Triamcinolone acetonide is used to treat allergic and autoimmune disorders like allergies, ulcerative colitis, psoriasis, eczema, arthritis.
Triamcinolone acetonide is a synthetic glucocorticoid. It imitates natural steroid hormones your body produces. It helps to adjust your immune system when it overreacts. Triamcinolone acetonide may be prescribed in its cream form for eczema, psoriasis, and allergies.
Triamcinolone Acetonide is an adrenal cortex hormone (corticosteroid) that inhibits inflammation and reduces flaking, itching and swelling.
Dark spots are not immune system reactions so triamcinolone acetonide would not be a good product to treat dark spots. There are however other many other options to treat dark spots effectively.
What Causes Dark Spots on the Skin
Dark spots also known as sun spots, age spots, or hyper pigmentation can appear on your face, hands, and décolletage after sun exposure, or because of genetics, hormones or body inflammation, says Howard Murad, M.D., board-certified dermatologist and founder of Murad, Inc. Dark spots are just extra melanin showing up on the surface of the skin. In some cases, skin irritation as a result of acne, waxing, and harsh scrubs, can also cause dark spots.
How To Prevent Dark Spots From Forming
The best way to not deal with dark spots is to prevent them in the first place. Wear sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 everyday no matter what your activities look like. That means even if you have limited sun exposure, sunscreen is still a must. If you are in the sun for extended periods, in addition to the SPF, wear a hat and sunglasses.
It is also important to eat foods high in antioxidants. Leafy greens, citrus fruits, berries and foods, with high Omega-3 have high carotenoid content and can help skin reflect UV rays. See your mother was right about healthy food!
Another preventative measure is to exfoliate the skin. Keep those skin cells turning over to maintain an even tone!
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What To Do If You Get Dark Spots
There are many topical creams, both over the counter and by prescription, that can be used on dark spots. A dermatologist may also suggest lasers to help reduce the appearance of dark spots.
Over the Counter Creams
The active ingredients to look for in over the counter cream to lessen the appearance of dark spots are vitamin C, niacinamide, alpha hydroxy acids and licorice root.
Vitamin C creams can be used as a topical antioxidant. These formulations help to block free radicals from causing oxidative damage to the skin. “Vitamin C inhibits enzymatic processes that produce melanin in the skin and as such it can help to reduce dark coloration of the skin,” Sumayah Jamal, M.D,. Of Schweiger Dermatology Group reported to SELF.
Another vitamin you may see in over the counter creams to help with dark spots is niacinamide. Niacinamide is the active form of niacin or vitamin B3. As a water soluble vitamin, it won’t dissolve in oil and is perfect for anyone who can’t tolerate oils and oily solvents. Since niacinamide readily penetrates the skin it can be used topically. Its benefits are similar to vitamin C in that it prevents oxidative stress and has been proven to be an excellent treatment for pigmentation, age spots, and overactive melanin.
Then there is the old over the counter stand-by: alpha hydroxy. Alpha hydroxy acids work to smooth, tighten, firm and brighten. By weakening the cellular glue that encourage dead skin cells to stick together, hydroxy acids at lower concentrations help with the exfoliation process. At higher concentrations alpha hydroxy acids work in the epidermal and dermal layers of the skin in pigment lightening and melanin suppression. That means keeping dark spots from forming.
For a natural alternative to fade those dark spots try licorice extract . One of the benefits of this natural choice is that licorice extract inhibits the production of tyrosinase inhibiting the production of dark spots. Licorice extract also brightens skin because it contains liquiritin, an active compound that disperses and removes existing melanin in the skin. Like vitamin-C and other plant based extracts, licorice extract contains an anti-oxidant rich component that decreases oxidative stress.
Laser Treatments
Laser treatments are the most expensive and the most impactful treatment to reduce dark spots. When considering laser treatments, the first step is to establish the dark spot is not a melanoma. Once this is established, you will consult with your dermatologist to determine which is the best laser to treat your dark spot.
Manhattan-based dermatologist Dr. Elizabeth Hale suggests Clear + Brilliant laser treatment. One reason this is her go to laser is that is has little to no recovery period. Of course no downtime means it will take more than one session to completely get rid of the unwanted dark spots.
If you don’t mind a little downtime and want to get rid of all those dark spots at once, try Fraxel. After this laser treatment for your dark spots you will look sunburnt and experience peeling but it will even out the texture and fine lines as well as lighten those dark spots.
Prescription Creams
Topical drugs used in the treatment of age spots work by interrupting melanin formation. One of the most often prescribed topical for dark spots is hydroquinone.
Hydroquinone cream with a concentration of 4 percent inhibits the enzyme that aids in the production of melanin and has been the go to prescription cream for dark spots for over 50 years. Hydroquinone is fast acting and in some cases improvement in dark spots is seen is two weeks.
- MAKE PEACE WITH YOUR BODY by relieving the 4 symptoms of extra dry skin - redness,...
- Glow on The Go: 5 INDIVIDUAL SACHETS INCLUDED. Long weekend, family vacation with...
- IT’S ALL BEHIND THE SCENES: The synergy of the powerful moisturizing complex (8%...
