent the development of spots on the body, the following recommendations should be followed:
- in sunny weather, it is mandatory to wear a hat;
- Eat plenty of vitamin C and limit your intake of vitamin A
- before going out, you should use sunscreen;
- wash your face with dairy products (kefir, yogurt).
Burning and itching during pigmentation indicates liver disease. With prolonged combing of a diseased part of the body, the skin becomes yellow. Eliminating the first cause of dark spots will help get rid of the problem and prevent metastasis.
Spots on the baby’s body
Skin is a barrier between the outside world and the internal organs and systems of a person. She accepts the negative influence from without. Black spots on the body of a child are malformations of the skin. They can be of a different nature, color and shape. If they arise after the birth of a child, then they are attributed to congenital, if after the child is growing up, then to acquired.
Melanin directly affects the color of a person’s skin. Under the influence of certain factors from outside on certain parts of the body, enhanced production of melanin begins, which leads to skin pigmentation.
A child may have dark spots for the following reasons:
- As a result of heredity. The presence of a large number of moles and other pigmented lesions in relatives often leads to their appearance in the child.
- Violation in the production of hormones in a pregnant woman when bearing a child.
- The negative impact on the body of a woman of external factors (strong radiation, exposure to chemical components, harmful work, a sharp change in climate).
- Infection of the genitourinary system.
- Genetic diseases, one of which is the process of pigmentation.
Treatment in a child
It is important to remember that the skin of a newborn baby is very sensitive and delicate, so it quickly undergoes any negative processes. Anatomical and physiological features (thin epithelium, humoral and unformed immunity) provoke a direct effect on the body of external factors. Pigmentation in a child is a serious reason for going to a treating specialist. Only an experienced doctor can determine the danger and shape of a dark spot after conducting diagnostic measures.
The treatment of dark formations on the child’s body, if they do not bring any discomfort, consists in dynamic observation of the general condition. Lightening and bleaching preparations to eliminate dark spots on the baby's body are almost not used. Many products include hormones or chemical components that are dangerous for the baby. After consulting a doctor, pigmentation in a child older than 6-7 years can be eliminated with the help of parsley juice, lemon, cucumber and other folk remedies. With an increase in the size of education or the appearance of new ones, it is important to consult a doctor for help.