Age Spots: Causes & Treatments
Age spots, also known as sunspots, dark spots, hyperpigmentation, liver spots (although unrelated to the liver), and solar lentigines are small, flat dark areas on the skin. They vary in size and are predominantly found in areas exposed to the sun, such as the face, hands, shoulders, back, and arms.
These spots affect people of all skin types, but they are more common in individuals with fairer skin tones due to the fact that lighter-skinned patients tend to burn more than darker-skinned patients.
Age spots are caused by overactive pigment cells or melanocytes. Ultraviolet (UV) light like that which comes from the sun causes an increase in the production of melanin from those melanocytes. Melanin is the pigment that gives skin its color.
How does a normal melanocyte cause an unwanted age spot?
Age spots appear when excess melanin in the skin becomes clumped together. Frequent sun exposure, failure to use a broad-spectrum sunscreen SPF 30 or higher, sunburns, and use of tanning beds all contribute to the development of this unwanted form of hyperpigmentation.
How do you treat age spots?
Treatments range from procedures to topical skincare products applied directly to the area of concern. At The MAC, we love to use ZO Skin Health’s line of pigment control creams, which contains hydroquinone and retinoids. These ingredients are essential for clearing up complexions and brightening skin tones. This route of treatment takes dedication as the products are applied twice a day, and multiple products are used. The results can be seen in as little as a few weeks up to several months depending on the severity of the sun damage.
Procedures
As far as procedures go, we have numerous options to choose from.
Chemical peels, like our ZO 3-Step Peel, can lighten age spots by as much as 50%. The procedure takes about 15 minutes. Peeling usually starts around day 2 and extends from 5-7 days on average. The results are not only lighter spots, but also reduced fine lines, improved texture, and reduction in activity, among many other benefits.
Dermaplaning is a procedure that gently whisks away the top layer of dead skin cells and fine, vellus hairs to reveal a lighter, brighter complexion. Combined with a skin-brightening Hydrafacial, patients can see a lightening of unwanted dark spots in as little as 40 minutes.
BBL Forever Young BBL. We saved our best for last! Our procedure of choice for unwanted age spots is Forever Young BBL, much like the popular IPL photo facial laser treatment. BBL is short for broadband light and is a more advanced form of technology compared to traditional IPL. In as little as 30 minutes, we use the power of light to undo the years of damage caused by sunlight.
Forever Young BBL focuses light through a filter to capture just one wavelength of that light spectrum. This light targets a particular color, in this case, brown. The light is absorbed by the brown age spot and heat is generated. This heat is responsible for lightening or even clearing the age spots completely. This treatment is more comfortable than standard IPL because the energy is laid down in passes rather than one big zap. The pigment first gets darker over the next 1-2 weeks then flakes off. It sometimes resembles pepper flakes but does not feel dry and flakey, and makeup can be applied right away.
Patients usually need at least 2 BBL treatments to clear 80% of age spots. Here’s where another benefit of BBL photo facial comes in. The multiple passes of light energy being delivered into the skin over time also stimulate collagen AND they alter the generic expression of our skin’s cells, allowing for a true anti-aging treatment. Check out this Stanford University study which found evidence that broadband light promotes youthful skin on a molecular level.
This technology was created by Dr. Patrick Bitter Jr., and we had the privilege of meeting and learning directly from him.
Now that you know what causes age spots, how to treat age spots, and that age spots are prevented by a broad-spectrum sunscreen SPF 30 or higher, come see us at The MAC for a consultation before starting treatment for unwanted age spots.