What Causes Age Spots?

It’s one thing to get older, but it’s another to actually show that you’re getting older. Age spots are a telltale sign that you are in fact, aging. They are flat, brown, gray or black spots on the skin and usually occur on areas that have been exposed to the sun. Age spots are also called liver spots, senile lentigines, solar lentigines or sun spots. Age spots are more common in people with certain risk factors, including being older than 40 years old, having fair skin and having a history of frequent sun exposure.

What causes age spots?

Age spots are caused by an excess production of melanin, which may be caused by skin aging, sun exposure or other forms of ultraviolet light exposure, such as tanning beds.

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I have age spots, now what?

One of the more popular ways to get rid of age spots is through laser, which destroys the cells that produce melanin. Healthier, firmer and brighter-looking skin can be achieved quite easily using a combination of advanced technologies:

1. Laser fractional technology: laser produces a micro epidermal peel, which removes the problematic areas on the top layer of the epidermis, revealing fresher-looking skin that has an overall renewed radiance.

2. Microdermabrasion: the outer layers of the skin are sanded off, so new skin can grow in its place. Age spots can be lightened and redness is reduced.

3. Chemical peel: a light layer of an acidic treatment is applied to the face to remove the surface layer of skin

   Source: Healthline