You can call them age spots, liver spots, or use the official terminology and call them lentigos or lentigenes. Whatever you call those brown spots on your face resulting from too much sun exposure, chances are you'd like to call them gone. There are steps you can take at home to treat facial age spots. If home treatment doesn't work, your dermatologist has several treatment options up her sleeve.
Step 1
Choose a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher and use it daily on your face, neck and any other skin that is exposed to keep existing age spots from worsening and prevent new ones developing. Choose a sunscreen that provides 100 percent protection against both UVA and UVB rays. Apply sunscreen after cleansing and moisturizing your face, and before you apply any makeup. Asra Ali, M.D., a Houston-based dermatology professor, recommends applying sunscreen at least 30 minutes before you go outside. Reapply sunscreen as needed, especially after perspiring.
Step 2
Apply a bleaching or fade cream to your age spots daily, following package directions. Purchase an over-the-counter product with glycolic acid, kojic acid, deoxyarbutin or hydroquinone, ingredients recommended by the Mayo Clinic. Be patient: It can take daily use for several months to see results.
Step 3
Consult a dermatologist if over-the-counter bleaching or fade creams do not produce the results you desire after regular use for an appropriate period of time. Your dermatologist may prescribe a stronger topical product or may recommend a chemical peel, microdermabrasion, cryosurgery or laser surgery.
Tips and Warnings
- Bleaching or fade creams make your skin sensitive to the sun; consider wearing a hat to shade your face in addition to your sunscreen. Anti-aging skin care products often contain ingredients that help the skin shed dead cells, making skin appear younger; you might benefit from an anti-aging cleanser and moisturizer.
- What you think are age spots could be a different condition; see a doctor for a diagnosis before you begin self-treatment. Bleaching or fade creams, especially those containing hydroquinone, can cause irritation; discontinue if your skin becomes irritated or sensitive.
Things You'll Need
- Sunscreen, SPF 15 or higher
- Bleaching or fade cream for the face
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