Brown spots on hands are a skin condition known as lentigines or lentigos, or more commonly as age or liver spots. They result from long-term sun exposure, typically in the elderly. These brown spots appear alone or in clusters, and resemble large freckles with clearly delineated borders, explains the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, or ASDS. Lentigines are benign, and they do not become cancerous, but a dermatological evaluation is necessary to confirm that your brown spots are in fact true age spots, points out ASDS. There are a few options available for getting rid of brown spots on the hands.
Step 1
Protect your hands from direct exposure to sunlight. Not only can ultraviolet radiation lead to new brown spots, but it can darken and enlarge those you already have, cautions ASDS. Protection is particularly important between 10 am and 4 pm, advises the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC. While UV rays are strongest in the late spring and early summer, protection is important year-round and in all weather conditions. The CDC recommends sunblocks with an SPF of at least 15 that offer UVA and UVB shielding. Remember to re-apply sunscreens at least every two hours and after your skin gets wet.
Step 2
Consult with your doctor about skin lightening products. They generally require consistent application for weeks, months, or even a year or longer to show significant results, but can be effective at fading or getting rid of brown spots on the hands, notes MayoClinic.com. There are many active ingredients that can fade age spots, and different products have varying success on an individual basis. MayoClinic.com recommends creams made from kojic acid, glycolic acid or deoxyarbutin. Some other options specified by DermaDoctor.com include creams made from azelaic acid, gluconic acid, tretinoin, mitracarpus scaber extract, arctostaphylos uva ursi leaf extract, licorice extract and dithiaoctanediol.
Step 3
Ask your doctor about a prescription bleaching cream made from hydroquinone. The only agent approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for bleaching skin, hydroquinone may be more effective when prescribed in conjunction with tretinoin and a corticosteroid, notes MayoClinic.com. Usually, your doctor will discontinue use if results do not begin to manifest within half a year, according to DermaDoctor.com.
Step 4
Talk your dermatologist or plastic surgeon about cosmetic procedures that can get rid of brown spots on the hands. There are several options available that destroy darkened skin, allowing clear skin to grow back in its place. For age spots, standard procedures include freezing the affected skin with cryosurgery, peeling it with a chemical solution, sanding it with dermabrasion or removing it with laser surgery, as explained by ASDS.
Things You'll Need
- Sunscreen
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