Liver spots---also called age spots or lentigines---are the buildup of dark pigment in your skin. This pigment, called melanin, is the same type used to give color to your skin. However, liver spots occur when the melanin builds up in clumps on your skin to protect your skin's deeper layers, according to the Mayo Clinic. The most common cause of liver spots is prolonged exposure to sunlight---usually over the course of years---but genetics can also play a role. Because the hands are almost always exposed when you are outside, they can be highly susceptible to developing liver spots. If you are interested in fading and eliminating these spots, you have several options.
Step 1
Make an appointment with your doctor to get a prescription for bleaching creams and/or retinoids. Bleaching creams like hydroquinone can slowly bleach liver spots on your hands over the course of several months. Bleaching creams and retinoids are sometimes taken with a mild steroid, according to the Mayo Clinic. When taking these medications, sunscreen and other sun protection is strongly recommended.
Step 2
Undergo laser therapy treatments on your hands to eliminate liver spots. Laser therapy works by breaking up the melanocytes (cells that produce dark pigment) built up in your spots. Several laser treatments are required to fade your spots over weeks or months, depending on the severity of your spots. The downside to laser treatment is its high cost.
Step 3
Get cryotherapy treatments, which uses liquid nitrogen or other freezing chemicals to destroy the extra pigment built up in your hand. However, cryotherapy can leave slight scarring or discoloration and is generally only used on single liver spots or small clusters of spots, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Step 4
Apply chemical peels to your skin to fade liver spots. Chemical peels can be either superficial or medium-depth. Superficial peels require multiple treatments to fade spots and can be done at home if you prefer, while medium-depth treatments work much faster but must be administered by a dermatologist. Chemical peels eliminate spots by burning the outer layer of your skin with acid. Because of this, sun protection is recommended for the tender new skin after receiving a chemical peel treatment.
Step 5
Ask your dermatologist for a dermabrasion treatment. This treatment sands down the top layer of your skin, allowing a new layer of skin to grow and replace the dark spots. However, this can cause temporary redness and scabbing while your skin heals, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Tips and Warnings
- Some skin lotions and creams can also provide some mild fading of liver spots. If you choose to buy one of these over-the-counter topical treatments, choose one with hydroquinone, deoxyarbutin, glycolic acid or kojic acid.
