Age spots, or liver spots, are flat, brown, tan or black areas of discoloration that primarily occur on the hands, shoulders and face. According to the Mayo Clinic, they develop in response to increased melanin production in the skin, usually due to excessive sun exposure. Age spots are most common in people older than 40 years. While they are rarely of any medical significance, removal for cosmetic reasons is common. Fortunately, several options are available for lightening age spots on the skin.
Step 1
Try an over-the-counter topical lightening agent to fade age spots. Products containing citric acid, vitamin C, or alpha hydroxy acid are available at most pharmacies and are effective at lightening discoloration when used continuously for many months.
Step 2
Use a prescription-strength bleaching agent, such as hydroquinone, to lighten age spots that fail to respond to over-the-counter treatments. According to the Mayo Clinic, hydroquinone often is used in conjunction with the retinoid medication, tretinoin, and a topical steroid to increase its effectiveness.
Step 3
Undergo a chemical peel to even your skin tone and minimize the appearance of age spots. According to the DERMAdoctor, chemical peels range in strength and involve the application of chemicals to damage the top layer of skin, causing it to peel away and reveal lighter, healthier skin.
Step 4
Lighten age spots with cryotherapy, a procedure that uses liquid nitrogen to destroy the excess pigment responsible for age spots. The Mayo Clinic warns that cryotherapy may cause permanent scarring in rare cases.
Step 5
Ask your dermatologist about laser skin resurfacing to lighten your age spots. This treatment uses high-energy light beams to burn away small areas of skin discoloration. Non-ablative laser resurfacing uses a combination of a laser and electrical energy to destroy damaged and darkened skin without harming healthy skin, according to the University of Virginia Health System.
Step 6
Try intense pulsed light therapy (IPL), which is similar to non-ablative laser resurfacing in that it does not damage healthy skin. IPL, however, uses multiple wavelengths of light and may be more effective at removing age spots than traditional laser therapy.
Step 7
Protect your skin by wearing sunscreen, protective clothing and sunglasses, and by staying inside during the middle of the day. Sun exposure may interfere with some treatments for age spots and will increase the risk of developing new spots.
Tips and Warnings
- The National Institutes of Health recommends biopsy for any age spots that are irregular or show other signs of skin cancer.
Things You'll Need
- Over-the-counter skin lightening cream
- Sunscreen
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