As you age, you may notice blemishes or dark spots on your face or on the back of your hands. They may appear as round brown or black patches of skin. These are age spots (also known as liver spots). While they may be harmless, they aren’t necessarily pretty. The good news is, they are easily treatable, and there are several options available to remove age spots. The experts at Eminence Medical Aesthetics in Princeton, New Jersey are available to help you select the treatment that will best suit your needs and leave you looking as fabulous as you feel.
What Are Age Spots?
Age spots are dark spots on the skin that occur when the top layer of your skin creates more pigment. They may look like large freckles or large patches. Sometimes they occur by themselves, but other times you may see several spots close together.
Age spots are not cancerous, and they don’t lead to cancer. However, it is always a good idea to have any dark blemishes looked at by your doctor just to be safe.
How Can I Remove Age Spots?
Removing age spots can improve your appearance, giving you a healthier complexion. With proper care, you can look as youthful and healthy on the outside as you feel on the inside. There are several ways to lighten or remove age spots, so if one treatment doesn’t work for you, there are plenty of other options to try. Any treatments for treating age spots must penetrate at least the topmost layer of skin where the cells that create skin pigmentation (melanin) are located.
Medicated Skin Creams
There are prescription skin bleaching creams that can be used alone or along with retinoids and a mild steroid. This treatment will gradually fade age spots over time. If you choose this option, it is a good idea to use sunscreen regularly, since these medications can make your skin sensitive to sunlight.
Laser Therapy
Laser or pulsed light therapy can help remove age spots after two to three sessions. The laser light targets melanin-producing cells without damaging the surface of the skin. The results of this treatment are most noticeable after a few weeks or months. Some people report that using laser therapy in combination with a medicated lightening cream produces longer-lasting results. Like with the medicated skin creams, you will want to make sure you use sunscreen after laser treatments.
Dermabrasion
If you’re not comfortable with lasers, you can try dermabrasion or microdermabrasion to remove age spots. This treatment involves exfoliating the surface of the skin with a special brush, removing the surface of the skin, and encouraging new skin growth. You will probably need multiple treatments to completely remove your age spots, but it leaves your skin with a much smoother appearance. Some people report that using dermabrasion in combination with a chemical peel produces fast results and made their age spots disappear completely.
Cryotherapy
Cryotherapy is a quick way to remove age spots. This treatment involves freezing the skin with a small amount of liquid nitrogen. This usually works best on one single spot or a small cluster of spots.
Chemical Peels
Chemical peels are popular treatments for exfoliating the skin but can also be effective in removing age spots. A light acid is applied to the skin, which causes the outer layer of skin to peel, revealing the fresh new skin beneath. Like with other treatments, you will want to make sure you use a good quality sunscreen to protect the fresh layer of skin.
Conclusion
If you want to remove age spots, there is help available. Treatments are simple and easy, and you can often see results in just a few sessions. Contact Eminence Medical Aesthetics in Princeton, New Jersey today for more information or to schedule a consultation. Our trained experts have the experience to help you select exactly what treatment will work best for you!
