Age spots are brown, black, or yellowish marks that usually appear on the neck, hands, or face. They are mainly caused by sun exposure and usually begin to appear once you are over 40. Age spots are not dangerous, so there are no medical reasons to take them off. However, since they can reveal a person's age, many people, both men and women, prefer to remove them for cosmetic reasons. The means to eliminate them range from home remedies to drugs to professional beauty treatments.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Remove Age Spots with Drugs
Step 1. Use a hydroquinone stain remover
Hydroquinone is a very effective lightener that can visibly reduce the appearance of age-related skin spots.
- In the United States and other countries, hydroquinone cream with a concentration that does not exceed 2% can be purchased without a prescription, while a doctor's prescription is required for a higher concentration. In Italy, on the other hand, hydroquinone cream can only be purchased if formulated ad hoc by a pharmacist (galenic preparation) on the doctor's order.
- In the European Community, the free sale of hydroquinone was prohibited due to the strong irritant effects encountered and the excessive long-term toxicity. However, it is still sometimes available on the internet.
Step 2. Try using Retin-A medication
Retin-A is a drug that is used to eliminate wrinkles and expression lines. It is a very powerful and effective product that improves the texture and elasticity of the skin and acts against blemishes and damage caused by the sun, including age spots.
- The Retin-A drug is based on retinoic acid, or vitamin A, and is available as a gel or cream in different concentrations. A prescription is required to purchase it, so make an appointment with your doctor to find out if you can use it to eliminate age spots.
- Retin-A exfoliates the skin and removes the hyperpigmented surface layer, which is why it can help you eliminate skin blemishes.
Step 3. Use a product that contains glycolic acid
It is an acid that belongs to the category of alpha-hydroxy acids commonly used in chemical peels. It works by exfoliating the skin to reduce the visibility of wrinkles, fine lines and age spots.
- You can purchase a cream or lotion that contains glycolic acid without a prescription. Generally, the product should be applied and left to act for a few minutes, after which the skin must be rinsed.
- Glycolic acid is quite potent, so your skin may redden and you may feel a slight sting. After the treatment it is important to use a moisturizer to relieve her.
Step 4. Use a salicylic acid and ellagic acid product
These two ingredients combined are able to effectively lighten skin spots due to age. Ask your dermatologist, pharmacist, or read labels for a product that contains both acids.
Salicylic acid and ellagic acid are usually contained in creams or lotions
Step 5. Prevent spots with sunscreen
Sunscreen does not reduce the visibility of existing dark spots, but it is effective in preventing new ones from forming, since in most cases they develop due to sun damage.
- In addition, the sunscreen prevents existing spots from darkening further or becoming even more visible.
- You should use a sunscreen that contains zinc oxide and has an SPF of no less than 15 even in the cold months and on days when the sun is not shining.
Method 2 of 3: Home Remedies to Remove Age Spots
Step 1. Use lemon juice
As it contains citric acid you can use it to lighten age spots. Apply a few drops of lemon juice directly to the sun spots and let it sit for 30 minutes before rinsing the skin. By repeating the treatment twice a day you should start seeing results within a month or two.
- Lemon juice makes your skin more sensitive to sunlight, so rinse your face well before going outside to avoid the risk of the spots getting worse rather than disappearing.
- If you have very sensitive skin, lemon juice may irritate it. To avoid this, dilute it with water (you can also use rose water) in equal parts.
Step 2. Use buttermilk
Buttermilk contains lactic acid, an ingredient you can use to lighten the skin like the citric acid in lemon juice. Apply a few drops of buttermilk directly to skin spots and leave it on for 15-30 minutes before rinsing. Repeat the treatment twice a day.
- If you have oily skin, it is best to dilute the buttermilk with a few drops of lemon juice to prevent it from greasing further.
- You can add a few drops of tomato juice to buttermilk to enhance its benefits. Tomatoes also contain substances that naturally whiten the skin and can help you remove age spots.
Step 3. Use a mixture of yogurt and honey to lighten the skin
These two combined ingredients were also used by our grandmothers to reduce age spots.
- Mix equal parts yogurt and honey, then apply the mixture directly to the stains.
- Let the two ingredients sit for 15-20 minutes before rinsing off. Repeat the treatment twice a day.
Step 4. Use apple cider vinegar
It is the main ingredient of many home remedies thanks to its whitening power. Apply a few drops directly to the spots where the skin is stained and leave it on for half an hour before rinsing.
- Use apple cider vinegar only once a day as it can dry out the skin. The spots should become less visible within about six weeks.
- You can enhance the benefits of apple cider vinegar by mixing it with onion juice in equal parts. Chop an onion and mash it in a colander to extract its juice, then mix it with apple cider vinegar and apply the mixture directly to age spots to remove them naturally.
Step 5. Use aloe vera
It is the main ingredient in many treatments that treat skin diseases, including anti-blemish creams. Extract the gel directly from the leaves of the plant and massage it directly on the spots so that the skin absorbs it.
- Aloe vera is a very mild ingredient so there is no need to rinse the skin, unless it is sticky.
- If you don't have an aloe vera plant at home, you can buy its juice at a pharmacy or in stores that sell organic and natural foods. The fresh one is as effective as the gel.
Step 6. Massage the skin with castor oil
It is an ingredient known for its healing abilities on the skin and studies have shown that it is also effective in removing age spots. Apply a few drops where you need it and massage it for a couple of minutes or until your skin has absorbed it.
- Reapply twice a day, in the morning and in the evening; you should start to see improvement after about a month.
- If you have dry skin, you can dilute castor oil with a few drops of olive, coconut or almond oil to give it more hydration.
Step 7. Try using sandalwood
It has been attributed with anti-aging properties and is often used to reduce the visibility of skin blemishes.
- Mix a pinch of sandalwood powder with two drops of rose water, glycerin, and lemon juice. Apply the mixture on the skin spots and let it act and dry for about twenty minutes before rinsing the skin with cold water.
- Alternatively, you can rub a drop of sandalwood essential oil on the spots.
Method 3 of 3: Professional Stain Removal Treatments
Step 1. Make an appointment with your dermatologist to learn about laser technology for removing stains
IPL IPL technology can effectively lighten dark spots caused by age. During the treatment an intense laser beam penetrates the epidermis, disperses the pigments, eliminating spots and induces a rejuvenation of the skin.
- The treatment is painless, but it can cause mild discomfort. Anesthetic cream will be applied to you about 30-45 minutes before the start to reduce symptoms.
- The number of sessions required varies according to the size of the area to be treated and the number of spots. Generally 2-3 sessions of 30-45 minutes each are required.
- The skin may redden, swell and be hypersensitive to sunlight after treatment, but it is not necessary to let it rest for a long time between sessions.
- This type of technology is very effective, but also extremely expensive. Depending on the type of laser used (ruby, Alexandrite or Fraxel Dual) and the number of spots to be eliminated, the cost can range from 400 to 1,500 euros per session.
Step 2. Try microdermabrasion to remove stains
It is a non-invasive skin treatment in which a tool is used that sprays a powder of crystals, zinc or another abrasive material at high pressure on the skin. The crystals exfoliate the most superficial layers of the skin while also removing dark or hyperpigmented cells.
- Microdermabrasion does not require recovery time and causes no side effects.
- Generally a session lasts between 30 and 60 minutes, depending on the size of the area to be treated. The sessions are scheduled 2-3 weeks apart.
- Usually 2-3 sessions are needed and the price for each is over 50 euros.
Step 3. Try a chemical peel
It is an exfoliating treatment aimed at dissolving dead skin cells to let the new underlying ones emerge that are naturally healthier and more radiant. The area to be treated is thoroughly cleaned, after which an acidic substance in the form of a gel is applied. At the end of the treatment the acid is neutralized to block the chemical process.
- Possible side effects include: redness, high skin sensitivity and cracking skin, so recovery time may be needed.
- Two sessions are usually required 3-4 weeks apart. Prices usually start at € 200 per session.
- Thanks to a study conducted it was found that combining two medium peels, Jessner and trichloroacetic acid (TCA), to remove the scars left by acne, the treatment is more effective than when they are used alone. The same could also be true for anti-stain peelings, ask your dermatologist for advice.
Advice
- Age spots are also called senile solar freckles.
- In addition to using sunscreen, you can prevent sun damage to your skin by wearing long, light clothing, a hat, and sunglasses.
