How to get rid of age spots?

Age spots are spots on our skin that appear due to an excess of melanin. Melanin is a natural pigment that gives color. It also shields our skin from the sun’s harmful UV rays. So in general melanin is the mechanism that regulates our tanning.

To get rid of age spots you will have to first try cosmetic treatments. You will have to go for retinol or vitamin C based creams. In office treatments like Laser, pulsed light treatment or chemical peels are also effective against age spots. But before jumping into solutions let us find the causes of age spots.

Age spots causes

Most of us have the bad habit of going out unprotected. As we age due to excessive exposure to the sun, melanin concentration increases in some parts of the body. This results in age spots.

As age spots occur due to exposure to the sun they will appear on the areas which are most exposed to the sun like face, hands and legs.

Some other causes of age spots are skin type, genetics, use of tanning lamps and unprotected sun bathing.

Are age spots a cause of concern?

Age spots are harmless, but they appear in clusters on the face which will make a person look aged. But if you have a fair skin, they can sometimes be confused with melanoma which is a type of skin cancer. In such a case consult a skin specialist, especially if they change in shape, size or color or if they start to itch or bleed.

How to get rid of age spots?

Now since we know most of the causes of age spots, let us look at some of the treatment options. If you want to remove of age spots naturally then click here

Laser treatment to lighten the skin

This is one of the most common treatment options used to treat age spots on the face. In this treatment a wand like laser instrument is used to remove the upper layer of the skin. The laser also heats the layers beneath the skin to promote the production of collagen, an essential skin protein.

Laser treatment for age spots is performed in a single session and is painless. The cost will depend upon the number of lesions present.

Intense pulse light treatment

This is emerging as an important solution to get rid of age spots in recent years. The IPL emits a beam of light similar to nature. This beam is more versatile and can be modified according to the type of problem to be eliminated, its depth and the patient's skin.

This is a non-invasive form of treatment and can also be used to remove benign pigmentations or broken capillaries.

Chemical peels

Chemical peeling improves the appearance of age spots. This happens as the peel uses a chemical solution that removes the outer layer of the skin. This will promote the growth of new skin and lighten age spots.

Topical treatments

Cosmetic creams as mentioned above can be good treatment options for age spots. These creams combine different depigmenting agents to improve the appearance of skin blemishes. The active ingredients to look for while buying such creams are hydroquinone, retinol, retinoic acid or vitamin C.

The above four treatment types are good if you want to get rid of age spots. They are mostly painless and will be done in one or several sessions. These sessions will take maximum of 30 minutes. You can return back after the treatment.

How to remove age spots with hydrogen peroxide?

You can use hydrogen peroxide to fade away age spots. You will need to use food grade hydrogen peroxide. Dip a q tip (ear buds) into hydrogen peroxide. You can use baking soda to thicken the hydrogen peroxide before dipping the q tip.

Apply the q tip on your age spot. Keep this on your skin for 15 minutes. Then wash your skin with cool water.

Though many dermatologists are against using hydrogen peroxide on the skin, none have mentioned food grade. You can do your own research before using it. Recently the US FDA has allowed doctors to use hydrogen peroxide as a treatment option for age spots.

In conclusion

Age spots are not a health problem, but will make you look old. There are many treatment options available to treat them.