Age spots, also called sun spots, freckles or solar lentigines, occur as a response to sun exposure over time. They are collectively given the name “age spots” because they are visible when one is in one’s 40s or older. Age spots are dark permanent areas that do not fade away with time or with a change in season.
Though age spots aren’t a health hazard, some kinds of skin cancer resemble age spots, so it helps to get them checked out by a dermatologist.
Why does your skin change color?
Our skin and nails get their color from the pigment, melanin. When our skin and nails come in contact with the harsh rays of the sun, ultraviolet sun rays activate melanin which in turn tries to protect the skin from being over-exposed, leading in dark spots and sun tanning. If you notice skin patches that are darker than your normal skin color, it is hyperpigmentation. Two forms of hyperpigmentation are age spots and freckles.
Age spots: Also called liver spots, they are larger than tiny freckles. They are visible on the faces and hands of children and adults. They are raised brown spots that could be due to prolonged exposure to the sun. The parts of the skin exposed to sunlight most will have age spots.
Freckles: On the other hand, freckles are tiny dark spots that are visible on any part of the skin. They occur when sun exposure damages the skin’s cells that produce melanin and creates small patches of this pigment.
Treatment:
- It’s best to use hydroquinone to get rid of age spots. Other options include licorice extract, kojic acid and Vitamin C.
- Broadband light is also a good therapy which involves subjecting the skin to photo thermal energy. This stimulates the growth of new collagen and taut skin that improves hyperpigmentation, age spots and freckles.
- Use a face brightener along with Vitamin C.
- Use Retinol that is also known to take care of hyperpigmentation. Use sunscreen every day or else your spots will return.
- Use a lightening product that comes with glycolic acid or salicylic acid. These chemical exfoliants get rid of dead cells gently and brighten the skin.
- If you have spots on your chest and neck, don’t ignore them but include them in your treatment. However, do this gradually as the skin on your neck and chest are delicate. Use this initially every other day and ease into regular use gradually.
- You can also freeze them with liquid nitrogen and use laser treatments.
- You can help yourself by using sunscreen, wearing long-sleeved clothes and a wide-brimmed hat. This will keep both age spots and freckles from getting darker.
Removing Age Spots & Hyperpigmentation
Removing age spots or other hyperpigmentation conditions with Broadband Light facial treatment is a gentle and minimally-invasive way to quickly improve the health and appearance of the skin.
Through a handheld treatment device, gentle pulsed energy is applied directly to the upper layers of the skin, which may feel like the snap of a rubber band. As the skin absorbs the warm photo-thermal energy, the production of new collagen is stimulated, thus firming and tightening the skin while dramatically improving hyperpigmentation, birth marks, age spots and freckles.
