| One summer, maybe eight years ago, I noticed something strange: Dark spots had appeared on my arms, seemingly overnight. They were larger than freckles (and I had never been prone to freckles), stretching from my wrists about three-quarters of the way up my forearms. I was alarmed enough to go to a dermatologist (you know, see a new spot, get it checked out – and this was a lot of spots). He told me that the markings were a form of hyperpigmentation, which is a condition where bits of skin are darker than the surrounding area, and weren't cancerous. The kind of hyperpigmentation I had -- melasma -- can be triggered by sun exposure in combination with hormonal changes such as pregnancy and perimenopause (in my case, it showed up in the latter but not the former). While melasma usually appears on the face, it can also pop up on the arms and neck. And the reason the spots were only partway up my forearms? That area corresponded exactly to where I pushed up my sleeves. The doctor told me there wasn't much to do about the blotches except try some spot-fading cream. When my hormones settled down, he said, the marks might go away. He was right; after a few years they seemed to disappear as suddenly as they came. Hyperpigmentation is a very common problem – in addition to melasma, it also can show up as sun spots (aka age spots) or as dark marks left in places where someone had acne or a scrape or bug bite. While mostly cosmetic, it can have an impact on someone's well-being if it makes them feel sensitive about their appearance. Had I already read Janna Mandell's article about hyperpigmentation, I would have known all of this, and more. It's a helpful explainer about the three most common kinds of hyperpigmentation, and what can be done to prevent and treat them. One major point I'll make here: Sunscreen plays a vital role. Even if you don't tend to burn, it can help prevent sun spots and keep other kinds of hyperpigmentation from worsening. In other stories this week, freelance writer Richard Morgan has a thought-provoking article exploring a contradiction involving Asian American men: Why, in an era when more Asian men are being celebrated as movie superheroes and fitness influencers, are so many still battling stereotypes about their masculinity? Reporter Allyson Chiu can fill you in on what dentists are seeing as we return to their offices, and freelance writer Stacey Collino can tell you how to prepare for a doctor's visit, if you haven't been in a while. And, finally, freelance writer Angela Haupt introduces a new fitness craze: weighted hula hoops. Take care, and wear sunscreen!
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