How to get rid of age spots from the outset.
- Have you ever looked at your hand, arm, or face and suddenly seen a new age spot which seems to have formed overnight? You’re not the only one. Even with sun screening ourselves thoroughly, once we turn 30 or 40, we have got some weeks of exposed ultraviolet rays. Not to mention those many beach vacations that make up for years of sun exposure – and age spots, dark spots, or sun spots start to grow on the surface of our skin causing discoloration. For that, most people resort to the over-the-counter vitamins and creams that help lighten the hey spots. But, those hey spots are so stubborn that they even require professional treatments to manage such spots.
- To achieve a smooth blemish-free skin, image rehabilitation was carried out together with a group of skin care specialists. They came up the best ways of getting rid of age spots and healing sun damaged skin for good.
Understanding Age Spots
What Are Age Spots and How to Get Rid of Age Spots?
- Broadly known as liver or sun spots, age spots can appear on any part of the body. However, they most frequently tend to concentrate on body regions that have been exposed to the sun for a long time, like the face, hands, and shoulders. Genetics also plays a role, notes Morgan Rabach, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist at LM Medical NYC.
- “Excessive sun exposure can lead to temporary damage like sunburn, characterized by redness and mild swelling, or more lasting damage such as localized changes in skin color, resulting in brown spots—commonly known as sun spots,” explains Mila Davis, an aesthetician at Skin to Smile in New Jersey. These spots arise from increased melanocyte cells responsible for pigment production and typically appear flat and darker than the surrounding skin, adds Lauren Abramowitz, PA-C, founder of Park Avenue Skin Solutions in New York City and clinical educator for Allergan.
Preventing Age Spots
- That is to be expected: When it comes to the issue of skin discolouration, preventive measures are always the best course of action. In the words of certified dermatologist and clinical professor at UC Davis, Oma Agbai, M.D., “The excessive exposure to the sun is one of the leading aggravating factors in these conditions of hyperpigmentation.” Thus, Dr. Agbai implies that one should always apply tinted sunscreen with full broad spectrum coverage to the skin daily not only to help prevent the appearance of new spots, but to also help prevent exacerbation of the existing ones.
- In addition, wearing wide-brim hats or long sleeved attire is a good measure in protecting the skin from the damaging effects of UV rays. So is remaining indoors between the hours of midday sun and using tanning machines which helps prevent the occurrence of age spots.
At-Home Treatments
While some dark spots may naturally fade over time with proper care, more persistent sun spots or sun damage may require targeted treatment. For at-home care, several approaches can effectively tackle sun spots.
1. How to get rid of Age Spots with Specific Ingredients
Age spots, which are also known as senile lentigines or solar lentigines, are quite common when an individual advances in age. These mainly develop due exposure to sun and more of the pigment called melanin. To be able to tackle these spots effectively, it is crucial to employ suitable ingredients that aid in the treatment of hyper-pigmentation and uneven skin tone.
Exfoliating Acids:
- Exfoliating acids are probably the most essential active component in products that help to reduce age spots. Exfoliating acids lead to the shedding of the outer surface of dead skin, the epidermis, revealing new, younger skin. Face masks and serums contain many additives including alpha hydroxy acids AHAs such as glycolic acid and lactic acid, beta hydroxy acids BHAs including the widely known salicylic acid.
- Exfoliation serves to enhance the skin surface and also improves the penetration of active ingredients, which is the optimal use of these active compounds. These acids tend to be incorporated consistently two or three times a week as part of the skin’s regimen to help promote cellular turnover which in turn helps to improve the skin’s overall health.
Brightening Agents:
Besides exfoliating acids, also search for brightening agents such as alpha arbutin and niacinamide, when given in your moisturizing creams with serums and masks.
Alpha Arbutin:
Alpha arbutin, an extract from the bearberry plant, is a highly effective skin-brightening determinant of melanin for the treatment of skin hyperpigmentation and dark spots with the inhibition of melanin synthesis. Unlike other agents that are used for skin lightening, alpha arbutin is safe to use for all skin types. It makes it ideal for people who wish to lighten age spots over a period of time. Improvement of skin tone and clarity can be expected with continued use.
Niacinamide:
Niacinamide, also called nicotinamide or niacin, is one of the members of vitamin B3 complex family. This ingredient is often included in the89 formulations aimed at treatment of age spots and other types of skin hyperpigmentation. It not only helps in normalizing skin tone but also improves the skin barrier and helps keep moisture in the skin thereby promoting skin health. Also, it is formulated for sensitive skin as niacinamide has an anti-inflammatory property. In addition to these, niacinamide also narrows down the profile of age spots effectively softening the skin and restoring the healthy complexion.
Incorporating into Your Routine:
For maximum effectiveness, think of using products which have these active ingredients as part of your skin regime. For beginners, a good starting point is an exfoliation serum or mask that contains AHAs or BHAs gentle enough bear exfoliator. In this case, use this two to three times per week depending on the ability of the skin to tolerate it. When the skin has stopped needing day cream, don’t forget to incorporate a post-arbutin serum or niacinamide serum before moisturizer. The most important thing is the regularity with which such procedures are carried out. In due course of time, age spots will no longer be an issue and a more radiant even toned skin will be revealed.
2. Start Early with Vitamin C
- Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant. It helps whiten the skin, stimulates collagen synthesis, and defends tissues from environmental aggressors such as ultraviolet light and free radicals. All of these measures are aimed at preventing damage. Using a vitamin C serum in the morning is recommended to increase the overall brightness of the skin and help age spot formation. Look for ascorbic acid or sodium ascorbyl phosphate and other stable forms of vitamin C as part of your products. Regular use of vitamin C can lead to improvement in skin quality and tone.
- Individuals with darker skin tones are less prone to age spots but may experience various types of hyperpigmentation,” explains Dr. Agbai. “Vitamin C serums can be beneficial for achieving a more even skin tone, while topical retinoids like Differin Gel serve as a gentle peeling agent.” The cult favorite C E Ferulic Serum from SkinCeuticals and the highly effective Tatcha Violet-C Brightening Serum, which contains 20% Vitamin C and 10% AHA are also highly recommended.
3. Opt for Potent Serums
- Skin brightening serums, such as Differin Dark Spot Correcting Serum, utilize up to 2 percent hydroquinone to fade age spots by lightening the pigmented area over time. “Hydroquinone is a widely used over-the-counter lightening agent that can be safe and effective with cautious use,” warns Dr. Agbai, emphasizing its suitability for lighter skin tones but cautioning against use on darker skin.
- For those seeking alternatives, products like Dr. Brandt Skincare Magnetight Age-Defier and SkinMedica’s Lytera 2.0 Pigment Correcting Serum feature tranexamic acid, a potent acid that brightens and combats stubborn spots. “Discuss any cosmeceuticals with your board-certified dermatologist to ensure their safety,” advises Dr. Agbai.
4. Combine Prescribed Topicals
Dr. Agbai suggests that for individuals belonging to POC disperse salicylic acid chemical peel once in a few weeks along with a prescription topical cream containing Tri-Luma. Fade creams, and other skin-lightening agents, are usually combined with chemical peels at regular intervals. Moreover, chemical peels are also useful for self-treatment at home. They exfoliate the surface of the skin in order to enhance the shedding of the dead skin cells.
Experiment with Chemical Peels
Lighter skin tones can benefit from gentle at-home peels like Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel or milder options designed for sensitive skin. Peels can enhance the texture of the skin. It helps to achieve a more even skin tone by sloughing off dead skin and encouraging cell turnover. It is necessary, however, to exercise care in the usage of these peels so as to avoid excessive exfoliation.
In-Office Treatments
For deeper or darker age spots, over-the-counter products may not suffice. Moving to professional treatments is the next step to effectively remove discoloration and even out skin tone. The choice of treatment depends largely on skin tone and should be discussed with a skincare specialist.
1. Try Professional Chemical Peels
Dermatological procedures, especially in professional environments use chemicals such as trichloroacetic acid (TCA) or glycolic acid, for exfoliation of the upper layers of the skin and promotion of processes such as collagen production and turnover, hence resulting in lighter skin. However, Dr. Agbai, cautions that this may also lead to post-inflammatory hyper-pigmentation in individuals with darker skin complexions.
Taking into consideration the extent of the age spots, physicians may prescribe different levels of chemical peel which corresponds with the skin type and color. In some cases, performing more than one treatment may be required to achieve the desired outcome.
2. Consider Microneedling
‘Microneedling’ is a procedure, where the skin is given deliberate trauma to a degree that is appreciable but much less than what the skin can withstand. This trauma triggers tissue remodeling processes that reduce, in particular, sun spots. The approach is based on the use of thin needles that pierce the epidermis to create small injuries to the skin to induce collagen production and enhance the efficacy of topical agents. For instance, patients often observe changes in the skin structure and color after the procedure. It helps to get rid of age spots efficiently.
3. Explore Laser Therapy
Lasers produce focused beams of light to successfully target pigmented lesions, but several treatments and healing intervals may be required. Laser treatments come in several forms. Each one is tailored to address specific skin issues. For instance, fractional lasers treat only portions of the skin to reduce downtime while still achieving results.
Dr. Agbai recommends that those with pigmented skin be careful of using lasers for the treatment of hyperpigmentation. It is very important that an experienced dermatologist who has treated numerous skin types is chosen in order to get the best results.
4. Opt for IPL Treatments
Lumecca and other IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) therapies focus on color correction by delivering light energy to pigmented regions. It is safe for light skin types, but darker skin tones can be treated with caution as there is a risk of targeting unwanted pigments. Patients are encouraged to speak to a licensed professional about their skin type, and suitable treatments for it, to make an informed choice about the particular treatment.
When to Seek Professional Help
- “Individuals with darker skin tones should approach laser treatments for hyperpigmentation cautiously,” advises Dr. Agbai. “Discuss any plans for at-home chemical peels or treatments with a board-certified dermatologist familiar with diverse skin types,” she stresses.
- When it comes to age spots, the advice of a dermatologist is important in ensuring that these blemishes are merely superficial. According to Dr. Rabach, age spots are diagnosed by simply looking at the skin and dermatoscopic evaluation of the skin pigment.
- Unlike skin cancer, age spots typically lack color discrepancies. “Genuine sun spots are harmless and generally don’t require intervention unless they cause cosmetic concern,” says Adrienne O’Connell, M.D., medical director of Laguna Beach Aesthetics in California. However, any spot showing rapid growth, changes in appearance, or unusual characteristics warrants prompt medical evaluation.
To sum up, taking steps towards healthy skin and the use of makeup in moderation in advance can prevent the development of age spots. It helps one retain a youthful appearance all through. In this way, one can successfully hinder the adverse effects of the sun on oneself. Also, improve how the skin looks by incorporating preventive measures, resultant skin care procedures, and appropriate treatments in clinics. Moreover, as new treatments every day flood the dermatological markets, seeing a board-certified dermatologist is crucial as he/she is in the best position to draw a suitable treatment plan aimed at the unique needs of your skin.