Sun damage, including dark spots, develops on the face in response to exposure to the sun's UV rays. This damage causes textural changes to the skin, as well as thinning and sagging. Wrinkles and fine lines may develop on the forehead and around the mouth and eyes. Although dark spots -- often called age spots, liver spots or sun spots -- are harmless, they may be removed for cosmetic reasons. Other signs of sun damage also are treatable at home or in your doctor's office to improve your appearance.
Step 1
Apply an over-the-counter skin lightening cream, such as those containing alpha-hydroxy acids or vitamin C, to discolored areas and use a moisturizer on dry and wrinkled sections of your face. Continue the applications for several months to see improvement in dark spots and sun damage.
Step 2
Use a prescription-strength bleaching cream to improve dark spots that fail to respond to over-the-counter products. Hydroquinone and retinoids are effective at fading dark spots when used daily for several months.
Step 3
Undergo a chemical peel to burn away wrinkled and discolored areas of your skin. Chemical peels remove the top layer of your skin by burning it away with an acid. Several peels may be necessary to improve badly sun-damaged skin.
Step 4
Visit your doctor for laser therapy to target and destroy the cells responsible for producing too much melanin. Laser therapy generally requires several treatments and is expensive.
Step 5
Try cryotherapy to destroy the extra pigment responsible for your discoloration and dark spots. During cryotherapy, your doctor applies liquid nitrogen directly to your dark spots. Once the skin heals, it appears lighter and more uniform in color. Cryotherapy poses a slight risk of scarring.
Step 6
Improve the appearance of your sun-damaged face with one or more dermabrasion treatments. Dermabrasion works by sanding off the top layer of your skin with a rotating brush, leaving a new layer of fresh skin free to grow in its place. Dermabrasion can effectively remove fine lines and discoloration.
Step 7
Wear sunscreen on your face and other sun-exposed areas at all times and avoid spending time outdoors between the peak sun hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Sunscreen use is especially important if you are using bleaching creams or have recently had a chemical peel or laser therapy. Your skin is more sensitive to the effects of the sun during and after these treatments.
Things You'll Need
- Alpha-hydroxy acid cream
- Sunscreen, SPF 30 or higher
