Are liver spots a sign of liver problems?

The appearance of liver spots makes many people think that it must be caused by some liver disease problems. In fact, this understanding is wrong. Although liver spots are more common in patients with liver disease, they have nothing to do with liver disease and changes in liver function, and are affected by many factors.

1. Chloasma, also known as liver spots, is a type of facial melanosis and is a pigmentation spot that occurs on the face. There is currently no specific treatment, and topical depigmentation or depigmentation preparations are the most effective way to treat increased melanin in the epidermis. But it can only control, not eradicate chloasma.

2. In fact, this is a misunderstanding. Although liver spots are common in patients with liver disease, they have nothing to do with liver disease or changes in liver function. The reason why they are called liver spots is because the color of the spots is similar to the brown color of the liver. Chloasma often occurs on the cheeks and forehead, and varies in size and shape. This light brown spot has a smooth surface and is neither painful nor itchy, but it affects the beauty of the face.

3. Both men and women may suffer from chloasma, but it occurs more frequently in pregnant women or women with irregular menstruation and certain chronic patients (such as tuberculosis, cancer, chronic alcoholism or liver disease, etc.). Chloasma becomes more obvious especially in summer. If the patient develops liver spots due to pregnancy, most of them will slowly disappear after delivery.

4. According to traditional Chinese medicine, in addition to the above reasons, chloasma may also be related to the following factors:

1. Emotional disharmony: Emotional disorders, such as stagnation of liver qi, anger damaging the liver, worry damaging the spleen, and fear damaging the kidneys, may cause qi disorder, and qi and blood cannot reach the face, resulting in brown spots.

2. Injury to the spleen and stomach due to overwork: Eating without restraint, overwork, and partiality to the five flavors (that is, preference for food with certain flavors) can obstruct the spleen and stomach functions and cause brown spots.

3. Deficiency of kidney essence: Excessive sexual intercourse will damage the yin essence for a long time, or when people reach middle age, the kidney essence will be depleted, the face will not be moisturized and brown spots will appear.

4. External wind evil: The skin surface is affected by wind (wind-heat, wind-cold), which leads to disharmony of Qi and blood. Qi and blood cannot reach the face and spots appear.