The Cause: Hands off: scrubbing your face too vigorously, washing with too-hot water and even years of alcoholism and over-exposure to sun rays can lead to the red spotting of broken blood vessels, says Bank. Red spots can also be a symptom of rosacea, a red and flushing skin condition in which blood vessels enlarge.
Prevention: “Avoid tanning salons, saunas and other activities that cause blood to rush to the face,” says Bank. Allowing skin to roast unprotected under the sun is another prime trigger, so make sure skin is protected by at least an SPF of 30 daily.
At-Home Treatment: Holding a cold compress on the affected area can minimize the look of broken blood vessels; make sure cold packs are always wrapped in a paper towel or thin cloth so that you don’t risk freezer-burning skin with direct contact. “Applying any face cream that has a high content of niacinamide, vitamin C or K before bed will help, as will changing your diet to provide more of these vitamins,” advises Bank.
In-Office Treatment: Vbeam ($500) is today’s standard laser treatment for red spots, says Gerstner.
Melasma
The Cause: You can thank those hormones and genetics for melasma. “This condition mostly occurs in women, and is caused by hormone changes due to pregnancy and birth control pills,” says Gerstner. “Most melasma patches appear on the cheeks or around the lips.”
Prevention: Blame the age-old culprit: the sun. Wear a sunscreen of SPF 30 or greater daily, and don a wide-brimmed straw hat if spending extended amounts of time under the rays. Take special care if you notice that melasma runs in your family, as even a touch of sun may trigger an outbreak in the genetically predisposed.
At-Home Treatment: Topical lightening creams that contain hydroquinone, licorice root extract, retinol and ascorbic acid (vitamin C) are most effective, says Bank, who adds that diligent use of sunscreen can sometimes even fade mild cases on its own.
In-Office Treatment: Fraxel ($500-$1500) is the preferred laser treatment today, and may be used in conjunction with bleaching pads or peels that contain kojic, glycolic or citric acid ($150-300), say the experts.
Moles
The Cause: Usually brown or black in color, moles are caused when melanocytes grow in clusters or clumps. And thank your parents for the gift. “Moles are usually congenital, and you can get new ones until about the age of 40,” says Gerstner.
Prevention: Since moles can turn cancerous, it’s important that you’re screened yearly by a board-certified dermatologist if you have them.
At-Home Treatment: Unfortunately, there’s nothing you can do at home that will safely affect change on a mole, though wearing SPF 30 on exposed skin daily will help prevent skin cancer.
In-Office Treatment: “True moles should not be removed by lasers, they should be removed surgically so they can be biopsied,” says Bank. This is a situation where it’s truly better to be safe than sorry.
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