Getting older can mean many things to different people. From belly fat to thunderous thighs to wrinkles, it’s a moment many people dread.

Another condition that is becoming more prevalent, especially in fair-skinned people over the age of 40, is age spots (also known as brown spots, dark spots, liver spots, sun spots, or solar lentigines).

If bad enough, these spots, especially those on the face and hands, can make people look older than they really are.

Ask any dermatologist: Aside from wanting to know how to reduce wrinkles, how to get clearer skin in order to get rid of age spots is probably the most common question patients ask.

The good news is that these spots only affect the outermost layer of the skin. Therefore, there are many non-invasive treatment options available.

If you want to take matters into your own hands, there are several topical creams that can be purchased without a prescription. However, there are some that are only available by prescription.

For the topical route, a combination of the treatments labeled 1-5 below is perhaps the best approach.

Alternatively, you can seek the help of a dermatologist or plastic surgeon. In this case, one or more of the treatment options labeled 5a-7 below may be available to you.

The following information seeks to explain the various treatment options to prevent and remove age spots. Hopefully, the information will help you ask the right questions when seeking treatment.

1. Avoid overexposure to the sun

Truth be told, age spots are usually not caused by aging. They are basically hyperpigmentation (excess melanin in the skin) caused by sun exposure. The stains you are seeing now were years in the making.

So your age spots are basically a reward for years of sun-kissed activities you did without properly protecting yourself from the sun.

All those UV rays feed the melanocytes, which are dark pigment-producing cells. As a result, melanin is produced and then clumps together into brown spots.

Therefore, it is best to avoid excessive exposure to the sun, as doing so could lead to more spots and darken existing spots. That said, you do need some sun exposure because sun exposure brings some very important health benefits.

By using a sunscreen, you will be able to limit your exposure to the sun. However, not all sunscreens are created equal. It is very important that you choose the right one.

You can also wear a wide-brimmed hat or stay in the shade to help prevent overexposure to the sun. Oh… and stay away from tanning beds too.

2. Use tyrosinase inhibitors

Have you ever seen those brown spots on the skin of damaged fruits? Well, that’s the enzyme tyrosinase in action. It does something similar to human skin.

For melanocytes to produce melanin, tyrosinase must be present. Many skin lightening creams contain one or more tyrosinase inhibitors, ingredients such as arbutin, hydroquinone, kojic acid, mulberry extract, and vitamin C.

When these ingredients inhibit the enzyme, they prevent more pigment from forming. However, you may have to wait a couple of weeks or even months to see noticeable results, as it takes time for the existing pigment to peel off.

Hydroquinone is perhaps the most common of these inhibitors. It is the only ingredient approved by the FDA to whiten pigmentation.

Although hydroquinone is the gold standard for lightening age spots, it is quite a controversial ingredient. It can be quite irritating and is suspected of being carcinogenic.

Its use as a bleaching agent is actually banned in the European Union, but in the US doctors still consider it safe if used in lower concentrations.

In the US, over-the-counter hydroquinone-based bleaching treatments can have no more than 2% of the ingredient, while prescription treatments can only have a maximum of 4%.

After achieving the desired result with hydroquinone, it is recommended to discontinue treatment.

3. Use PAR-2 ​​blockers

Once skin pigment is produced, it is carried from melanocytes to skin cells in small “packages” known as melanosomes. Ingredients known as PAR-2 ​​blockers prevent pigment from being deposited in the upper layers of the skin.

Look for treatments that contain niacinamide and soy that act as PAR-2 ​​blockers. But again, patience is the name of the game. The improvement in your condition will not be noticed until the pigment-containing cells detach.

Niacinamide is also a good moisturizer. Moisturizes the skin and helps keep wrinkles at bay.

4. Lignin peroxidase

First identified in 1984, the enzyme lignin peroxidase is one of the newest ingredients to emerge in the fight against skin discoloration. This ingredient breaks down existing pigment, so skin lightening results can be seen more quickly.

There are many types of lignin peroxidase, but so far, only one has been developed and has been shown to be effective in lightening skin. That enzyme, which has been patented as “Melanozyme”, is only available in the Elure product line.

5. Exfoliation

Exfoliating regularly is a great way to speed up the removal of skin discoloration by helping to remove surface cells that contain pigment.

As you exfoliate, the cell turnover cycle speeds up to the point where the melanocytes can’t produce pigment fast enough. At that time, your skin begins to lighten and age spots begin to fade.

Glycolic acid and retinol/retinoids are some of the most effective exfoliating agents out there. However, be sure not to over-exfoliate, as that can cause skin irritation.

5A. dermabrasion

This is a procedure that is normally used to improve the appearance of facial skin that is scarred by accidents and surgeries.

It is also often used to smooth fine facial wrinkles, but can also be used to remove dark or brown spots.

Dermabrasion is a procedure where the top layer of skin is basically sanded away. Subsequently, new skin begins to grow on the top layer.

It is not a very comfortable procedure but it works.

A less invasive procedure is microdermabrasion. Consult with your dermatologist/plastic surgeon to find out which of these procedures suits your situation.

5B. chemical peel

Similar to dermabrasion is a chemical peel (also known as chemexfoliation or derma peeling). This is a procedure in which an acid is applied to the skin to burn off the top layer.

Although chemical peels are generally used on the face, they can also be used to improve the skin on the neck and hands.

6. Laser and light treatments

Check with your dermatologist if they offer laser or light treatments.

This is a non-surgical approach that treats age spots with powerful light-based technology. The light kills the melanin-producing cells without damaging the surrounding skin.

Some of the benefits of these procedures include:

=> Possibility of visible results from the first treatment

=> The treatment session may only last a few minutes depending on the size of the treatment area and the depth of the discoloration

=> Minimal discomfort (sometimes feels like a rubber band is snapping against the skin)

=> Excellent treatment results

Possible side effects include blisters, itching, peeling, and redness.

Of course, cost is also an important consideration. Treatments can run into the hundreds per session, so if you’re on a tight budget, skin lightening creams or home treatments may be the way to go.

7. Cryotherapy (Freezing)

This procedure involves applying liquid nitrogen or some other freezing agent to age spots to remove excess pigment from the skin. As the area begins to heal, the skin becomes lighter.

Cryotherapy is usually used on an age spot or a small, close-knit group of spots. This procedure may temporarily cause skin irritation and poses a small risk of permanent discoloration or scarring.

8. How to Get Clearer Skin – Home Remedies

If you’re going to use a home remedy to get rid of age spots, recognize that it may take a bit longer than conventional treatments. Therefore, a little more patience will be required on your part.

When I was younger and had the occasional brown spot, one of the home remedies I used was lemon juice. He is something of a standard-bearer for home remedies when it comes to dark spot removal.

Apply fresh lemon juice directly to your blemishes twice a day until you get the results you want. Lemon juice contains mild citric acid that is powerful enough to safely get rid of dead skin cells and reveal the fresh new layers of skin underneath.

Buttermilk contains lactic acid, which can work in the same way as lemon juice.

The combination of honey and yogurt results in another type of homemade bleach. Mix a teaspoon of each and apply it to your age spots. Let it dry for about 30 minutes before washing it off.

For more detailed information on home remedies, check out this book on home remedies for skin whitening that I reviewed. I think you will find it very helpful.

9. Neutralizes stains

If you’re a woman, you can cover individual spots with a peach-toned concealer before applying foundation. Concealers housed in a jar are usually thicker and contain higher amounts of pigment.

A good concealer to try is Bobbi Brown, which is available in 4 peach-based shades. Apply any of these shades with a flat makeup brush, then pat down with your finger to blend.

For more diffuse skin pigmentation, use a primer like Pür Minerals Color Correcting Primer in Peach. Use concealer and primer sparingly, then apply your foundation.

Check if any discoloration or unevenness is still noticeable on the skin. If discoloration is still noticeable, lightly apply a lightweight, skin-matching concealer, similar to those you put under your eyes.

word of caution

Since age spots can look like cancerous growths, it’s wise to see your doctor if the spots are irregularly shaped, growing, itchy, tender, or have unusual colors.

Make sure to check them out early too. Better safe than sorry.

conclusion

The old adage “prevention is better than cure” holds true here. It’s much easier to prevent unwanted skin pigmentation than it is to figure out how to lighten skin after age spots and other discolorations have appeared.

This is where avoiding overexposure to the sun and using sunscreen comes into play. Implementing these two items will help prevent age spots and will also help lighten the spots you currently have.

If you haven’t already, start using an anti-aging skin moisturizer, one that contains antioxidants vitamin C (a tyrosinase inhibitor) or vitamin E, or both.

Both substances fight free radical damage (and wrinkles) and help prevent the appearance of brown or dark spots on the skin.