How age spots form

The term "age spot" is a misnomer, because these spots aren’t caused by aging in and of itself. Rather, as we age and spend more time in the sun, these spots develop: UV rays increase the synthesis of melanin, a chemical that provides pigment or color in skin, which in turn forms age spots. Genetics can impact age spots because melanin levels in your skin are hereditary.

Spot the spots

What do age spots look like? They’re flat and can range in size. A spot might appear on its own or cluster together with other spots. Typically, you find them on areas that receive the most sun exposure, like the face, arms, hands and shoulders in shades of brown, gray or black.

Possible prevention

Some strategies are effective in preventing age spots, while others offer mere speculation.

• Vitamin E. There's a common belief that vitamin E safeguards against spots. However, according to The Diet Channel, neither taking vitamin E nor applying it in pure form prevents age spots. If you're especially sensitive to vitamin E, it can even cause a rash.
• Sunscreen. Because sun exposure causes age spots, sunscreen is an important tool in your arsenal. Choose sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher and broad spectrum protection to block UVA and UVB rays. Try Exuviance Essential Multi Defense Day Cream SPF 15 to defend and moisturize your skin with antioxidants and botanicals.
• Avoid exposure. If possible, stay inside between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. when the sun’s rays inflict the most damage. If you must be outside, wear long sleeves, pants, wide-brimmed hats and sunglasses in addition to your broad spectrum sunscreen.

Topical treatments

Many skincare products contain beneficial ingredients that address age spots.

• Hydroquinone has bleaching action and reduces melanin formation. Prescription products typically contain 4 percent hydroquinone, whereas over-the-counter formulas include 2 percent. When applying hydroquinone, use a cotton swab or Q-tip and be careful to use it only on your spots, because, as cosmetic dermatologist Ranella Hirsch, M.D., tells Good Housekeeping, hydroquinone "can't distinguish the skin you want to bleach from the skin you don’t." In other words, if not careful, it can bleach your non-spotted pigment, too.

  Results take time, but professor and chairman of the dermatology department at Howard University Rebat Halder, M.D., calls hydroquinone "the gold standard for pigmentary disorders." To try for yourself, consider Murad Age Spot and Pigment Lightening Gel.

• Retinols and retinoids come from vitamin A. Retinols are generally available in OTC products, while retinoids are stronger and sold by prescription. These ingredients block skin from manufacturing melanin. In one study, the prescription-strength retinoid cream Retin-A "lightened or cleared up the age spots in more than 80 percent of users," according to The New York Times. Plus, when patients were examined six months later, the spots hadn’t come back. If you’re interested in a retinol product, try SkinCeuticals Retinol 1.0, which contains 1 percent retinol to regenerate skin cells and reduce age spots.
• Alpha hydroxy acids like glycolic acid are another topical option. They slough off dead skin cells, including pigmented cells that form age spots, to reveal healthy, new skin. Dermelect Beautone Enlightening Spot Treatment treats age spots with a formula of glycolic acid and botanical extracts. It’s even safe for sensitive skin.

Professional procedures

Dermatologists perform procedures that can eliminate your age spots.

• Lasers. Plastic surgeon Z. Paul Lorenc, M.D., tells MSNBC that laser treatment "has a very pronounced effect and it offers the most drastic improvement." Intense pulsed light (IPL) lasers work well on brown spots. Light beams enter the skin, transform and heat up, which breaks apart the melanin in age spots. Eventually, spots will crust over and fall off. Each pulse of light is extremely short and focuses on a tiny area, producing a snapping sensation.

  Some people might find IPL painful. Depending on the severity of your spots, you’ll probably need a few treatments, which can cost hundreds of dollars apiece. Also, IPL treatments might create harmful free radicals — up to twice as much "compared with exposure to ultraviolet light," notes Allure magazine.

• Chemical peels. Chemicals like trichloroacetic acid or alpha hydroxy acids are applied to skin, removing surface layers to fade spots. After outer skin layers peel away, healthy new skin is revealed. The downsides? Like laser therapy, expect multiple treatments before seeing improvement. Also, "it can be difficult to control how deep the chemical might go," according to MSNBC. Chemical peels can make skin more sensitive to the sun — which increases the risk for more spots — so proper protection is essential.
• Cryotherapy. Unlike how it reads, cryotherapy has nothing to do with shedding tears over your age spots (though you still might). Your actually dermatologist uses liquid nitrogen, deliberately causing a form of frostbite to freeze age spots away. The cold temperature affects pigment in these spots — as skin recovers, age spots seem lighter. Cryotherapy is ideal for a single spot or small cluster but not for widespread areas. The process might sting and possible side effects include permanent scarring or discoloration.

Covering up

If you’re looking for a way to conceal your age spots, try these two products. Body makeup like Dermablend Leg and Body Cover comes in many shades, so you can pick the right color to match your skin and conceal spots. It also covers bruises, scars, veins, stretch marks and tattoos. The product goes on easily and dries fast. Finish with Dermablend Loose Setting Powder to ensure the longest wear possible.