Treating Age Spots
What are age spots and what causes them? Age spots are known as liver spots and sun spots. They are brown colored skin flaws. They mostly develop in older people around forty years of age but can happen to younger people in their twenties also. Even though age spots are natural, their discoloration affects a person's general appearance making them seek for treatments.
Age spots are found in the face, hands and neck, mainly caused by ultra violet rays of the sun which penetrate the skin and induce the formation of the darker pigments when there is too much exposure.
What Causes Age Spots?
Age spots though are harmless and are the skin's natural reaction to the sun's harmful rays. They are harmless and don't cause skin cancers. They are however blemishes that people want to correct. They can never be prevented as it will always naturally occur in time.
Treatment of Age Spots
Now that we know that age spots cannot be treated, but their early development can be prevented by less frequent exposure to the sun. If that cannot be avoided, then apply necessary creams. The following procedures for removing age spots are also commonly used as anti-aging treatments:
- Laser Treatment -- Laser treatments to remove sun spots are often done in conjunction with other anti-aging treatments by burning away the spots and restoring a younger looking, blemish-free skin. Laser treatments involve several stages and require several visits to the physician and expensive. These procedures are very necessary if optimal results are desired.
- Retinoid Treatment -- Retinoid is a cream that is applied to the affected parts. Retinoid is a prescription medication that promotes healthy skin and fades away the spots. It contains antioxidants that are good for preserving skin cells and tissues but it dries the skin for the duration of the treatment.
- Chemical Peels -- Acidic agents in the chemical peel have been effective in removing sun spots; this method takes a while longer because the peels happen little by little until the desired skin tone is obtained.
- Age Spots Creams -- Age spots cream works in bleaching the sun spots out by slowly and gradually fading the discolored portion of the skin and revealing the skin underneath. The active ingredient that is commonly included that fades the sun spots out is Hydroquinone. Vitamins A and C are also active ingredients to promote rejuvenation and healthier skin.
- Sun Block -- The most popular method of preventing age spots from occurring at all is using the old reliable sun block creams and lotions. While sun block does not the age spots, its formulation prevents harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun from penetrating the skin. Sun block users develop less sun spots in later years and are less at risk of developing skin cancers. It is also a good anti-aging treatment for preserving the skin's more youthful glow.