A Spot Of Bother

You’ve been good with sunscreen but dark splotches still pepper your skin. What gives?

- Dawn Chen

Pigmentation is hard to avoid, but there are steps you can take to reduce its occurrence. Here’s your guide to understanding why pigmentation forms and how you can best lighten those spots by Dr Tay Liang Kiat, a consultant dermatologist and dermatologic surgeon with Dermatology & Surgery Clinic.

What are the most common causes of pigmentation in Singapore? 

Throughout our lifetime, everyone will notice the gradual appearance of dark spots and patches on our faces despite good sun protection measures. In Singapore, the most commonly seen ones are melasma, lentigines (sun spots) and flat seborrheic keratoses.

Melasma is a chronic skin disorder that results in symmetrical, blotchy, brownish facial pigmentation. It is most commonly found on the cheeks, the nose bridge, forehead, chin, and above the upper lip. Lentigines are tiny dark spots that are usually more prominent across the cheeks and forehead.

Seborrheic keratoses are common, non-cancerous skin growths that appear with age, and are usually brown, black or light tan. Some flatter types can be mistaken for sun spots.