Have you noticed darker than normal patches on your face, asks London skin expert

The DermaActives hyperpigmentation programme from Elan Medical Skin Clinics

During the summer months, keep an eye out for patches of darker-than-normal skin that can develop on the cheeks, forehead, upper lip, nose, chin and jaw, and sometimes the neck and forearms.

London skin expert, Sue Ibrahim from Elan Medical Skin Clinics in central London and Rayleigh, Essex explains that the condition is called melasma and it’s a common skin complaint that affects women and men.

Melasma is when brown or greyish pigmentation appears on the face, the exact cause of which is not known. But rest assured that it is not contagious, not due to an allergy and is not cancerous. It is not itchy or sore, so if you have a raised rash that is, please seek further advice immediately.

Essex skin expert talks sun spots and how to avoid them

Age spots, sun spots, actinic keratoses, senile lentigo or solar lentigines, call them what you like!

These flat, brown, gray or black spots are areas of sun-damaged skin found predominantly on sun-exposed parts of the body. These include the backs of the hands and forearms, the face, ears and lips, the scalp in balding men and the lower legs in women, says Essex nurse consultant in dermatology, Sue Ibrahim from Elan Medical Skin Clinics in Rayleigh and central London.

They are not contagious and are usually harmless but there is a very small risk of some sun spots developing into to a form of skin cancer called squamous cell carcinoma.

Seek professional help if you’re worried

Is your skin condition ruining your life?

Don't let skin conditions ruin your life - speak to Elan Medical Skin Clinic in Essex & central London!

Don’t let skin conditions ruin your life – speak to Elan Medical Skin Clinic in Essex and central London

Skin conditions can be embarrassing at best – and downright painful at worst. If you suffer from acne, melasma, rosacea or psoriasis you will know only too well that no matter how common the complaint may be, they way it affects you is very personal.

Many of our patients have spent many unhappy hours visiting their GP, spent time taking prescribed drugs – some of which have horrible side effects – and spent hundreds of pounds on creams and lotions that haven’t made a scrap of difference.

A sympathetic ear