How to Remove Facial Age Spots

Flawless skin and a smooth complexion undoubtedly convey a sense of beauty. Similarly, the desire to stay young and beautiful is a lifelong quest that society fosters. Age spots or dark pigmentation areas on the face can not only reveal one's age, but also showcase imperfections that are less than desirable. These dark spots are present in the outermost layers of the skin's surface and can penetrate several layers. Therefore, in order to lighten or remove these areas, you can start by addressing the exterior surface of your skin with various techniques and facial treatments.

Step 1

Avoid the sun. Ultraviolet rays, whether from the sun or artificial sources, enhance the levels of melanin in the skin cells and can result in new spots or darken current areas. The first step in treating these problems is to avoid any further damage by avoiding the sun or wearing adequate sunscreen protection. Ultraviolet light exposure will be counterproductive with your goal to alleviate these unpleasant dark spots and should be avoided at all costs.

Step 2

Exfoliate your skin. Removing the top layer of dead skin can help refresh your skin and reduce the appearance of age spots. Use a scrub that has micro crystals or pumice stone for an even consistency. Gently massage your face with a circular motion in small sections at a time. This will thoroughly remove the surface layer of skin and slough off dead skin cells which contribute to darker tones and age spots.

Step 3

Use chemical peels. Acid peels such as glycolic acid can be purchased at beauty counters and online. A glycolic acid peel is a mild chemical peel which acts by breaking down the outermost layer of your skin. The fresh new skin below the outer surface is then revealed and appears more youthful and brighter. The damaged skin that causes age spots is typically close to the surface. Therefore, acid peels can sometimes completely remove these damaged layers and reduce or eliminate the age spot.

Step 4

Apply bleaching creams. Since age spots are a darkening of the skin, you can administer creams which are able to bleach the pigments within these skin cells. There are numerous facial products containing bleaching agents such as hydroquinone readily available over the counter, or you can ask your dermatologist to prescribe a more powerful formula to assist with pigment removal of your age spots.

Step 5

Seek professional laser treatments. Dermatologists and other health care professionals offer laser treatments to quickly and painlessly heal age spots. Lasers can specifically target the age spots and minimize any damage to the surrounding healthy skin tissue, which is hard to do with the other techniques.

References

Article reviewed by David Lee Last updated on: Dec 22, 2009

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