As the years go by, the skin occasionally intrudes into some uninvited "little guests", large or small, deep or shallow, quietly occupying territory on their faces and hands. These uninvited guests are what we often call "age spots".
In order to "drive away" these little guests, some people look around for all kinds of home remedies and secret medicines, and even erythromycin ointment is included in the list of inspections.
Today, let's talk about this topic, so that after reading it, you can increase your knowledge, and maybe you can fight against the traces left by the years.
1. Causes and characteristics of age spots
When it comes to age spots, it's a love-hate topic. Age spots, commonly known as "age spots" in medicine, are a form of skin pigmentation that occurs with age, making people look much older. It mainly appears in areas with more sun exposure, such as the face, the back of the hands, and the arms. Why do age spots "patronize" us?
Ultraviolet radiation is the bulk of age spots. When exposed to the sun for a long time, the skin produces more melanin to protect itself from UV damage. Over time, melanin is deposited, and age spots are formed.
In addition, the metabolism slows down due to aging, and the function of skin cells declines, which will also make melanin not cleared in time, and then precipitate.
Genetic factors also influence the formation of age spots to a certain extent. In some families, age spots appear very early or a lot, which is indissoluble with heredity.
Although age spots are not harmful, they make people look old and affect their appearance. They are generally round or irregular in shape, ranging in color from light brown to dark brown, with a smooth surface and a soft texture, and most of them are not painful, but who let them affect the image?
2. The principle of action and scope of use of erythromycin ointment
When it comes to erythromycin ointment, don't be underestimated, it's an old-fashioned antibiotic preparation. Its main ingredient is erythromycin, which can achieve the purpose of sterilization by inhibiting bacterial protein synthesis. Clinically, erythromycin ointment is mainly used to treat skin infections caused by sensitive bacteria, such as acne, folliculitis, ulcer surface infection, etc.
However, it would be a bit far-fetched to say that it can remove age spots. Although erythromycin ointment has a therapeutic effect on some skin diseases, it does not have the function of whitening or lightening spots on its own. The formation of age spots is related to the deposition of melanin in the skin, and erythromycin ointment does not affect the production or transfer of melanin. So, if you're looking for erythromycin ointment to treat age spots, you're probably going to be disappointed.
In addition, the non-standard use of antibiotics may also bring a series of problems, such as drug resistance, allergic reactions, etc. Therefore, the use of erythromycin ointment for freckle removal without the guidance of a doctor is not only questionable in its effectiveness, but may also cause other damage to the skin.
To remove age spots safely and effectively, you should still seek the help of a professional medical or aesthetic institution. Medical aesthetic methods such as laser treatment and cryotherapy may have better results in freckle removal. Of course, before that, doing a good job of sun protection and avoiding too much exposure to the sun is also an important measure to prevent age spots.
3. The actual effect of erythromycin ointment on age spots
Erythromycin ointment is a commonly used topical antibiotic drug, and its main ingredient, erythromycin, has an antibacterial effect and is commonly used to treat skin infections, acne and other diseases. However, the use of erythromycin ointment in the treatment of age spots (medically known as "senile pigmented spots" or "melasma") is uncommon, and there is a lack of sufficient medical evidence to support its effectiveness.
Age spots are mainly due to long-term exposure of the skin to ultraviolet rays, resulting in increased pigmentation in the skin. Although erythromycin has some anti-inflammatory effects, it does not directly improve the symptoms of pigmentation.
There are few reports in the medical literature about the use of erythromycin ointment for the treatment of age spots. In fact, medications used to treat pigmentation often contain ingredients that whiten or lighten spots, such as tretinoin, hydroxybenzoic acid, etc., which have the potential effect of reducing pigmentation.
In addition, the treatment of age spots is a long-term process that requires a decision based on the patient's skin type, the degree of blemishes, and the overall health of the patient. It is advisable to consult a dermatologist before using any medication to choose the appropriate treatment based on the doctor's diagnosis and recommendations.
4. Effective treatment for age spots
There are various treatments for age spots, including topical medications, cosmetic dermatological procedures, laser treatments, and more. When choosing a treatment, it should be based on the characteristics of the spots, location, personal preferences, and economic conditions.
For topical drug treatment, ointments or gels containing whitening ingredients are commonly used, such as hydroxy acid, tretinoin, arbutin, etc. These ingredients can inhibit the activity of tyrosinase, thereby reducing the production of melanin, which is helpful in improving age spots. However, using these products requires patience and long-term persistence, and the results are usually gradual after a few months.
Laser treatment is a popular method in recent years, which can selectively act on the pigment cells in the skin through specific wavelength laser irradiation, causing them to be damaged and gradually removed by the body, thereby reducing pigmentation. Laser treatments often require multiple treatments to achieve desired results, with each treatment spaced between weeks to months.
In addition, microneedling, chemical peels and other methods can also be used for the treatment of age spots. Microneedling treatment uses microneedling rollers or microneedling devices to create tiny wounds on the skin, promoting skin regeneration and collagen production, and also helping to improve skin pigmentation. A chemical peel is a chemical solution that removes the top layer of the skin and stimulates the growth of new skin to improve skin pigmentation.
conclusion
In summary, while age spots may be one of the inevitable signs of aging, with the above recommendations, we can delay their appearance to some extent and lessen their impact on our appearance.
For those who are bothered by this, aggressive preventive and curative measures are beneficial. At the same time, we should also accept our age and physical changes, and maintain a positive attitude towards life and self-confidence.