All About Age Spots on your Skin

They’re dark patches that develop on the skin. Even though they’re called liver spots, they have nothing to do with the liver except sharing the same colour. The name came from an earlier misconception that the spots were signs of liver problems. But now we know they come from exposure to ultraviolet rays.

That’s why they appear on areas of the skin exposed to the sun. These areas include the face, neck, shoulders, arms, scalp if exposed, and forehead. When they appear on the face, they can drive a subject’ to be self-conscious about their look. As a result, you may want to improve your appearance and boost your self-esteem. The good news is you can fade these blemishes with effective treatment. We’ll look at how you can do that. First, let’s see what causes them.

Long-term exposure to the sun’s damaging ultraviolet (UV) radiation is the main cause of these spots. As the skin absorbs more UV rays, it produces excess melanin to adapt to the environment. Melanin darkens the skin, providing natural protection from sun damage. Unfortunately, UV rays can distort the process, making melanin production uneven. This colour pigment starts to clump together, forming dark marks on the skin.

The risk factors for getting these spots include;

● Having lighter skin

● Frequent sun exposure

● Using commercial tanning lamps and beds

● Medical treatment involving radiation therapy

Age spots on hands and the face have the following appearance :

● Texture. To touch they feel the same as the rest of the skin. They appear flat and smooth. You don’t feel any pain when you touch them.

● Shape. They appear oval or round with clear boundaries.

● Size. They can range from a tenth of an inch, or the size of a freckle, to about half an inch. Also, they can group together, making them larger and easy to notice.

● Colour. The colour can vary from light brown to dark or tan. And the spots can darken as the skin gets more sun exposure.

Even though appearance can help you identify the spots, it’s best to get a diagnosis from a dermatologist. Caudalie offers laser scanners at boutiques and pharmacy events to analyse the skin deeply. That helps to identify the type of spots and recommend the best treatment.

Adults over 50 are more likely to get lentigines. That’s because they’ve exposed their skin to UV rays longer than other people. However, you may be over 50, spend more time in the sun, and still not get the spots. Why? Because besides age, other factors can also contribute to the condition. One of them is genes.

Some people are more likely to get liver spots because it runs in their family. This can contribute to the spots appearing at earlier ages, even in childhood. Also, environmental factors can accelerate the process. Young people who spend more time in the sun put themselves at risk since this is the right environment for pigmentation to develop. If you have to spend time in the sun, you can prevent the spots using the following measures.

If you’re spending a lot of time outside, wear sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 and reapply it every two hours. The Dark Spot Correcting from Caudalie comes with a sunscreen of 50 SPF for face, making it more effective for protection against UVA and UVB radiations.

Using sunscreen for face is beneficial in many ways. Remember to apply it after your moisturizers and serum. Not only does it prevent hyperpigmentation, but it also preserves general skin health and minimizes the risk of skin cancer. In addition to sunscreen, adopting a healthy lifestyle, such as limiting sun exposure, can also help.

You might be out in the sun, but you can still protect yourself by wearing protective clothing, such as wide-brim hats, long sleeve shirts, and longer trousers.

Unlike freckles, these spots don’t fade on their own. Instead, they can get more prominent with time. So you have to take action to regain an even skin tone. Vinoperfect dark spot correctors collection can help with age spot correction.

These serums contain viniferine, a component derived from the vine plant. It works the same as vitamin C by inhibiting melanin production. But viniferine has been tested and shown to be 62 times more effective than Vitamin C. That makes Vinoperfect products highly effective.

One product that contains viniferine is the Vinoperfect Anti-Dark Spot Radiance Serum. It reduces hyperpigmentation in all types of skin. Best of all, it doesn’t irritate sensitive skin because it doesn’t contain vitamin C.

Combining the Anti-Dark Spot Serum with the Concentrated Brightening Glycolic Essence gives better results. As the name suggests, this product contains glycolic acid, which helps to remove dead skin cells. After removing dead skin, it allows the Anti-Dark Spot Serum to penetrate easily, increasing its effectiveness by two.

When treating age spots, it's also important to address sunspots on the face, as both are forms of skin discoloration caused by sun exposure.

You’ll be happy to know that age spots on face are not cancerous, nor do they develop into cancer. There’s a difference between the two. Skin cancer has an irregular shape, feels rough, and may be painful. It can be pink, white, red, or dark. Even though skin cancer mostly appears in sun-exposed areas, it can also appear in other parts that don’t get sun exposure.

Seek medical advice if dark spots become painful, bleed, change colour, or enlarge. Your doctor will extract a small sample of the pigmented patch for lab testing. If they’re not cancerous, you can use skincare products to make them fade or seek treatment from a dermatologist. Below are some medical prescriptions and interventions that can help you.

Dermatologists can help you remove dark marks on your face by giving you a prescription or a medical intervention. Let’s discuss the two options.

Medical Prescription

The market is full of products that claim to remove age-related spots. But you can’t tell which products actually work. The best way to find out is to consult a dermatologist. It will save you time. Usually, dermatologists prescribe bleaching creams that help to lighten up the skin. These bleaches can fade the spots and give you an even skin tone.

Medical Intervention

Medical treatment may involve any of the following techniques.

● Lasers. They use concentrated light beams to treat the spots with long-lasting results.

● Chemical peels. It involves using acidic facial products, such as Vinoperfect Glycolic Peel Mask, to remove the outer skin and its imperfections.

● Intense pulsed light. It uses light waves to destroy the hyperpigmented spots.

● Dermabrasion. It removes the outer skin using abrasive mechanical devices instead of chemicals.