08 Mar
How Do I Get Rid of Age Spots?
Age spots are a common occurrence and tend to appear as you grow older. But what does it mean when these brown splotches begin to appear at a young age? Well, they can also be a result of excessive sun exposure.
In this article, you’ll learn more about the nature of age spots, their causes, and how you can effectively treat them.
What Are Age Spots?
Age spots, also known as sun or liver spots, are flat brown spots on your skin. They can appear in various sizes and shades on areas often exposed to the sun, such as the face, hands, shoulders, and arms. This skin condition is common among adults in their 50s or older but also appears in young people if they spend much time under the sun.
Age spots are not cancerous, so don’t worry when they start forming. However, their formation is a sign that your skin has too much sun exposure and is trying to prevent further damage. If you want additional guidance, consulting with your skincare specialist can give you the professional advice needed.
What Causes Age Spots?
The cause of age spots is excess melanin or skin pigment production. When you expose yourself to ultraviolet (UV) light, your body produces high amounts of this substance. Sun exposure and usage of tanning beds are the two most common causes of age spots aside from aging.
How to Get Rid of Sun Spots
Age spots can appear anywhere on your body. Sometimes, a person can get abundant spots on their face, impacting their self-esteem and confidence. Fortunately, it’s possible to combat age spots by doing the following:
1. Stay Away From Direct Sunlight
It’s essential to know how to prevent age spots from appearing in the first place. Remember to lessen your time under the sun since this boosts melanin production. If you’re going out during the day, you can wear long-sleeved clothing to cover your skin and sunglasses to protect your eyes.
2. Wear Sunscreen
Keep your skin fresh and protected from sun damage when you wear sunscreen. Find a hydrating product with an SPF value of at least 30 because this offers 97% skin protection. Wherever you go, always bring sunscreen to reapply when needed.
3. Dermabrasion
Another procedure for age spot removal is dermabrasion. A dermatologist uses a rapidly rotating brush that sands or removes the outer layer of age spots. This process stimulates the cells to form a new, smoother, and less pigmented layer. After several sessions, you can achieve clearer skin without any signs of discolouration.
Despite its effectiveness, dermabrasion can leave your skin irritated and red after a session. It can take a couple of days or more for the irritation to subside.
4. Microdermabrasion
Microdermabrasion is similar to dermabrasion, but the former is less aggressive. This process uses fine crystals and a vacuum to remove dead skin cells. As a result, you get a more even skin tone, faded spots, and a brighter complexion. However, skin irritation can still occur but lasts only a couple of hours.
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5. Chemical Peels
You can also remove age spots using chemical peels. This involves a chemical solution being applied to your skin, which is then left on for some time. Upon removal of the product, the top skin layer is removed, making way for a new and smoother complexion.
Depending on the darkness of your age spots, you may need a deeper peel or more than one treatment session to achieve the desired results.
6. Picosure
PicoSure is the best treatment for effective and accurate age spot removal. The PicoSure laser works by using highly targeted energy to disrupt freckles, sunspots, and other forms of discolouration. Compared to most laser treatments, PicoSure is virtually painless and requires one to two sessions to achieve great results.
7. Cryotherapy
Cryotherapy is the process of applying a cotton swab with liquid nitrogen on your age spots for a couple of seconds. During this process, cold gas freezes your spots and destroys excess pigment. As a result, your skin becomes fresh and has improved blood circulation.
A registred healthcare professional is the only provider who can administer this type of treatment.
Effective Treatment for Age Spots at Harmony Med Spa
Say goodbye to your age spots with targeted chemical peel or PicoSure treatments at Harmony Med Spa! We are a modern, upscale medical aesthetic clinic located in the Durham Region that offers a wide range of advanced non-surgical cosmetic procedures using only FDA-approved equipment.
Book a consultation today, so we can assess which service best fits your concern.