Age Spots
Topic: Aging Chapter|Tags: age spots, Ageing Skin, Beautician, beauty care technology, dermatologists, lentigines, liver spots, retinoic acid, Skin Care, skin examination, skin protection, skin treatment, spot remover, vitamin A acid
Ours is a culture with little appreciation for spots. None of us like getting a spot on our record, on our reputation, or on our shirt. And we certainly don’t like seeing spots when we’re looking into a mirror!
But as we age, many of us do begin to see spots, especially on our hands, feet, and face.
And whether we call them liver spots, age spots, or sun spots, the reaction is likely the same: We want a spot remover.
Technically known as lentigines, age spots are the result of excess pigment being deposited in the skin during years of sun exposure. So along with treatment, dermatologists also recommend avoiding exposure to the sun.
Though the majority of age spots are harmless blemishes/that require no more than a trip to the dermatologist, early stages of skin cancer can masquerade as innocent-looking age spots. If any spot enlarges, thickens, changes color, has an uneven rather than a round edge, bleeds, or itches, have it checked by a doctor. For extra protection, also include a skin examination in your annual checkup.
The good news is, if your spots really are just age spots, dermatologists today have an assortment of treatments at their disposal that can fade them, if not remove them completely. These include topical application of a vitamin A acid called retinoic acid.
