Got Age Spots? Causes And 3 Ways You Can Diminish Them On Your Face

If you have noticed darkened, flat spots on your face that are black, gray, or brown, this is something that commonly happens with age. You will also hear age spots referred to as sun spots or liver spots. Fortunately, they are not harmful in any way, but you probably still want to clear up your face. If so, below are some causes of age spots and how you can fade them.

Causes of Age Spots

Age spots are caused by an excess production of skin pigment, also known as melanin. The melanin builds up on certain areas of your face instead of your entire face. These concentrated areas are where the age spots appear. They are often a little larger than a freckle. These spots can appear on aging skin much easier because skin becomes much thinner with age.

This can happen if you spend too much time in the sun without using sunscreen and are exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light. Commercial tanning beds and tanning lamps also contribute to the problem.

Natural Remedies

Lemon juice has citric acids and can lighten skin gradually. If you do not have a lot of age spots on your face, lemon juice may be your answer.  Cut a lemon in half and dab the fresh juice on the age spots. Do this several times throughout the day.  Make sure you do not get the lemon juice on any cuts or open sores, as it will burn.

Onion juice may also work, as it stimulates the skin and bleaches it naturally. Do not put raw onion juice onto your skin, as it is too harsh. Instead, put one teaspoon of cream, two teaspoons of fresh onion juice, and enough flour to make it into a paste. Wipe the paste over the age spots, and it will lighten them within a few weeks.

Over-the-Counter Creams

You can find a variety of over-the-counter creams available to treat your age spots. A night cream works well as it can work on your skin as you are sleeping. You need to wash your face first, however, or the cream will not be able to get to the age spot well if it has to work its way through a layer of makeup or oil. 

Dermatologist

A prescription cream from a dermatologist will work better if the over-the-counter cream is not working. One of the ingredients in the prescription cream is retinol, which is the active ingredient that is used to lighten age spots.

If your age spots are still not diminished, the dermatologist can use a technique called laser removal. During this treatment, the dermatologist will use an instrument to remove the upper layer of your skin.  The treatment session may last 15 minutes to an hour. It will likely take several visits for this procedure to fade your age spots.

Make sure you wear sunscreen before you step outside even if it is a cloudy day in order to prevent age spots in the future. For more tips or advice, contact a company like Center Of Dermatology PC/Herschel E Stoller MD.

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