What Causes Age Spots?

Age spots are collection of pigment which happens due to exposure to the sun. These age spots are also known as solar lentigo or liver spots. These spots can also develop from bruises, which leave blood pigments behind. Such spots can be seen on hands, but it may develop in any sun- exposed skin surface like face, shoulders, neck etc. People who tan extensively develop it more.

Lentigines are phony skin pigment collections, they are also known as melanin, which gets accumulated in the epidermis. They can appear in all kinds of skin types. The main cause is due to prolonged exposure to the sun. The best way to avoid it is by using a good quality sun screen lotion. By application of branded sun block freckles as well as Lentigines could be arrested.

Treatment of age spots:-

One can treat the age spots by freezing, skin sanding or acid treatment. By these ways, superficial destruction of the skin is done. But these ways may leave scars and white spots over the areas. Laser treatment causes less damage to the skin and the results are better. By light the selective pigment removal can be done without damaging the surrounding skin. The pain is comparatively low and the healing time is also very less.

Hydroquinone could be used in light skinned people as bleaching solution. But it may cause redness and irritation in the skin. Dark skinned people are not suggested it, as it can lead to hyper pigmentation. The hyper pigmented area can be reduced, but the natural skin tone remains the same. The dark skinned people may use koiic acid. Along with this other topical treatment with vitamin C and mandelic acid products are used. Koiic acid is more stable product and has longer shelf life.

Apart from this alpha Hydroxy and beta Hydroxy gels can be used for age spots treatment. Retin-A is also suggested to treat the spots. Another way of treating the age spots is with chemical peels.