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October 11, 2021 4 min read
Although you may simply refer to them all as annoying, the different types of spots, bumps, blotches and colors on your face all have different names. Two of the ones we see most commonly, especially as we age, are melasma and sun spots.
If you’re curious about these unwelcome visitors (and how to get rid of them), keep reading. We’re sharing all of the details below.
Melasma sounds like a trendy name for the next celebrity offspring, but the reality is less glamorous. In truth, it’s a (very common!) skin issue that manifests as dark patches on your skin.
Primarily present in women, melasma can occur anytime, including when you’re pregnant. If you do develop melasma while you’re pregnant, it’s referred to as chloasma, or sometimes, “the mask of pregnancy.”
And like any good mask, melasma is symmetrical, meaning it (usually) looks the same on both sides of your face. It’s common to get it on your chin, forehead, cheeks, or even your nose. You might also find some melasma on your neck and arms.
If you recently woke up looking like Zorro, you may be wondering what gives. You can (and should) check with your dermatologist about what might have caused your splotches, but they may not be able to give you a solid answer.
That’s right: we’ve put a man on the moon, but we still don’t know exactly what causes melasma. Science has some good guesses though. For one thing, sun exposure and skin are never a good mix; we know that UV light can contribute to melasma.
If you’re really stressed out, there’s some evidence that that can contribute to melasma, and so too can thyroid issues. If you’re on birth control or another form of hormone therapy, that can be a factor. And like we’ve mentioned, it’s common when you’re pregnant.
It’s also known that people with darker skin tend to have more issues with melasma than people with lighter skin.
Even if you’re pretty sure what you’re dealing with is a classic case of melasma, we still recommend checking with your doctor. They can rule out any dangerous skin conditions and help you move forward with a treatment plan.
Sun spots are a type of hyperpigmentation--darkened patches of skin--caused by the sun. When your pretty face is exposed to the sun without adequate protection, the sun takes the opportunity to dial up your production of melanin: the pigment that gives your skin color.
Your skin produces melanin in response to the sun because melanin can act as a natural “sunscreen.” Of course, it’s not a substitute for real sunscreen, and when you get too much sun, the melanin goes into overdrive, leading to hyperpigmentation.
Most of the time, hyperpigmentation is irritating, but not dangerous. However, it’s always a good idea to get it checked by your doctor so they can rule out anything more serious.
Melasma and sun spots can be hard to differentiate. Both manifest as dark patches of skin and may lead to expletives when looking in the mirror. Both are also caused or aggravated by sun exposure.
However, melasma tends to be symmetrical in its appearance while sun spots aren’t necessarily. Moreover, melasma seems to have a biological cause (namely hormones), while sun spots show up to the party any time there’s a little too much sun.
Both are relatively harmless but deserve a quick check from your derm just in case.
Although melasma and sun spots are different, they can often be treated in some of the same ways:
First and foremost, wear sunscreen! Doing so will not only prevent future spots and splotches, but help stop the existing ones from getting worse.
If you do end up with some melasma or sun spots (which most of us will, don’t beat yourself up!), there are ways to reduce their appearance. Like most skincare issues, the solutions for sun spots and melasma run the gamut from simple home solutions to more intense and invasive in-office procedures.
Because melasma and sun spots are typically not dangerous (and therefore don’t warrant immediate removal), we recommend trying at home remedies before moving on to more extreme and costly procedures with your dermatologist.
For targeting melasma and sun spots at home, nothing beats vitamin C. This miracle vitamin not only gives you a luminous glow, but it actually reduces the amount of pigmentation in your skin, helping to fade those pesky dark spots.
But vitamin C doesn’t stop there. It also combats damage from free radicals, which can help prevent you from getting hyperpigmentation in the first place. And it’s anti-inflammatory, which means you can knock out any residual acne while you’re targeting those dark spots.
However, it’s important to choose the correct vitamin C serum. Many C serums use a cheap form of Vitamin C called ascorbic acid, which isn’t the most effective at fading sun spots and melasma.
At Wild Ice Botanicals, we use a form of pure, lipid-soluble vitamin C called Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate in our Cryo-C serum. This type of vitamin C penetrates deeper than ascorbic acid, so it can fade your dark marks more effectively. It’s also safer for sensitive skin.
We combine that with protective date seed extract and antioxidant-rich sea buckthorn to help you get fewer dark marks in the first place. And as a (big) bonus, it helps your skinglow.
And just like all of Wild Ice’s products, Cryo-C is made with cold-kept ingredients. It’s refrigerated until it ships to you, maintaining the potency of the ingredients so you get the best results for your skin.
So if you’re experiencing some melasma or sun spots on your skin, know this: you’re beautiful no matter what! But if you’d like to fade those marks, vitamin C is one of the best ways to do it.
Mila (pronounced 'mee-luh') is mother of three, wife, and founder of Wild Ice, an all-natural cold-preserved skincare line dedicated to bringing the best of care to women everywhere.
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I love my mist and my vitamin C serum. Makes my skin glow It was nice to see you at Rosemary Beach a few weeks ago
The Cyro-C serum is by far the best vitamin C serum I have ever used. I love skincare so much and you can tell this product is made with care. The smell is amazing and I get complimented almost daily about how my face looks glowing since I started using. Mila was so kind and knowledgeable. I will definitely be rebuying once I run out!
I have oily/combination skin, so I pump/mix both and then apply, otherwise it’s too oily and doesn’t absorb quickly. This works so well! It makes your skin smell great even hours after application. I only wish this trick for oily skin was on the instructions of bottle. I didn’t realize until I saw it on one of their insta stories. Great product otherwise!
I love the body bars!🤗❤️
They keep my skin feeling soft and clean.
I highly recommend them specially if you dry skin.
I love the 4-step facial products. The routine is easy and simple and the results are amazing. This is one of the best product lines I have used on my face, and I can really see a difference in my skin. I first purchased two of the products at Market Days in Tallahassee. When I finished the products, I went back to what I was using previously. It was not long until I decided that Wild Ice is the perfect product line for me and my dry skin. I am hooked.
I recently found these products and amazing creator at our local farmers market and all I can say is WOW! I was instantly sold from the moment I applied the cold-kept cream to my skin. I'll absolutely be going back for more from her skincare line and watching allll of her informative videos on their social media page
This is absolute gold in a bottle that smells like fresh oranges. My skin is sensitive and I do have rosacea and it drinks Cryo-C up! My complexion has greatly improved and am so happy I made the splurge. This, along with the toner, are new repeat buys for my skin routine. I look forward to my skin routine AM & PM just because it feels and smells amazing!
This has improved my skin and is very refreshing. I have sensitive skin and rosacea and this has not caused any breakouts. I use this with Cryo-C and absolutely love it! Will definitely be a repeat buy to my skin routine.
I recently purchased the complete skin care package and I absolutely love it! I’m having a hard time deciding which product is my favorite. The cleanser makes my skin so soft and helps with my overall skin appearance, The serum brightens my skin, one of the best I’ve tried and the moisturizer! It has improved every single issue I’ve been concerned with. Love love love the entire collection! Thank you so much!
Love the whole line, but my favorite is the vitamin C! It gives me such a nice glow. Everything smells great too!
Yuki-Onna Facial: Three Seed and White Willow Restorative Mask
I highly recommend the facial cleanser! My skin feels so soft and clean after using. I have combination skin. At 58 years of age I finally found a product that works for me!!
I use this daily after washing my skin as a moisturizer.. it has made my skin very soft and fresh…love it!!
I just started with this to see how my skin took it before I invested in any more products. I have used it consistently for several weeks and WOW. My skin literally feels more healthy and looks it, too! And my husband is always telling me I smell good right after I put it on. :)
I found this product at the Rosemary Beach farmers market. It is amazing! Have been using it for 2 weeks and my skin feels wonderful. I have rosacea and use others products for it, but this adds to the regimen and soathes your face. Love that it is cold (if you put it in fridge) which is so calming in the summer!