You may notice a growing number of small dark spots on your skin with each birthday that passes. Getting more of these age spots as you get older is a normal body reaction to sun exposure over time.
They most often start popping up at or around age 50, but younger people can also get age spots if they spend a lot of time in the sun.
At-home remedies for age spots
You can treat your age spots at home with topical medicated creams. To get these creams, you’ll need a prescription from your doctor. Doctors most often prescribe:
- hydroquinone (a bleaching cream)
- mild steroids
- retinoids, such as tretinoin (an acne cream)
These topical medications work by fading age spots over the span of several months.
You should always apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF (sun protection factor) of at least 30, especially if you use one or more topical treatments. This helps reduce any additional sun damage.
Over-the-counter topical fade creams are also available. Look for one that contains:
- hydroquinone
- glycolic acid
- kojic acid
Be aware that some of these products may irritate your skin, especially those that contain hydroquinone.
In-office treatments for age spots
Your doctor may be able to treat age spots in the office faster than you can at home.
Laser and intense pulsed light therapy
These treatments help destroy melanin-making cells (the cells that color age spots) without harming the surface of the skin. Typically, you’ll need to see your doctor two or three times for treatment.
Some weeks or months after the treatment, your age spots should begin to fade. There are few side effects of laser and intense pulsed light therapy. Most often, people experience some temporary discoloration of their skin.
After treatment, you need to apply sunscreen and use other forms of sun protection daily.
Read Complete Article at Age Spot Treatments
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