Brown spots on the face are often called age spots, solar lentigines or "liver spots," even though they don't have any relationship to the liver. They're most common in adults after the age of 40 and are caused primarily by exposure to the sun or tanning beds. These types of spots are generally harmless, although they can be unsightly if large enough or plentiful. Over-the-counter skin care products won't necessarily make them disappear, but many bleaching creams can fade them significantly. Most of these creams contain one of several skin-lightening ingredients.
Alpha Hydroxy Acids
Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) rejuvenate the skin by increasing the rate the cells in the top layer of skin are shed, which stimulates new growth leading to the fading of pigmentation. Two of the most common AHAs are glycolic acid, extracted from fruit, and lactic acid, found in milk products.
Azelaic Acid
Azelaic acid comes from a form of yeast. It reduces pigmentation by killing the cells that produce abnormal pigment and also reduces inflammation.
DeoxyArbutin
DeoxyArbutin is a fairly new ingredient in skin-lightening products. In a 2005 clinical trial reported in Experimental Dermatology and abstracted on PubMed, deoxyArbutin showed promise in lightening skin after 12 weeks in both light and dark complexions.
Hydroquinone
Hydroquinone is the "workhorse" of skin lighteners and has been used in cosmetics for more than 30 years. The prescription strength is a 4 percent cream applied twice daily, but you can find over-the-counter versions with a 2 percent strength. Results start to become evident in four to six weeks. Although some studies have claimed hydroquinone has carcinogenic properties, these mostly refer to cases of high concentrations or contamination.
Kojic Acid
Kojic acid is a by-product of the fermentation process of Japanese sake and fades skin due to its property of inhibiting tyrosinase. However, the ingredient is problematic in that it's unstable in some cosmetic formulas, says cosmeticscop.com.
Retinoids
Retinoids are derived from vitamin A. The most effective types are prescription formulations containing tretinoin or isotretinoin, but over-the-counter versions with retinol and retinaldehyde may help to a lesser extent.
Salycilic Acid
Salycilic acid penetrates both surface skin and pores and evens out hyperpigmentation, helping to fade age spots. It's often paired with glycolic acid.
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