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Age Spots, Sun Spots & Liver Spots
 Age
Spots, Sun Spots & Liver SpotsAge spots are also
known as sun spots, liver spots, lentigos, or lentigines.
These lesions are flat, tan, brown, or dark brown spots
on sun-exposed skin. As people age, sun spots most commonly
appear on the backs of the hands, the forearms, neck,
chest, and face. Sun spots are associated with cumulative
sun exposure. The pigment producing cells in the skin
(called melanocytes) are activated to produce more pigment
(melanin) by ultraviolet rays. While these spots are
not themselves cancerous, you may be at risk for skin
cancer if you have them.
What causes age spots?
Age spots increase with age and with increased sun
exposure. They are more common in people who freckle
and who burn easily. It is important to know that if
you've had enough sun to develop age spots, you have
a higher risk of developing skin cancer.
What do age spots look like?
Age spots are flat and vary in size from a small pea
to a dime. They usually are somewhat round and have
irregular borders. They are found on chronically sun-exposed
areas such as the shoulders, upper back, face, forearms,
and the back of hands.
What treatment options are available for age, sun
or liver spots?
The best treatment for age spots is prevention. The
key to preventing age spots is sun avoidance and daily
sunscreen use. For example, you won't find age spots
on your inner thigh because of minimal or no sun exposure.
However, for most of us, it is too late for prevention,
and there are a number of treatment options available.
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What are age spots?
 Age
spots are also called sun spots and liver spots. Age
spots are harmless brown flat spots that are commonly
found on sun-exposed skin. They usually don't appear
until middle-age and occur in all nearly all skin types.
Age spots are collections of a pigment (called melanin)
that have accumulated in the top layer of the skin (the
epidermis). Unlike freckles, which darken in the summer
and fade in the winter, age spots do not fade.
What causes age spots?
Age spots increase with age and with increased sun
exposure. They are more common in people who freckle
and who burn easily. It is important to know that if
you've had enough sun to develop age spots, you have
a higher risk of developing skin cancer.
Are there any symptoms of age spots?
Age spots have no associated symptoms. However, if
any of your age spots are changing or getting bigger,
you may need further evaluation by your physician to
rule out pre-cancerous or cancerous lesions.
What do age spots, sun spots and liver
spots look like?
Age spots are flat and vary in size from a small pea
to a dime. They usually are somewhat round and have
irregular borders. They are found on chronically sun-exposed
areas such as the shoulders, upper back, face, forearms,
and the back of hands.
How is the diagnosis of age spots made?
We can usually diagnose age spots based on their appearance.
It is very important to distinguish age spots from melanoma
(a form of skin cancer) which can look similar. Let
us know if a particular age spot is growing or changing.
Sometimes, we will refer you to a physician to perform
a biopsy to rule out skin cancer.
What treatment options are available
for spot removal?
The best treatment for age spots is prevention. The
key to preventing age spots is sun avoidance and daily
sunscreen use. For example, you won't find age spots
on your inner thigh because of minimal or no sun exposure.
However, for most of us, it is too late for prevention,
and there are a number of treatment options available.
Treatment options include FotoFacial/IPL treatments,
bleaching creams and chemical peels.
Bleaching Creams
What are they?
Over-the-counter creams contain 4 percent hydroquinone,
a bleaching agent. Here in the Baja creams may use single
agents, such as Retin-A (tretinoin) or combinations
of medications such as hydroquinone with tretinoin plus
a cortisone cream.
What are the risks?
Over the counter bleaching creams are usually well
tolerated and may gradually lighten age spots over a
couple of months. However, they are not very effective.
Prescription formulations are often more effective but
may have more side effects (such as redness, drying,
and peeling) and are expensive. Creams may not work
for everyone and the risks and benefits need to be discussed
with your physician.
Chemical Peels
What are they?
We can administer a peel using a variety of different
chemicals to remove age spots, discoloration, wrinkles
and fine lines. Chemical peels may smooth and firm the
skin and may lighten age spots gradually. The superficial
peels, such as a glycolic acid peel can be done during
your lunch hour, and there is no recovery time.
Intense Pulsed Light Therapy (IPL)
What is it?
IPL is one of the newer forms of facial rejuvenation.
Unlike lasers, which use intense, focused light, IPL
is intense broadband light. Although IPL delivers energy
to both the superficial and deep layers of the skin,
the epidermis is spared from damage. Thus, there is
virtually no recovery time. In the studies that have
been performed so far, IPL can smooth the skin and fade
age spots, freckles, melasma, and even broken blood
vessels. Improvements usually last for about a year
with good sun protection.
What are the risks?
IPL is safer than laser therapy because IPL does not
damage the epidermis. There may be some pain during
the procedure but no recovery time. Unlike laser therapy,
however, you may need multiple treatments (average is
4-6, at three weeks intervals) to get the full benefit.
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