How to Remove Age Spots

Age spots, also known as dark spots or liver spots are little red or black colored freckles that appear on the skin and is considered to be a sign of aging. Nowadays, age spots are observed among young people too and the main reason for this is overexposure of the skin to sun.

When we expose our skin to the sun for a long period of time, the skin increases the production of melanin to protect it from any kind of damage. When this continues for a long time, melanin begins to get collected into small clusters which appear as dark-colored spots on the skin.

Though age spots can appear anywhere on the body, it is most commonly observed on the face and hands. However, having them is not dangerous i.e. they do not cause any serious health problems. Nevertheless, having this condition at a young age is considered to be a bane by young people and hence, it is extremely crucial to know methods of their removal. Therefore, here are some methods that one can try for age spot removal.

There are two types of treatment methods that one can choose from, when it comes to age spot removal. You can either go to a dermatologist for a medical treatment or may be try some natural home remedies to remove the unwanted spots from your face. You can choose any among them, according to your convenience. Here, we will analyze both these methods in detail.

Microdermabrasion is becoming a popular method for removing age spots because it has been proved to be very effective. During this process, the skin is exposed to a special machine which emits fine micro crystals that not only remove the upper layer of the skin, but also the dead skin, thus removing the dark spots too.

For best results, one may have to undergo several sessions, however this will depend on the severity of the person's condition. Though with microdermabrasion, you will receive a new and glowing skin, the cost of undergoing this treatment procedure is very high.

Another method is the use of chemical peels. Here, a chemical solution made of glycolic acid is applied on the skin and after some time the doctor peels it off. When this is done, the chemical solution takes off the dead skin, thus lightening the dark spots.

Just like dermabrasion, even chemical peeling will take several sessions to remove the age spots completely, however, this procedure is not as expensive as the former.

If you find the aforementioned methods very expensive, using a lightening cream will also be helpful to remove the spots from face and hands. You should choose a lightening cream that has hydroquinone, vitamin A or retinol. Using creams that contain vitamin K, glycolic acid, liquorice, etc., are also said to be very beneficial. Your doctor will recommend a cream that will suit your skin type.

Most of the aforementioned methods of removing age spots on face, hands, and legs are done with the help of chemicals which may further cause skin problems. Hence, for people who are not very confident about the medical treatment methods, can try some natural techniques.

However, one important thing that people must remember is that it will take time for the natural or home remedies to show any results. Here are some of the natural ways for removal, that you can try at home.

Using lemon is a great way to remove age spots on hand as well as face. This is because lemon contains acid that aids in peeling of the dead skin. Squeeze the juice of a lemon in a bowl and apply it on the affected area with a cotton ball, at least twice in a day. The condition will begin to lighten in 6-8 weeks.

Other than lemon juice, using onion is also said to be a good way of getting rid of this condition. Cut the onion into two and rub it on the areas where the age spots are present. Onions contain the same acid as lemon and can thus help in fading the dark spots.

Another method of removing the condition naturally is by using castor oil. It has been observed that applying castor oil on age spots on legs and other body parts, not only helps in eliminating them, but also makes the skin smooth and soft.

Aloe vera which is said to be a boon for different types of skin problems, works well for removing such marks too. You can either apply raw aloe vera on the affected area or make use of aloe vera juice or gel that are easily available in health stores.

Following any of the aforementioned remedies might prove beneficial. Apart from these, it is also extremely crucial to use a good sunscreen that has more than SPF 15 to treat as well as prevent their occurrence on skin. Taking good care of your skin by protecting it from the sun's harmful UV rays will ensure that you flaunt a spotless and young-looking skin.

Disclaimer: This story is for informative purposes only, and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.