Age spots, or liver spots, are a common condition in older adults, although they can affect people of all ages. These appear as flat, brown or tan spots and typically develop on sun-exposed areas of skin, such as the face, arms and hands. While they are nearly always harmless, they can be a significant cosmetic concern. Fortunately, a number of effective treatments are available to fade age spots on your face.
Step 1
Use an over-the-counter cream designed to fade age spots. These creams, which are available in most pharmacies and grocery stores, might lighten age spots with continued use. The Mayo Clinic recommends using a cream that contains deoxyarbutin, hydroquinone, kojic acid or glycolic acid.
Step 2
Try a prescription medication. Prescription bleaching creams, such as those that contain hydroquinone, topical steroids and topical retinoids, are effective at lightening age spots over a period of months, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Step 3
Undergo laser therapy for rapid lightening of age spots on your face. Laser therapy works by destroying the melanocytes in your skin that are responsible for the dark appearance of age spots. Laser therapy is generally expensive and often requires multiple sessions.
Step 4
Treat age spots with cryotherapy. An application of liquid nitrogen to age spots can destroy excessive pigment and cause the skin to appear lighter. However, there is a risk of permanent scarring associated with cryotherapy.
Step 5
Fade your age spots with dermabrasion or a chemical peel. Both of these procedures work by removing the surface layer of skin on your face.
Step 6
Wear sunscreen to protect your skin. Many creams and procedures used to fade age spots can cause sensitivity to the sun. Sunscreen also helps prevent the formation of new age spots on your face.
Tips and Warnings
- The National Institutes of Health recommends biopsy for any irregular shaped age spot to confirm that the spot is benign.
Things You'll Need
- Over-the-counter bleaching cream
- Sunscreen, SPF 15 or greater
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