No matter which treatment you choose, it's important to know that age spots can return. You can prevent this by protecting your skin from the sun. To get the protection you need, dermatologists recommend that you seek shade and cover your skin with sun-protective clothing.
How long does it take for hyperpigmentation to fade? Once what's causing the dark spots or patches is found and stopped, fading can take time. A spot that is a few shades darker than your natural skin color will usually fade within 6 to 12 months. If the color lies deep in your skin, however, fading can take years.
Age spots develop on the body over time as a result of sun exposure but they will not typically go away on their own. For that reason, if you are looking to eliminate age spots, you will need to seek a dermatologist for treatment. If you are not interested in laser treatment or chemical peels, Dr.
These spots are called "actinic lentigines," which are more commonly referred to as sun spots, age spots, or liver spots. These small, gray-brown spots aren't a type of skin cancer. They also don't progress to become skin cancer and don't require any treatment.
Ultraviolet (UV) light speeds up the production of melanin, a natural pigment that gives skin its color. On skin that has had years of sun exposure, age spots appear when melanin becomes clumped or is produced in high concentrations. Use of commercial tanning lamps and beds also can cause age spots.
Although sunspots, age spots and freckles can look very similar, they have different characteristics and only sun spots and age spots are currently being removed using Cryotherapy at Moyal Therapies. Lets take a look at how to distinguish between these different types of brown spots.
Age spots are typically uniform in color—ranging from tan to dark brown—and surface; in other words, age spots (and harmless moles) are evenly flat or raised. Suspicious skin lesions that warrant further examination often vary in color across the lesion.
The sun damages the pigment-producing cells in the skin (melanocytes), causing them to over-produce pigment in sun-exposed areas. The age spots may increase in size over time and sometimes join together to create larger spots.
Signs of actinic keratosis
The brown spots on this man's face may look like age spots, but they're actually actinic keratoses. Left untreated, some actinic keratoses (AKs) turn into a type of skin cancer called squamous cell carcinoma.
Age spots aren't painful and don't bleed or ooze. You'll want to have these areas examined for skin cancer. Changing. Spots that become asymmetric, have borders that shift, get darker or lighter, or change in diameter should be checked for skin cancer.
Age spots aren't necessarily reversible with product use, but their appearance can be faded over time with over-the-counter creams and lotions, depending on how dark the age spots are and how often you apply the product.
"ACV contains malic acid, which decreases melanin production to help lighten brown spots and hyperpigmentation," says Gabriel. "And citric acid, which increases skin cell turnover, has been shown to decrease age spots."
Not wearing sunscreen – Unprotected sun exposure can cause further darkening and prolong the fading process. Make sure to wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher, every day regardless of the weather.
Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) caused by pimples, burns, scratches or other minor skin traumas triggers excess melanin production. This leaves behind a dark patch that can last for months or even permanently.
Age spots and sun spots are the same thing. They are a common form of hyperpigmentation and appear as small, flat and darkened patches of skin that are light brown to black in color. They are most common in people over the age of 40 (hence the name) but they can occur earlier.
Hyperpigmentation is a common condition that makes some areas of the skin darker than others. “Hyper” means more, and “pigment” means color. Hyperpigmentation can appear as brown, black, gray, red or pink spots or patches. The spots are sometimes called age spots, sun spots or liver spots.
Age spots can look like actinic keratosis (AK) growths, which are precancerous. However, age spots are flat, while AK growths usually feel rough.
Age spots are most common in adults over 40 and younger people who spend a lot of time in the sun. Those at greatest risk for developing age spots include people with fair skin, outdoor occupations, or a history of tanning, radiation or light therapy.
Suspected age spots that begin to grow, change color, bleed, become sore and protrude from the surface of the skin should be checked by a physician as soon as possible. Additionally, age spots may fade during winter when they are not exposed to sunlight. Precancerous and cancerous growths do not fade.
AKs often appear as small dry, scaly or crusty patches of skin. They may be red, light or dark tan, white, pink, flesh-toned or a combination of colors and are sometimes raised.
A seborrheic keratosis (seb-o-REE-ik ker-uh-TOE-sis) is a common noncancerous (benign) skin growth. People tend to get more of them as they get older. Seborrheic keratoses are usually brown, black or light tan. The growths (lesions) look waxy or scaly and slightly raised.
Liver spots are flat, brown or black spots that can appear on areas of the skin that are exposed to the sun. They have nothing to do with the liver or liver function. Lentigos, sometimes called age spots or freckles, are a result of cumulative damage to the skin by sunlight.