1. How to Spot an Age Spot
Age spots usually appear on the hands, arms and the face in people over 40. Many factors, like genetics and sun exposure increase the risk for age spots. They are more prominent on light-skinned folks. If you have freckles, you'll probably develop age spots. The extra "melanin" or dark pigment that produces a tan also produces age spots. These flat eruptions, also called liver spots, are usually harmless and require only cosmetic treatment, like fading creams and skin bleaches to minimize their appearance.
2. Stay Out of the Sun
Lots of exposure to the sun, minus sunscreen, when you're young, leads to unsightly age spots later in life. To avoid this fate, ration your exposure to sun and use a strong (SPF15 or higher) sunscreen when you do go outside. Apply the sunscreen liberally to your face, hands, arms and shoulders. If you wear sandals or flip-flops during the summer, also apply lotion to the top of your feet. Other signs of sun damage, like wrinkles, rough "lizard" textured skin and tiny red capillary veins on the nose and cheeks, often accompany age spots. Use moisturizer first thing in the morning and at night before you go to bed to keep skin supple. The sooner you protect your skin against sun damage the better chance you'll have of avoiding age spots or large age spot "clusters" that some people develop on their backs or hands.
3. Just Fade Away
Depending on the severity of age spots, you can either lighten them with creams and lotions, or remove them with laser surgery. Fade creams, like the old favorite Porcelana contain hydroquinone, which lightens dark skin pigment. Its safety has come under scrutiny recently, so discontinue use if it causes hives, facial swelling or intense stinging after application. You can apply the anti-wrinkle cream tretinoin, available under the brand names Retin-A and Avita, to fade age spots, if hydroquinone causes problems.
4. Rule Out Skin Cancer
Even though age spots are a normal part of getting older, examine them from time to time and look for irregular borders around the spots or unusual colors. If you see these symptoms, or if clusters reproduce at a fast rate, call your dermatologist. He or she may need to perform a biopsy to rule out skin cancer.
5. It Looks Like an Age Spot, But It's Not
Other non-cancerous skin conditions that resemble age spots include moles. Usually present from birth, these dark, raised spots grow larger as you age. Seborrheic keratoses have a waxy appearance and can appear on the skin at any time. If you're fair skinned, those spots on your face or chest might be good old garden-variety freckles.
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