Age spots are flat, darkened areas on the skin. They most often form in the places that get the most sun, including the face, shoulders, forearms and hands. People who get them are usually older than 40. If they do not bother you, you do not need to do anything about them. But if they are a cosmetic concern, there are plenty of options for getting rid of them.
Warning
In some cases, what you take for an age spot could be something more serious. Consult with a doctor if you are unsure. Melanoma, a potentially lethal form of skin cancer, also appears as a brown spot. You should be suspicious of a lesion, according to the Mayo Clinic, if it is darkly pigmented, is mottled or multicolored, has an irregular border or is growing quickly in size.
Misconceptions
Though age spots are also known as liver spots, they have nothing to do with the liver. In medical terms, they are known as solar lentigo. They result from overproduction of melanin, which is your skin's pigment. Ultraviolet rays are the primary culprit. Heredity may also play a role, according to Derma Network, an informational website about skin conditions.
Topical Treatments
Retailers, including department stores, drug stores and websites, sell a variety of over-the-counter lightening creams. Physician-author Dr. Andrew Weil is skeptical of nonprescription creams except those that contain alpha-hydroxy acid. Prescription creams containing hydroquinone or retinoids along with a mild steroid may fade the spots gradually, over several months, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Medical Procedures
Any effective treatment must penetrate the entire thickness of the epidermis, which is the topmost skin later, to reach the excess pigment. Repeated chemical skin peels under supervision of a medical professional can allow new skin to grow in place of the old skin, as can dermabrasion, in which a rotating brush removes the skin. Laser therapy and cryotherapy can destroy the extra pigment cells.
Considerations
The medical world considers age spots harmless. That is good news for your health, but it also means insurance companies do not generally pay for their removal, according to Dr. John Meisenheimer, a dermatologist in Orlando, Florida. Additionally, you may need repeat procedures over the years, because once they begin, age spots tend to keep forming throughout life. Consistently using sunscreen, Meisenheimer writes, may slow this process.
Member Comments