Age spots are also known as liver spots, senile lentigo, solar lentigines or sunspots. These are flat light brown or dark brown patches on your skin surface. They mostly occur in areas that are exposed to direct sunlight like hands, face, neck, and other areas. Although age spots are not a serious condition and don’t affect your health in any way, most people want to get rid of it because it can make you look less attractive.
Who can get age spots?
Although age spots can affect anyone irrespective of their race, sex, and gender, it is quite common among people with a fair complexion, and people who are over 40 years of age. It is also quite common among people who are constantly exposed to sunlight.
What are the mainstream treatments for age spots?
There are several treatment options available for age spots, however, each of these mainstream treatments comes several side effects. You will need to consult a dermatologist who will analyze your skin type, and skin condition to get to know your best option. The main part of the treatment would be to remove the dark areas or to reduce age spots. Some of the most common treatment options are as follows.
- Intense Pulsed Light Treatment: This treatment involves passing light waves of different frequencies through the skin which targets the melanin and thereby reducing the dark spots.
- Chemical peels: This process involves peels that remove the outer layer of the skin along with the dark spots so that new skin cells can take its place.
- Dermabrasion: This is a skin smoothening method that removes the old skin cells and effectively making way for new skin cells.
- Cryosurgery: This method involves the usage of liquid nitrogen to freeze a particular area of the skin.
No matter which treatment option is recommended for you by your dermatologist, you will always need to wear sunscreen whenever you move out. It is highly recommended that you wear sunscreen even on rainy days to prevent UV damage to your skin.
Over the counter options
You have many over the counter creams and drugs that promise reduction in age spots or dark spots on your skin, however, most of these options are not as effective as prescription drugs. If you opt to go for over the counter option, then look out for the ones that contain hydroquinone, deoxyarbutin, glycolic acid, alpha hydroxy acid or kojic acid.
What are Home Remedies for Age Spots?
Home remedies for age spots are very safe, but results of these remedies may vary from person to person. Additionally, home remedies do not guarantee instant results, so you would need to be patient enough to wait for the results.
These are some of the well known and well-established home remedies for age spots or dark spots.
Fresh lemon extract contains high-quality citric acid, and it is well known for its bleaching and exfoliating property on the skin surface.
Lemon Extract
How to use: Just dab some freshly extracted lemon juice over the dark spots or age spots before going to sleep and wash it off in the morning.
Note: Always use fresh lemon juice extracted directly from the fruit. Bottled or packaged lemon extracts have additional chemical compounds added it which can damage your skin. Additionally, packaged lemon extracts have low quality or low concentration of citric acid.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is famous for its acidic nature, which is what your skin needs to fight age spots.
How to use: Apply diluted apple cider vinegar to the affected skin surface, leave it on for around 20 minutes and wash it off.
Note: Undiluted apple cider vinegar when applied directly to the skin can make your skin feel stingy and can lead to redness.
It is highly recommended that you dilute apple cider vinegar with water or olive oil, or coconut oil before using it over your skin.
Onion Juice
Onion is rich in sulfur which is well known for its antiseptic property. Sulfur is widely used in Homeopathy to treat many skin ailments. Onion juice is also acidic in nature which helps to exfoliate your skin.
How to use: Rub some freshly chopped onion directly over your skin surface two to three times a day. Wash it off after 10 to 15 minutes of the application.
Option 2: Mix a tablespoon of freshly extracted onion juice with two tablespoons of honey. Apply this mixture to the age spots, leave it on for 15 minutes and wash it off with clean water.
Horseradish
Horseradish is a good source of Vitamin-C. Many studies have revealed that Vitamin-C retards the production of melanin. Horseradish is also a good source of glucosinolates, a compound which is a potent antioxidant that removes and flushes out waste from your body and skin.
How to use: Make a paste out of horseradish, and apply it directly to your skin. Leave it on for 15 to 20 minutes and wash it off.
Option 2: Grate from horseradish and mix it with a sufficient quantity of apple cider vinegar. Let this mixture sit for 15 days. After 15 days, strain out the liquid. Dab the strained out liquid to the affected areas three times a day. Follow this method for at least one month to notice results.
Aloe Vera
Aloe vera is a popular ingredient to treat many skin ailments and it is also used to treat age spots.
How to use: Apply some freshly extracted aloe vera gel to the affected areas on your skin and let it get absorbed.
Note: If you do not have access to fresh aloe vera leaves, you can use store-bought aloe vera gel as well.
Papaya
Papaya is a rich source of certain enzymes and alpha hydroxy acids that helps to exfoliate your skin and make it look bright. Papaya is a popular home remedy for reducing blemishes and age spots for decades.
How to use: Make a paste out of freshly extracted papaya pulp and apply it to the affected areas of your skin. Leave the paste on for 15 to 20 minutes and wash it off using clean water.
Note: If you are allergic to papaya then try to avoid this remedy.
Yogurt
Yogurt contains lactic acid which helps to remove dead cells from your skin and also exfoliate it. Once your dead skin cells fall off it reveals the brighter and fresher skin cells underneath and helps to reduce dark spots.
How to use: Apply plain yogurt to the affected areas on your skin and leave it on for 20 minutes and wash it off using clean cold water. Alternatively, you can also leave it on overnight for better results.
