1 in 3 women is affected by uneven skin tone, becoming more noticeable as they get older. There are lots of treatments that can really help. Age spotsin particular (also known as hyperpigmentation) are flat, brown, grey, or black spots on the skin. They usually occur on areas that have been exposed to the sun. Categories of age spots include 'liver spots' (true hyperpigmentation caused by overproduction of the skin pigment melanin), melasma (or chloasma) which are large patches of discolouration, usually on the cheekbones, upper lip and chin, cased by hormonal changes invariably after pregnancy, during the menopause or when taking the contraceptive pill, and dark spots caused by scarring or skin infection.
What Causes Age Spots?
Age spots are caused by an excess production of melanin. Despite the name, doctors don’t always know why age spots develop. They may be caused by skin ageing, sun exposure, or other forms of ultraviolet light exposure, such as tanning beds. You are most likely to develop age spots on the areas of your skin that receive the most sun exposure, including:
- your face
- the back of your hands
- your shoulders
- your forearms
Who Is at Risk for Age Spots?
People of any age, sex, or race can develop age spots. However, age spots are more common in people with certain risk factors. These include:
- being older than 40 years old
- having fair skin
- having a history of frequent sun exposure
- having a history of frequent tanning bed use
What are the Symptoms of Age Spots?
Age spots can vary so much but generally there are some common symptoms which one can look out for. They can:
- range from light brown to black in colour
- have the same texture as the rest of your skin
- are painless
- are usually on sun-exposed areas of the skin
How are Age Spots Diagnosed?
Your doctor will usually diagnose age spots by looking at your skin. If your doctor is worried that a dark area is not an age spot, he may perform a biopsy. A small piece of skin will be removed and checked for cancer or other abnormalities.
How are Age Spots Treated?
Age spots are not dangerous and do cause any health problems. Treatment is not necessary. However, some people want to remove age spots, because they do not like the way they look. Age spot treatments include:
a) Prescription Medications: Your doctor may prescribe bleaching creams to fade the age spots gradually., These usually contain hydroquinone, with or without retinoids such as tretinoin, Bleaching creams usually take several months to fade age spots. You will need to wear sunscreen at all times during treatment. Bleaching and tretinoin creams make your skin more sensitive to UV damage.
b) Medical Procedures: There are several medical procedures that can treat age spots. Each medical procedure carries a risk of side effects. Ask to your dermatologist or plastic surgeon about which treatment is the most appropriate for your skin. Medical procedures for age spots include:
- laser treatment to destroy the cells that produce melanin
- chemical peels to burn the outer layer of your skin, allowing new skin to grow in its place
- dermabrasion, which sands off the outer layers of the skin so new skin can grow in its place
- cryosurgery, which freezes age spots with liquid nitrogen
- Always wear sunscreen after treatment to protect your healing skin from UV damage
c) Home Treatments: There are many over-the-counter creams available that are marketed for removing age spots. These creams are not as strong as prescription creams. They may or may not effectively remove your excess skin pigmentation. If you want to use an over-the-counter cream, choose one that contains hydroquionone, deoxyarbutin, glycolic acid, alpha hydroxy acid, or kojic acid. Cosmetics do not remove age spots. Instead, they cover them when applied. Ask your dermatologist, plastic surgeon, or makeup counter salesperson to recommend brands that effectively conceal age spots.
Cosmetics: Dark Spot Correctors
Much of this will be dictated by personal choice and what works as many of the commercial cosmetic products to correct dark spots and pretty much comparable. However, customers I have asked to have their favourites; it is by no means a reliable survey, just lucky enough to ask those who had age spots....
Prognosis of Age Spots
Age spots are changes to the skin that are harmless and do not cause pain. On rare occasions, age spots can make skin cancer more difficult to diagnose. The appearance of age spots can cause emotional distress to some people. They can often be removed or reduced with treatment.Preventing Age Spots
Age spots cannot always be prevented. However, you can reduce your chances of getting them by doing the following:
- Avoid the sun between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. when the sun’s rays are most intense.
- Wear a sunscreen every day. It should have a sun protection factor (SPF) rating of at least 15 and contain both UVA and UVB protection.
- Apply sunscreen at least 30 minutes before sun exposure. Reapply every two hours, more often if swimming or perspiring.
- Wear protective clothing such as hats, pants, and long-sleeved shirts. These help protect your skin from UV rays. For the best protection, wear UV-blocking clothes with an ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) of at least 40 or 50.
