Age Spots

Age spots are spots that appear on the body where the sun hits, such as your face, arms, hands shoulders or chest.  Sun spots or age spots develop over time from years of frequent or prolonged sun exposures to UV light.  UV light accelerates the production of melanin, the pigment in the upper layer of skin that gives your skin color and increases uneven pigment (age spots).  You can lighten or fade these spots.  You dont have to live with them forever.   There are easy and affordable ways to bleach spots you already have and ways to prevent them by protecting your skin from further damage with sunscreen and avoiding excessive sun exposure.


Prevent:  Use sunscreen and  minimize your exposure to the sun.

Lighten:   Dab on lemon juice for a natural way of bleaching.  This is slow but it does work.
                 Creams and lotions can also help to slowly bleach out the spots.  These are usual slow but over time so work.

            

 Medical treatments:  These are typically much faster acting and also cost more.
     1.  Laser Resurfacing:  Takes about an hour, can be painful and usually more than one treatment is needed.  The laser beam dissolves molecular bonds in the skin and vaporizes the outer layer of the skin.  Once the skin heals it appears tighter and smoother. 

     2.  Chemical Peels:  Faster than the fruit acids and creams.  Low intensity peels are usually not painful and work well on age spots.  They strip away dead skin cells and damaged outer layers of skin, stimulate the growth of new healthy skin

     3.  Microdermabrasion:  This allows for exfoliation of the skins outer layers.  Skin is buffed with fine crystals.  Newer skin comes to the surface and looks younger and healthier.    Several treatments are also needed for this to be effective at removing them.