Age spots: Causes, Prevention and Treatment
These are more common in people above 40years of age, but younger people may even get them if they spend time in the sun.
Let's discuss the following things in detail:
2. What causes age spots on the face?
What are age spots?
Age spots are flat, small dark areas on the skin and are usually present on the areas that are exposed to the sun, that is face, hands, shoulders, neck, and arms. They are also called liver spots, solar lentigines, or sunspots.
True age spots don't require any treatment and are produced on the skin in order to protect it from the harmful rays of the sun.
What causes age spots on the face?
The main reason behind age spots is the overproduction of melanin pigment in the skin, in order to protect it from the harmful rays of the sun. Skin aging, sun exposure, or exposure to harmful UV radiations like tanning beds, all lead to excessive production of melanin, leading to age spots. We are more likely to get age spots on areas that are exposed to the sun, that is face, hands, shoulders, forearms, and upper back.
Preventive Methods:
To prevent age spots on the face, arms, shoulders we should follow these tips to limit sun exposure.
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Avoiding the sun between 10 am and 2 pm because the sun rays are the most intense during this duration. So, to protect your skin it is necessary to wear protective clothing or stay indoors during this time.
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Wear sunscreen every day and apply it 30 minutes before going out in the sun. Make sure that the sunscreen has a sun protection factor of 30 and should protect from UV-A and UV-B radiations.
- Wearing proper protective clothing is necessary because it helps us from UV radiation and reduces the chance of diseases like skin cancer.
How to remove age spots?
Age spots are not at all dangerous and do not affect our health. Its treatment is not necessary, but some people do want to get rid of these brown, dark, flat spots.
In order to get rid of age spots, the dermatologist might prescribe you bleaching creams that contain hydroquinone or retinoids which help to lighten age spots. But, these creams make your skin sensitive to sun damage, so you have to apply sunscreen every time you go out in the sun.
Medical procedures for Age Spots:
Laser treatment or light therapy involves the release of light waves that pass through the skin and targets melanin to destroy the dark spots.
Chemical peels remove the outer layer of the skin so that new layers of skin cells can emerge.
Dermabrasion smooths off the outer layer of the skin so that new skin can grow at its place.
Home remedies for age spots
We know that there are various medical procedures available, for getting rid of these age spots, but instead of going for these expensive methods, we can even fade these spots by using some home remedies for skin pigmentations.
- Coating your spots with aloe vera gel is quite effective in lightening the spots because it contains chemicals that remove the dead cells and promote the growth of new cells.
- Using lemon juice for treating age spots, is the perfect choice because citric acid and vitamin C present in it are natural bleaching agents. It plays a vital role in fading the age spots and promoting the growth of new layers of cells.
- The starch and sugar present in potatoes help in getting rid of age spots. These have exfoliating properties that remove the dead skin cells and boost the growth of new cells. They even rejuvenate the collagen present in our skin, resulting in fresher and smoother skin.
- Honey has many beneficial qualities for our skin. It has antibacterial properties and contains many antioxidants that help in promoting the growth of new cells and slows down aging processes.
- Milk, yogurt, and buttermilk contain lactic acid which is an exfoliant and lightens the skin. Vitamin D along with lactic acid helps in removing the dead skin cells and lightening the pigmentation.
Age spots are harmless and painless changes that occur on our skin. Sometimes, these can make skin cancer difficult to be diagnosed. Its appearance might lead to emotional and mental stress to the people, but there are various home remedies and medical procedures available to treat these dark, flat spots.
So, following proper skin care routine and preventing overexposure to the sun can prevent the occurrence of these age spots.
FAQâs
1. How to reduce age spots on your hands?
We can get rid of these age spots by using various natural home remedies like applying lemon juice or aloe vera gel on the areas which are exposed to the sun. Various medical procedures are even available like laser treatments or chemical peels which helps in fading the spot. Although these procedures have some side effects but can be used to get rid of such spots.
2. Can you get age spots in your 20s?
Age spots usually are seen in people above 40 years of age, but younger people may even get such spots if they spend a lot of time in the sun.
3. Which vitamin is best for age spots?
Vitamin D, vitamin B12 helps in removing dead skin cells and lightening the pigmentation. Vitamin A and Vitamin B6 help in boosting collagen synthesis and making the skin look fresh and even-toned.
4. Can you get rid of age spots?
Yes, we can definitely get rid of these age spots and make them less noticeable. For these various bleaching creams and medical procedures are available in the market. But, make sure you seek medical advice before going for any such procedure.
