Age and liver spots can be a problem for many people, but the good news is that there are ways to reduce their appearance or even remove them completely. Let’s look at some of the best treatments and skincare products for age and liver spots.
Understand the Causes of Age/Liver Spots
Age or liver spots, also known as solar lentigines, are common signs of aging caused by overexposure to the sun. They usually appear on areas of the body that have had the most direct exposure to the sun, such as the face, chest, hands, and arms.
Protect Your Skin from Sun Damage
Obviously, one of the most important – and free – steps to prevent and reduce the appearance of age/liver spots is to protect your skin from sun damage.
Sun exposure is a major contributor to age development and liver spots. Applying sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 every day (even when it’s cloudy) can help protect your skin from further damage and slow down the formation of new spots.
Make sure to apply a generous amount of sunscreen to any areas exposed to sunshine and reapply it every two hours or after swimming or sweating.
Wear protective clothing such as hats and long-sleeved shirts for extended periods when you’re out in the sun. Also, avoid being in the sun during peak hours, usually between 10 am and 4 pm.
Examine Your Skin Care Routine
If you aren’t already, start using products containing ingredients that help lighten the skin, such as hydroquinone, retinoids, Vitamin C, alpha hydroxy acids (AHA), and beta hydroxy acids (BHA).
Vitamin C helps to brighten the skin, while AHA and BHA can help to exfoliate and remove dead skin cells that can cause age/liver spots.
You can use a gentle exfoliating scrub or a chemical exfoliant with ingredients like glycolic acid or salicylic acid. Regular exfoliation can help reduce the appearance of age spots and help keep your skin looking younger.
Be sure to talk to your dermatologist before using any product to ensure it is safe for your skin type.
Try Natural Remedies
Great-grandma had the right idea when she tried bleach or lemon juice to lighten her spots. Many natural remedies are easily available to the consumer today, such as aloe vera, yogurt, honey, papaya, and apple cider vinegar.
These can be applied directly to the age or liver spots and should be done regularly for best results. It’s important to remember that natural remedies can take longer to work, but they can be a safe and effective option for lightening age or liver spots.
Seek Professional Treatment Options
If you’re looking for a more permanent solution, several professional treatments are available for age and liver spots. Cryotherapy is a common treatment for age spots, where a dermatologist will spray or apply, with a Q-tip, a freezing liquid to the affected area.
Other techniques include laser treatments, dermabrasion, microdermabrasion, microneedling, and chemical peels.
Your dermatologist may also prescribe bleaching creams to help fade the age spots gradually. These creams usually contain hydroquinone and sometimes retinoids, such as tretinoin or adapalene.
Laser or light therapy may be an option if you’re looking for a more intensive approach to getting rid of age/liver spots.
IPL (Intense Pulsed Light), and lasers are all used to target the color brown in age spots. IPL uses light to target the age spots, and laser treatments vaporize the pigmented areas.
Depending on your skin type and the severity of your age spots, your dermatologist can recommend the best option. It’s important to note that these treatments may require multiple sessions to see results.
We are looking at you, Floridians!
Consume a Healthy Diet
In addition to protecting your skin from sun damage, you can also reduce your age/liver spots by eating a healthy diet. Eating foods rich in antioxidants, such as fruits and vegetables, can help reduce damage to the skin caused by free radicals. Omega-3 fatty acids in fish and nuts can also help keep your skin healthy and hydrated.
Eating a balanced diet can also help you maintain a healthy weight, which helps the skin stay elastic and firm. The healthier your diet is, the better your body will fight off age/liver spots.