If you have age spots on your hands and are looking for solutions to get rid of age spots, then this post is for you. Age spots, also known as hyper-pigmentation, are often caused by sun exposure. Age spots occur when the skin produces too much melanin due to sun exposure, but other factors can also contribute to their appearance.
Age spots are common in people over 40, but young people can get them too, especially if they spend a lot of time in the sun. Please note that not all dark spots on the skin are age spots, some can be melanoma – skin cancer. So, before starting any treatments to get rid of age spots, go get a skin cancer check first.
Age spots most commonly appear on the back of hands, face, forearms, and upper chest area. They are flat, oval-shaped areas of pigmentation and more defined than a freckle. Freckles fade over time, age spots don’t.
What Causes Age Spots?
The number one cause is sun exposure. Many people think that age spots are caused by being old. This is not entirely true.
Age spots occur over time, and when you are older you have been exposed to more sun than a younger person.
If you have spent many years in the sun it is quite likely that you will get age spots when you are older. Surfers, outdoor workers, and gardeners often have age spots at a younger age, simply because they are out in the sun more often than people of the same age.
Other Causes Of Age Spots
An increase in Oestrogen from either being pregnant or on a contraceptive pill may cause age spots if you are exposed to the sun. The hormones don’t directly give you the age spots but make your skin more vulnerable to them appearing after sun exposure.
Genetics
Unfortunately, some skin types are more likely to get age spots. People with fair skin are more likely to get them. Those with olive skin who say they never burn can still end up with age spots in their older years if they do not use sunscreen.
How To Prevent Age Spots
You must wear sunscreen on any skin that is exposed to the sun. That includes your face, upper chest, back of hands, and forearms. When we drive our cars, our hands are exposed to the sun’s UV rays while we are holding the steering wheel, so it pays to have a tube of sunscreen in the car to apply a needed.
How To Get Rid Of Age Spots
With the right products or specialized treatments, you can lighten your spots and get rid of them, it just depends on how prominent they are. The following are 6 courses of action you can take to get rid of age spots:
1. Use Skincare To Fade Age Spots
There are a number of Korean skincare products that can help fade age spots and brighten the skin.
At-home skincare is not a quick-fix option and you will need to be patient as it takes longer than treatments performed by a Doctor or Beauty salon. But skincare is pain-free and costs a lot less than a specialized treatment.
Korean skincare products that can help lighten your age spots and even out your skin are:
GOODAL Green Tangerine Vita C Dark Spot Care Cream
This serum brightens dark spots, and dull skin tone, and is safe for sensitive skin. The lightweight formula is infused with Niacinamide and Green Tangerine extract. It has a gel-like texture that plumps the skin. It has passed skin irritation testing and is free from harmful ingredients.
MISSHA VITA C Plus SPOT Correcting & Firming AMPOULE
The Missha Vita C Plus Spot Correcting Cream helps fade dark spots and hyperpigmentation and brighten the skin. It contains 33% Vitamin C which is an ingredient that fades hyperpigmentation. It also contains Collagen and this helps plump and moisturise the skin.
This 2-in-1 skincare product targets age spots and wrinkles and sagging skin.
Beauty of Joseon Glow Deep Serum Rice + Arbutin
This serum helps prevent the excessive production of melanin and helps prevent pigmentation. It is formulated with 2% of Arbutin, which targets age spots and hyperpigmentation, and 68.6% Rice Bran water, which is rich in amino acids and minerals and helps moisturise the skin.
The Glow Deep serum brightens skin and gives it a glow. The serum is lightweight with a watery texture that is quick to absorb into the skin.
COSRX Refresh AHA BHA Vitamin C Booster Serum
This serum contains 2% Niacinamide and AHA/BHA’s to exfoliate the dead skin cells away and brighten your skin. It is a daily-use peeling serum that will enhance overall skin tone and brighten the skin.
It is not oily, won’t cause breakouts, and works well with other skincare products.
2. Use An Exfoliant 2 x A Week
Many people do not exfoliate their skin at all. Our skin cells turn over every 28 days when we are young, once you are over 40, 50, or 60 this slows down dramatically.
Dead skin cells build up and make our skin look dry, aged, and dehydrated. An exfoliant helps to remove the dead skin cells and allows the new skin cells to come to the surface. This makes our skin look clearer, smoother, and hydrated.
Exfoliate your face, neck, upper chest, back of your hands, and forearms. Exfoliate regularly for at least 28 days (remember it takes 28 days for a young person’s skin cells to turn over) you will see an improvement in your skin.
If you are 50 plus I recommend scrubbing for at least 4 – 6 weeks to allow the fresher skin to come to the surface, then you will see what the condition of your skin really is.
There are 2 types of exfoliants: Chemical Exfoliants and Physical Exfoliants
Chemical exfoliants, such as Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs) and Beat Hydroxy Acids (BHAs), work by dissolving the bonds between dead skin cells and gently sloughing them off. They are typically gentler on the skin and can be more effective at treating specific concerns like hyperpigmentation, and uneven skin texture.
Physical exfoliants, such as scrubs, contain granules or particles to physically remove dead skin cells from the surface layer of the skin. A physical exfoliant is a good choice for people with oily skin. But, they can be harsh and irritating on the skin if used too frequently or if the granules are too large or abrasive.
Chemical Exfoliant – ISNTREE 8% AHA Essence
This exfoliant contains Glycolic Acid (4%) and Lactic Acid (4%) to break down and slough off dead skin cells.
Physical Exfoliant – SKIN FOOD Black Sugar Perfect Essential Scrub
Black sugar is a natural source of Glycolic Acid, (AHA) that sloughs away dead skin cells, and encourages cell turnover.
3. Use Brightening Creams
You can fade your age spots over time using Korean brightening creams, serums, and masks. If your age spots are not too dark, brightening products that contain Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Propolis, Niacinamide, AHA/BHA (Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid), and Fermented Yeast.
Secret Key Snow White Cream
This is a brightening cream that does what it claims. The formula includes Niacinamide, which helps improve a dull complexion and fades dark spots. It can be used as a primer as it helps to control oil.
4. Use A Sunscreen
Use a separate sunscreen to layer over your everyday moisturizer that you apply to your face, neck, and upper chest. The molecules in sunscreen are designed to sit on top of the skin, they do not get absorbed. Moisturisers with sunscreen in them, should not be relied on if you have fair skin and are prone to age spots.
Our hands are often neglected and can be the first place that age spots appear. Make sure to apply sunscreen to the back of your hands. Keep a tube in the car, so you can apply it regularly.
Missha All Around Safe Block Soft Finish Sun Milk
The silky formula helps correct tone and dark spots as you wear it. It is formulated with Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide and is a physical sunscreen, rather than chemical sunscreen, It is safe for sensitive skin types. It does not feel heavy on the skin or clog pores.
A little goes a long way, you need about a half teaspoon for the face. This sunscreen is wearable under makeup and provides a good barrier from the sun’s UV rays.
5. Get Treatments By A Doctor Or Trained Professional
You can get a chemical peel or laser therapy to get rid of age spots. These treatments should be carried out by a trained professional. They will come at a considerable cost and pain may be felt during the treatment or during the healing process. You also need to allow time for the skin to heal.
• Chemical Peel
A chemical peel chemically removes the top layer of skin from your face. Acid is applied to the face which dissolves the top layer of skin. Your skin will peel and be red during and after the peel. The peeling continues for some time and then you see the new, fresher skin after the top layer has peeled off. This type of peel done by a Doctor will be a higher strength than what is done in a beauty salon, or in a home peel product. You may be given creams to use in the healing process.
The advantage is that it may be a one-and-done procedure. The disadvantage is that it will be costly and will need downtime to heal.
• Laser And Intense Light Therapy (IPL)
These types of treatments destroy the melanin-producing cells without damaging the top layer of the skin. Melanin-producing cells are what make the brown spots. You will need multiple treatments to see a result. After a few weeks or months, you will see that the age spots start to fade. After the procedure, your skin will be red. You cannot go out in the sun without sunscreen, otherwise, you will damage the new skin.
The skin is highly sensitive after treatment or using a medical-grade cream. Your Doctor or Cosmeceutical Therapist will tell you what you can and cannot do. You can damage your skin quite badly so you must follow your Doctor’s advice 100%.
6. Get Treatments In A Beauty Salon
In-salon treatments get rid of age spots but usually, the results are not as fast as a professional medical-grade treatment. The upside is that you may not have to take any time off work and there should not be as much pain or skin peeling.
• Dermabrasion
This treatment buffs away the top layer of the skin with either a small brush or tip applicator that blows out diamond crystals that are passed over the skin. This type of treatment will lighten age spots but you will most likely need a course of 10 treatments if your age spots are prominent. During the treatment, there is minor discomfort, but many do not feel any pain whatsoever.
Dermabrasion has been around for a long time and is still a reliable treatment to lighten age spots and refresh the skin. If you have rosacea or broken capillaries on your face, you may not be suitable to get the treatment done as it could make your skin redness worse.
Please note if you do have a chemical peel, or laser, or use a prescription cream, you cannot go out into the sun without sunscreen.
Regardless of what treatments you have done or products you use, you must always wear sunscreen on any skin that is exposed to the sun.
If you do not want to get any more age spots you need to wear sunscreen every day and when you are in the sun protect your skin. Do not use tanning beds under any circumstances.
After 50 years of age, age spots seem to appear from nowhere. You really must apply sunscreen and try to stay out of the sun during the hottest part of the day or at least stay in a shaded area.
We hope you found how to get rid of age spots helpful.
If you have dry or mature skin and need a guaranteed routine to hydrate your skin, read our post on the 7 skin method.