Type of hyperpigmentation, brown spots can be multifactorial. Besides pregnancy and medication, they are also stimulated by UV rays. A new idea is circulating that foundation could prevent their appearance. Typology clarifies this for you in this article.
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Brown Spots: Using Foundation to Prevent Their Appearance?
Summary
Published June 14, 2023,
updated on February 22, 2024,
by
Manon, Scientific Editor
—
4 min read
Foundation to prevent dark spots?
To prevent the appearance of brown spots, it is essential to protect your skin from the sun and use antioxidant skincare products. Pearlescent pigments are often incorporated into the formulation of foundations. These compounds are generally mentioned for their ability to reflect light, which is the cause of pigmented spots. However, their reflective action has never been proven and therefore does not offer protection against UV rays.
A study examined the SPF index of foundations that were previously designed for the experiment. The pigment with the most effective sun protection is a blend of iron oxide: Fe2O3 (CI 77 491) Fe3O4 (CI 77 499) and Fe2O3, xH2O (CI 77 492) which present an SPF of 9.73 when used at a 15% concentration. These pigments are typically used in foundations. However, this is the only study that has been able to measure their SPF index. Given the lack of data on this subject, it is difficult to assert that foundations offer sun protection. It is strongly recommended to protect yourself from the sun's rays with suitable protections. We recommend our sun face cream available in SPF30 and SPF50 which helps to protect your skin from UVA and UVB rays, responsible for the photoaging of your skin. This face cream is suitable for all skin types.
It is also possible to turn to a routine composed of antioxidant and photoprotective treatments that will be much more effective in preventing the appearance of brown spots. You can particularly use our antioxidant cream with carotenoids and organic lavender extract morning and evening which helps to fight daily against the free radicals responsible for the appearance of brown spots.
Preventing the appearance of brown spots.
The emergence of dark spots is a phenomenon that can, in some cases, be avoided. To do this, certain actions are essential, including:
Protect your skin from the sun with suitable sun protection.
High exposure to the sun is a contributing factor to the development of brown spots, also referred to as "age spots". When the skin is exposed to UV rays, the melanocytes, which are epidermal cells, begin to produce melanin, a natural pigment responsible for the color of our tan. In the case of overexposure to the sun, melanocytes produce an excess of melanin that accumulates in certain areas, leading to the appearance of brown spots. Therefore, it is crucial to protect your skin with suitable sun protection before exposing it to the sun.
Applying antioxidant treatments.
Brown spots are a result of a phenomenon known as "oxidative stress". This refers to the degradation of the skin's healthy molecules and compounds by oxygen radical species (free radicals) produced in excess. These compounds are particularly unstable and reactive due to their unpaired electrons. Certain compounds have the ability to stabilize these free radicals, thus making them much less harmful to the skin and preventing the onset of various deteriorations such as brown spots but also wrinkles, sagging, etc... Among these preventive molecules on hyperpigmentation, we find the vitamin C, the astaxanthin or the ferulic acid which will neutralize the free radicals.
Source
CHOQUENET B. & al. Foundations and self-tanning products: Do they provide any protection from the sun? Journal of Dermatology (2009).
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