Aging gracefully would be easier if aging didn't involve so many unsightly changes to the body. People who feel self-conscious about emerging age spots can seek help from their dermatologists or from over-the-counter creams. Vitamin K is one ingredient in some of these creams that promise to reverse the effects of the accumulating years.
Vitamin K
Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin found in leafy vegetables. It’s essential for the body's ability to form blood clots. Many commonly available foods contain vitamin K, including kale, prunes, avocados, Brussels sprouts and broccoli. Vitamin K deficiency is rare. Since the vitamin is involved in blood clotting, symptoms of deficiency are usually excessive bleeding, such as blood in the urine, nosebleeds and excessive menstrual bleeding. Vitamin K can also be taken in supplements, topical creams and injections.
Age Spots
“Age spots” or “liver spots” are common parlance for lentigines, benign lesions that appear as the skin ages. These mostly occur on parts of the body that have seen lots of sun exposure, especially the face and the backs of the hands. They start appearing in middle age and can multiply with the years. The dark, flat lesions vary from 0.2 cm to 2 cm. Treatment is not necessary, but many people prefer to get rid of them. However, if your age spot changes color, size or shape, check with your dermatologist to make sure it's not something more serious.
Creams
Vitamin K is one of several active ingredients in creams purporting to fade age spots. Licorice root extract is included for lightening, as are polypeptides. This combination is supposed to fade spots and tone the skin. Marta Wohrle, a former journalist who now investigates claims of anti-aging products on her Truth in Aging website, tried one popular vitamin K cream. While the label promised to dramatically reduce her age spots from the first application, multiple applications failed to alter the color of a dark freckle on her hand. According to dermatologists Fred and Alex Hirsh, a combination of vitamin K and retinol can decrease age-related discoloration under the eyes.
Other Age Spot Treatments
Dermatologists recommend stronger treatments than vitamin K cream for those who seriously want to eliminate their age spots. One promising medication combines the chemicals mequinol and tretinoin, which lighten the lesions. Lasers and chemical peels are other options.
References
- Oregon State University Linus Pauling Institute Micronutrient Research for Optimum Health: Vitamin K
- Truth in Aging: Vita-K Solutions for Age Spots With Matrixyl 3000
- American Osteopathic College of Dermatology: Lentigines
- "Journal of Drugs in Dermatology"; Combination Therapy for Solar Lentigines; Sept.-Oct. 2004
- Hirsh Dermatology: Vitamin K
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