Fighting Age Spots To Look And Feel Young
As you grow old, you may notice a few dark blemishes on the back of your hands, neck, forearm, face or chest. These are called ‘age spots’ and these usually arise due to hereditary causes, improper skin care or too much exposure to sunlight. Age spots are known by many names such as liver spots, sun spots, letigines or lentigos. So if you see some tan, dark brown or brown spots appearing on your skin it might be time to consult your physician. In some people age spots may resemble moles, but there is a lot of difference between the two.
There are innumerable medical and over-the-counter treatments for sun spots. It is widely believed that people who have age spots are more prone to skin cancer. So, before beginning any treatment it is important to rule out the possibility of these spots being cancerous. Once you are given a clean chit by your dermatologist, you can go ahead and try the innumerable options available to deal with age spots.
You can try ‘fade creams’ which contain a bleaching agent that helps to lighten your age spots gradually over a period of a few months. For best results they can be used along with a moisturizer containing glycolic acid, which helps in keeping the skin smooth. You can also opt for ‘retinoids’, which along with fading the discoloration also stimulate the development of healthy new cells. Then there are ‘chemical peels’, which not only lighten the age spots but also make the skin more firm and smooth by removing fine lines and wrinkles.
‘Laser Resurfacing’ is also a popular option these days where all traces of lines and wrinkles, discoloration and age spots are removed efficiently in a single sitting. However it is always advisable to consult with your dermatologist before going in for any of these treatments.
