Lightening Or Fading Treatments For Age Spots

Age spots are common skin blemishes that form due to aging or overexposure to sun or tanning bed ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Age spots form when excess melanin is created in clumps on the skin. Melanin is the substance responsible for pigment in your skin. When age spots appear, there are several options available for treatment.

Bleaching Cream

You can use prescription bleaching creams, such as hydroquinone, to reduce the appearance of age spots on your skin. According to the New Zealand Dermatological Society, bleaching creams work by inhibiting the enzyme tyrosinase, which is needed for melanin production. By inhibiting the enzyme, melanin production stops, and the breaking down of melanin in the age spots accelerates.

Tretinoin

Tretinoin is a common prescription retinoid used in the treatment of age spots. Tretinoin is derived from vitamin A and works by evenly dispersing melanin granules, reducing the melanin in the age spot. This reduction makes the spot less prominent on your skin. Tretinoin is often combined with hydroquinone to increase its effectiveness.

Cryotherapy

Cryotherapy is also used to treat age spots. Cryotherapy works by using a freezing agent (such as liquid nitrogen) to destroy excess pigment on age spots. As the treatment area heals, the affected area lightens. Freezing does produce some risk for permanent scarring.

Chemical Peel

You can also have chemical peels done for the age spots on your skin. Chemical peels involve the application of strong chemicals, such as phenol or hydroxy acids, to your skin. The skin cells react to the chemicals by detaching from the treatment area, causing the outer layer of skin to peel off. New skin forms on the treatment area, reducing the look of the age spot. You may need several treatments to see full results.

Dermabrasion

Both dermabrasion and microdermabrasion are treatments for age spots. Dermabrasion works similar to sandpaper and uses a high-speed, abrasive, rotary wheel to sand down the age spot-affected area of your skin. Microdermabrasion is less invasive and uses a wand-like tool to propel crystals of zinc or aluminum oxide at your skin, followed by a vacuum, which sucks the loosened skin off your face. Both methods remove the outer layer of affected skin, allowing new skin with regular pigmentation to grow.