Summer time is generally considered to be the best time of the year to live in Malta.

However, too much of a good thing can turn sour and such is the case with the sun. While the first thing that comes to mind when talking about conditions or diseases related to the sun is skin cancer, a more common but less talked about condition is hyperpigmentation.

Age spots are a common form of hyperpigmentation.

So what is hyperpigmentation? If you break down the word, you already have the answer.

Hyperpigmentation is the excessive production of melanin which is the brown pigment that gives colour to our skin.

The more melanin you have, the darker your skin. Usually this pigment is equally spread in our skin, however, sometimes the distribution of this pigment is not so even, resulting in patches which are darker than the rest.

Age spots also known as liver or sun spots are a common form of hyperpigmentation. They occur on areas which are most often exposed to the sun such as our faces, neck and hands. The commonest cause of these spots is overexposure to the sun but the introduction of tanning salons has also contributed to skin damage. Unlike what many people think, a tanning booth is still not a completely safe way to tan.

These units induce skin tanning by means of UVA, a radiation which although is very efficient in tanning the skin without burning, it still increases the risk of a skin cancer significantly and can also bring about premature skin ageing.

Freckles are another type of hyperpigmentation with the difference that people are born with them rather than develop them as a result of skin damage.

This being said, both freckles and age spots can get darker the more they are exposed to the sun, therefore it is always advisable to make use of sun screen not only when at the sea but whenever you are going to be out in the sunshine.

A variety of treatments exist nowadays to remove sun spots, ranging from creams to laser treatment, however, just like many conditions, they are preventable.

Sunscreen is an excellent shield for your skin, not only preventing you from getting burned but also protecting you from skin cancer and sun spots.

Just make sure that you buy a sunscreen with a high sun protection factor (SPF) and which protects against both UVA and UVB which are the different components of the sun’s rays.

Another less known kind of hyperpigmentation is melasma.

Unlike sun spots, melasma is not caused by overexposure to the sun but rather by a change in the level of hormones in the body. This is most commonly seen in pregnant women as their bodies undergo a lot of hormonal changes.

The skin is unfortunately often forgotten when we talk about a healthy lifestyle and preventive medicine but it is just as important as the rest.

Get to know your skin and if you happen to see changes on your skin, there is no need to panic but a visit to your doctor is always worthwhile.

Most importantly, remember to take care of yourself and those around you this summer.

If you have small children get them used to using sunscreen not only at the beginning of the beach day but as often as possible as this is the best way to prevent any damage.