Age spots can make you look and feel older than you actually are. These tan, brown, black or gray spots form on the skin due to years of sun exposure. Although aging spots, also called age spots or liver spots, are common in people age 40 and older, younger people also get them, according to the Mayo Clinic. The spots are usually on the face, arms, hands and shoulders, as these areas usually get more sun exposure than other areas of the body. You can use a variety of home remedies and medical treatments to fade age spots.
Step 1
Saturate a cotton ball with lemon juice, aloe vera juice or castor oil and apply the liquid to age spots. Keep these remedies on the skin for at least 30 minutes. Wash off these substances before 30 minutes, if your skin becomes irritated.
Step 2
Mix 1 tbsp. of apple cider vinegar with 1 tbsp. of finely chopped onion and apply to the skin with a cotton swab or cotton ball. Leave the mixture on the skin for 30 minutes. According to HomeRemediesWeb.com, gradual improvement may occur after applying this mixture to the skin every day for six weeks.
Step 3
Apply over-the-counter age spot creams that work by bleaching dark spots. Use the cream daily for best results.
Step 4
Ask your doctor to prescribe stronger prescription bleaching cream if over-the-counter creams or home remedies don't fade age spots. Expect to use the cream for several weeks or month.
Step 5
Talk to your doctor about laser therapy or cryotherapy for stubborn spots. Laser therapy destroys extra pigment in the skin that causes age spots, while cryotherapy destroys the pigment by freezing it with liquid nitrogen.
Step 6
Have a chemical peel or dermabrasion to remove your age spots. During dermabrasion, your doctor sands off the top layer of the skin with a machine that rotates brushes over your skin. Chemical peels also remove the top layer of the skin by burning it off with a special type of acid.
Tips and Warnings
- Treatment of age spots is usually considered a cosmetic procedure and may not be covered by your health insurance policy. Check with your health insurance provider before agreeing to undergo costly procedures. Use sunscreen when using any type of age spot treatment. Treatment may make the skin more sensitive to sun exposure. Using sunscreen also prevents the formation of new age spots.
- Discuss any medical conditions, including pregnancy, with your doctor before using any prescription medication to fade age spots.
Things You'll Need
- Lemon juice
- Aloe vera juice
- Castor oil
- Cotton ball
- Cotton swab
- Apple cider vinegar
- Chopped onion
- Sunscreen
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