Treatment for Age Spots

Age spots, also called sunspots or liver spots, are small, flat, dark areas on the skin, often appearing on areas exposed to the sun, including your face, hand, shoulders, and arms. They are common among adults older than 50, but they can also occur in younger people due to prolonged sun exposure. Although Fort Worth age spots are harmless, they can affect your appearance, especially when they appear on your face. The good news is that treatments such as intense pulse light can help lighten or remove them. Below are other treatments for age spots.

Dermabrasion

Dermabrasion is a skin-resurfacing procedure that uses a rapidly rotating device to sand out the epidermis. For this treatment, your doctor numbs your skin with an anesthetic to make you comfortable during the procedure. You also can take a sedative or general anesthesia, but that depends on the extent of your treatment. Your skin may feel tender, and you may notice redness and swelling, these decrease within a few days to one week. Although the procedure is relatively safe, your doctor may caution against it if you have frequent outbreaks of cold sores, acne, or pus-filled skin condition, a history of keloids, burn scars, or damaged skin due to radiation treatment.

Cryotherapy

Cryotherapy or freezing uses extreme cold to remove or destroy or remove abnormal tissue. Your provider may use argon gas, liquid nitrogen, or liquid nitrous oxide to create an intense cold. For instance, if you have age spots, your provider uses a cotton-tipped swab to apply liquid nitrogen to the area. The cold temperatures destroy the extra pigment, and the skin appears lighter as you heal. Not much preparation is needed for this treatment, but your doctor may ask you to stop taking medications with blood-thinning properties. Cryotherapy is a low-risk treatment, but it poses a slight risk of permanent scarring or discoloration; you may experience skin irritation after the procedure.

Chemical peel

A chemical peel is a cosmetic treatment whereby a chemical solution is applied to your skin to remove the top layers, allowing the growth of smoother skin. The procedure can be done at a light, medium, and deep lengths. A deep peel causes the most visible or dramatic results and requires a more extended recovery. Like any other treatment, you need to consult with your doctor to ensure that it is suitable. Your doctor may recommend against a chemical peel if you have taken oral acne medication in the past six months, you have a history of keloid or frequent outbreaks of cold sores.

Medication

Your doctor may prescribe bleaching creams such as hydroquinone for you to apply on the age spots. You can use bleaching creams alone or in combination with a mild steroid or retinoids. The spots may gradually fade over several months; these creams may cause temporary redness, itching, burning, or redness.

You may take several weeks to months to notice improvements in your skin. After treatment, your doctor will recommend that your sunscreen has a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30.

If you need to get rid of your age spots, consult your Skin Deep Laser MD specialists for treatment to look your best.