Age spots, or solar lentigines, are flat spots of darkened skin, light brown to black in color, which usually appear on the face, arms, hands, shoulders or back, all the places that have been regularly exposed to the sun. Although such spots are sometimes called liver spots, they have nothing to do with the liver, and instead are the result of years of accumulated sun damage, occurring most often in people over the age of 40.
Causes
Your skin creates melanin, or pigment, in response to the ultra-violet rays of the sun. Age spots result from extra melanin that clumps together or is produced in an excess amount, according to the Mayo Clinic. Such spots develop gradually in older people because their skin has often seen many years of sun exposure.
Tanning bed use causes the same sorts of skin changes as the sun. Genetics may also play a role in your susceptibility to age spots. Although age spots are completely harmless and painless, many people find them unsightly and aging.
Home Treatment
One of the most effective home treatments for skin discoloration, according to Good Housekeeping, is a product containing hydroquinone. Hydroquinone, available in a 2 percent concentration over the counter, works by directly inhibiting the enzyme that produces melanin. It should be applied carefully, since it acts as a bleach on the skin. Other age spot treatment products found in the drugstore include kojic acid, vitamin C, soy, licorice extract or mulberry. Over-the-counter retinol treatments also help even out the skin's coloring.
Medical Treatment
Your doctor may prescribe a 4 percent concentration of hydroquinone, either alone or with retinoids and a mild steroid. Such treatment can fade age spots gradually over a period of several months. Laser therapy typically requires several treatments, during which the extra melanocytes responsible for dark pigment are destroyed, and then the age spots gradually fade.
With freezing, or cryotherapy, the doctor applies liquid nitrogen to destroy excess pigmentation. Dermabrasion is another age spot removal method, in which old skin is removed with a rapidly rotating brush.
Prevention
The best way to prevent or slow the formation of age spots is to limit your sun exposure and apply a sunblock lotion before heading outside. Look for a broad-spectrum sunscreen that blocks both UVA and UVB rays. If possible, avoid being in the sun between 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., when the sun is most intense and most damaging to skin.
Protective clothing, such as brimmed hats, long-sleeve shirts and long pants, also help spare your skin from solar damage.
Causes for Concern
Although age spots do no harm, they may occasionally camouflage skin affected by cancer, or make skin cancer more difficult to diagnose, according to Medline Plus. See a doctor if you notice any new skin changes, including spots which have dark pigmentation, irregular borders, unusual coloring or are rapidly growing in size.
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