Age Spots; Treatment Options And Prevention
January 23, 2009
When skin gets excessively exposed in sunlight, it results in aging and skin problems. Whether it is from a tanning, or years of sunlamps without a sunscreen, the skin starts to produce excess of melanin, which results in uneven patches on the skin.
These patches are known as age spots and in medical terms, they are known as lentigos and seborrhoeic keratoses. These are actually brown spots which appear on the face, back, neck and the back of the hand.
Certain chemicals known as psoralens, which are found in food items, may also cause age spots. After in taking these foods, when one goes out in the sun, the skin gets more sensitive and severely burnt, and if that part of the skin comes in contact with perfumes and certain lotions, they generate age spots. Certain antibiotics, medicines and diuretics also cause the skin to generate age spots.
However, it’s better to prevent than to cure. One should wear a sunscreen all the time. If the age spots are new and are not very dark, then one can try remedies to overcome them, and for the old and strong age marks, consult a dermatologist for effective age spots treatment. Following are some ways which can help you fight age marks.
Bleaching creams: If your age marks are not very dark, then bleaching creams can help as they fade the color so that it blends with the color of the nearby area. Fading creams are also a good option as they interfere with the melanin production. However they are very slow.
Medicated creams: If these are applied regularly on the age spots, then they cause them to disappear. They also reduce wrinkles and give a youthful look.
Chemical peel: These are acids containing solutions and are effective in reducing the age spots. They peel off the spot from the skin with little irritation.
Camouflage make up: One can also hide the age spots by applying opaque makeup. But with other permanent treatments, they are less desired.
Surgical treatments: People can also opt for surgical treatments to get rid of the age spots.
Remember to use sunscreen regularly, despite of the treatments, so as to avoid new age spots.
Prevention: The best prevention for age spots is protection from the sun. Use of a sunscreen with SPF 15 is the best. Wear protective clothes to protect yourself from the sun. After swimming and extensive sweating, reapply the cream. Put perfume on areas which are not exposed to the sun.
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