A general overview of what age spots are.
Age spots, commonly called liver spots, sun spots, or solar lentigines, are small, flat, darkly pigmented areas on the skin. Age spots can vary in size and will generally appear on areas of the skin that are repeatedly exposed to the sun, like the face, hands, shoulders, and arms.
Age spots are more prevalent in people who have light skin and spend a lot of time in the sun. They are very common in lighter-skinned people older than fifty and younger lighter-skinned people can also get them if they spend too much time in the sun. Age spots can look like cancerous growths but will generally not require treatment, and for cosmetic reasons, they can be lightened or removed. It is a sign that the skin has received a lot of sun exposure and is an attempt by the skin to protect itself from more sun damage.
Age spots can be prevented or delayed by regularly using sunscreen when going out under the sun or by avoiding long-term sun exposure, but unlike freckles, which can fade with no sun exposure, age spots will not fade and will tend to darken more over time.
The common characteristics of age spots are:
- Flat, oval areas of increased pigmentation on exposed areas of the skin.
- Commonly tan to dark brown in colour.
- Will commonly occur on skin areas that have had the most sun exposure over the years, like the backs of hands, the tops of the feet, facial skin areas, the shoulders, and the upper back.
- Can range in various sizes, from small to large.
- Can group together on specific areas of the skin, which makes them more noticeable from a distance.
The most promising age spot removal treatments.
Age spots can fade significantly, or sometimes even get rid of them, with the right age spot removal Bristol treatment. While many age spot removal treatment options are available, there are generally two types of treatments that are commonly used. They are:
- Creams and lotions.
- Medical procedures.
Cosmetic procedures used for age spot removal, including the various laser therapies and chemical peels, will tend to work faster for fading age spots. Cosmetic procedures will also cost more and pose a higher risk of causing side effects for sensitive people. Cream and lotion treatments, on the other hand, will require regular use and, therefore, discipline to promote positive age spot removal results.
Here are a few considerations to know beforehand about age spot removal treatment options.
Age spot removal creams and lotions.
Before considering cream and lotion age spot removal treatment options, it is important to see a board-certified dermatologist first. It is important to seek their professional advice on what the most effective and medically safe cream and lotion treatments are since the vast majority of over-the-counter age spot removal treatments will claim to fade age spots but with less-than-desirable results.
Additionally, a board-certified dermatologist can tell if an age spot is actually an age spot or if it is the various keratoses or skin cancer. Another important reason why seeing a board-certified dermatologist is absolutely paramount is that age spot removal treatments are used to fade age spots that are possibly skin cancer; they can hide and give the cancer time to grow and possibly spread.
They can examine the skin and tell if any age spots are just ordinary age spots or if they could be possible skin cancer.
Age spot removal procedures.
Laser age spot removal treatments.
Laser age spot removal procedures, which can generally be one or two types of laser treatments, are highly effective at removing age spots quickly and effectively. Laser age spot removal procedures are also more likely to have longer-lasting results compared to prescription creams and lotions.
However, laser age spot removal procedures can initially cause some mild side effects like crusting of the skin or temporary darkening of the age spots, which will tend to fade quickly.
Cryosurgery age spot removal procedures.
Cryosurgery is a common treatment for age spot removal, with the dermatologist freezing the age spots, which, as the skin heals after the procedure, will provide a more even skin tone. The cryosurgery age spot removal procedure can be painful, with some pain, blisters, temporary redness, swelling, and skin tenderness experienced after the procedure.
Microdermabrasion age spot removal procedure.
With microdermabrasion, a dermatologist will smooth away any age spots, and it is quite effective, especially if a patient has also had a previous chemical peel procedure.
Generally, microdermabrasion is commonly performed at least once every two weeks for 16 weeks, with the majority of patients visibly noticing their age spots completely disappear. Patients who have undergone a microdermabrasion age spot removal procedure and a chemical peel will have better results.
The possible side-effects of a microdermabrasion age spot removal procedure are that some patients will notice mild inflammation on the treated skin areas, which will tend to likely disappear in a few hours. Additionally, patients will also notice flaky skin for a few days after the procedure.
Chemical peeling and spot removal procedures.
Chemical peeling is highly effective at treating age spots on the hands. While cryosurgery will have slightly better and faster results, the skin tends to heal faster after chemical peeling compared to the side effects of freezing after cryosurgery.
Why protection is essential after an age spot removal treatment.
Effective sun protection is a must after an age spot removal treatment, and no matter which treatment is used, it is important to expect that age spots can return without proper and regular protection of the skin from the harmful effects of exposure to the sun.
It is recommended to seek shade and cover the skin with sun-protective clothing and creams to prevent any age spots from reappearing, like light-weight and long-sleeve shirts, pants, wide-brimmed hats, and even sunglasses with the highest UV protection.
Top tips for managing future skin discolorations after an age spot removal treatment.
It is important to lower the risk of developing further age spots after treatments. While lifestyle can play a role in recurring age spots, a few protective measures can be taken to prevent age spots from prematurely appearing or reappearing after treatment.
- Wear sunscreen daily.
Sunscreen that has a high SPF rating can effectively reduce the adverse effects of ultraviolet rays on the skin and help keep dark spots from appearing. Avoid unpleasant, greasy, over-the-counter sunscreens and instead choose medical-grade, high-SPF products that feel great on the skin and get the job done on protecting the skin all day long.
- Wear effective clothing.
While sunscreens are great at protecting the skin, it is important to wear physical barriers against the harmful UV-rays of the sun, like wide-brimmed hats, long-sleeved shirts, and sunglasses, for added protection on sunny days or when expecting to be outside under the sun for a few hours.
- Do not pick or scratch your age spots.
Picking or scratching age spots can lead to increased skin discoloration over time. Only use high-quality, medical-strength skin care products designed to treat specific skin conditions.
With so many age spot removal treatment options available, and before resorting to over-the-counter creams and lotions, it is important to visit a certified dermatologist to know which treatment to choose, as they have the expertise needed to create the best treatment plan tailored to a patient’s specific individual needs.
A certified dermatologist can properly evaluate the skin and recommend the appropriate age spot removal options, helping patients avoid wasting money and even suffering from adverse side effects through a trial-and-error approach.
A certified dermatologist can provide expert guidance for a wide range of age-specific interventions.
