Age spots are a common occurrence, especially for those of us who like to enjoy time in the sun. While they’re not dangerous, many people may feel that they want the appearance of age spots reduced for cosmetic purposes.
In this article, we discuss the causes and treatment options of age spots, to help you manage your skin goals while still getting the most out of your lifestyle.
What Causes Age Spots?
Age spots are produced when your skin is exposed to ultraviolet light from the sun. This reaches your skin both by UVA and UVB rays, found naturally and in devices like tanning beds. This UV light promotes the production of excess melanin by melanocytes. Naturally, melanin gives skin its color, but when you’re overexposed to UV light, this melanin can group together and form hyperpigmented spots.
Age spots, also called sun spots, appear in areas that are most often exposed to sunlight. This means that your hands, forearms, shoulders, neck, and legs are the most affected, depending on the style of clothing you wear. These spots can be as small as freckles and as large as just under an inch. While they are harmless, they can look like some kinds of skin cancer. If you’re concerned about sun spots or they’re changing in color or appearance, you should get your skin checked by a professional.
Some people are more predisposed to age spots than others. Like the rest of your skincare routine, there can be many factors at play that affect both when and how you develop sun spots.
Skin tone: People with fairer skin tones are more likely to get age spots. This is due to the production of melanin being more visible, and the need for stronger sun protection by people with pale skin. They have less melanin in their skin to protect against sun damage, but this doesn’t mean that those who are darker skinned won’t get age spots. Anyone of any skin type can get them, so make sure to prioritize sun protection in your daily skincare routine.
Age: Sun spots can occur at any age, although you may see a sharp uptick in them in your 30s and above. As you age with your skin, it loses the ability to regenerate at the same speed as when you were younger. In addition to a build of melanin from decades of UV exposure, it’s essential to put skin health first as you age.
Genetics: While genetics can just boil down to luck of the draw, there are still ways that you can prevent and treat sun spots to reduce their appearance. Being aware of your skin type and the skin issues of your family members can help you take preventative action and judge what you need to do in the future to take care of your skin.
General exposure: Lifestyle factors play an exceptionally large role in the development of age spots. If you spend most of your time in the sun, especially without sun protection, you’re at a much higher risk of developing hyperpigmentation. It’s important to balance your lifestyle with good skin maintenance and treatments to look after your skin for years to come.
Age Spot Treatment Options
As always, treatment is divided into preventative and curative treatment options. We want to avoid age spots from the outset, but you can still reduce the appearance of age spots through targeted treatments and interventions.
Prevention
The best treatment is prevention. There are many ways that you can stop age spots from forming, or at the very least limit how many you get. By following these recommended guidelines, in addition to your standard skincare routine, you can set up your skin health to enjoy the sunlight responsibly.
Sunscreen: The American Academy of Dermatology recommends that you wear sunscreen daily. The sunscreen should protect against UVA and UVB rays, be at least SPF30, and have water resistance. If you’re out during the day, swimming, or spending extended time in the sun, make sure to reapply your sunscreen every few hours — even if it’s cloudy.
Reduce sun exposure: In addition to sunscreen, be mindful of how much time you spend in the sun during the peak hours of the day between 10 am and 2 pm. Think about the clothing you wear also, as short sleeves and shorts leave you more exposed than when you’re wearing a light cover up.
Skip the tanning beds: Tanning beds are a major source of UV light, and using them when you’re young can damage your skin as you age. Not only are you at a higher risk of developing sun spots, but you’re also at an increased risk of skin cancer.
Assess your daily skincare: If you have light age spots, you can often treat them with the right skincare solutions in your day-to-day routine. Some formulas such as retinoids, hydroquinone, and cortisone are available on prescription for home use, and these all act to reduce hyperpigmentation.
Treatment
If you already have age and sun spots that have formed, there are several treatment options to help reduce the appearance of the pigmentation build up. When performed by a medical professional, these treatments are safe and can have astounding effects in combination with good skincare.
HydraFacial: HydraFacial is all about the glow, and it’s one of our favorite services to offer. This procedure cleanses, hydrates, exfoliates, and brightens, bringing life back into your skin. We use a diamond tip applicator to smooth the skin, stimulating collagen production and applying vitamins and antioxidants.
Microneedling: Microneedling involves small punctures of the skin that promote your skin’s natural healing process. It targets more than just pigmentation, and we generally recommend it for patients 40 and above who have other aging-related issues that they want to address.
Age & Sun Spot Treatments at Enrichment Skin Solutions
At our med spa in Brooklyn Park, we provide our clients with a full consultation to discover how we can help you keep your skin glowing while taking into account your skin type and lifestyle factors.
