Age Spots Cause : What Are They ?

Contrary to the name, age spots are not caused by someone’s age. It is more likely the exposure of your skin to the ultraviolet rays of the sun that will cause these unappealing blotches. Someone’s age is not the actual cause. This is the reason why age spots are also known as sun spots. Other components that make you more sensitised to age spots (disregarding what your age) are smoking, a diet with too much refined sugars and fats, deficiency of vitamins, and over use of low quality foods.

Unappealing age spots on face and body can start showing up as soon as the late twenties but they are most commonly encountered following the age of 55 (therefore the name.)

Other Names for Age Spots

Age spots can also be referred to as liver spots. Some other nicknames for age spots are brown spots, lentigo and sun spots. The name “sun spot” originates from the fact that the skin will get darker after too much direct exposure outside in the sun.

Age Spots How to Treat Them

As it is the case with many other skin problems, age spots on face and body are a lot easier to prevent and avoid than to cure. What you eat will have alot to do with lowering the odds of developing this unpleasant skin condition. Eating a diet abundant in vegetables colored orange (carrot and yams) and green leafy vegetables (collard greens and watercress) can help lower your chances of creating these types of spots as you grow older. These food types are loaded with anti-oxidants which help protect against harming free radicals which are created as the consequence of too much sun exposure. Also, they are foods that are rich in Vitamin A and carotene, that also assists in maintaining your skin in top condition and much more resistant to the sun’s ultraviolet rays.

If you currently have age spots, fortunately there are some methods to decrease their appearance. There are lots of different products available today that may fade and reduce them, and they will look less noticeable. One of these active component in these over the counter skin whitening products is a chemical substance called hydroquinone. Hydroquinone is a gentle bleaching agent that can help lighten the look of many skin discolorations including liver spots, scarring and freckles. Several prescription varieties of this cream contains also topical vit a that could also help diminishing the appearance of age spots.

If your age spots are really unsightly or if they are developing in an undesired place on your body where they are too apparent (for instance on your face) you can find several other ways to cosmetically deal with the problem. Probably the most common cosmetic treatment option for age spots is a deep chemical peel. These types of peels consist of anywhere from 70% to 80 % glycolic acid and take away layers of skin to lessen the appearance of the darker spots

Another option is laser resurfacing. In this process the age spots are virtually burned away employing an advanced, targeted laser. However this treatment is only effective on very white skin with very dark age spots. The reason being that for laser treatments you need a contrast of colors (black on white)for it to work. Darker age spots on darker skin do not react well at all to these treatments. If the age spot is brighter in color, purple like or strange coloring, laserlight resurfacing might not offer you the results you expect and may not remove the age spot at all. Black or dark brown age spots on lighter skin respond the best to this laser treatment.

Even though the majority of age spots are harmless blotches, the earlier stages of skin cancer can be hidden as harmless looking dark spots. Your doctor or a dermatologist must check any spot that gets bigger, thicker, changes color, itches or bleeds. If the age spot has an irregular shape, changes color or grows, it can be a sign of skin cancers.

One cost effective and natural way to reduce age spots is to simply keep out of the sun and wear long sleeved shirts. You should always take precautions to protect all of your exposed skin if you know you are going to be in a place where there is likely to be a lot of ultraviolet light. Make sure that you always wear sunscreen when you are out during a sunny day. Limiting your intake of alcohol can also discourage a propensity towards developing the unattractive skin discolorations.

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